"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM..."

LUKE 23:32-34

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. NOTE THEIR ACTIONS [v. 32-33]

1. They Came to Calvary [v. 33, Mt. 27:33, Mk. 15:22] Calvary kranion, Gr.  a skull ("cranium") Aramaic-Golgotha

- And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

- And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

2. They Crucified Christ “Him” [v. 33, Acts 2:36, 1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2]

not Judas or someone else

-Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

- But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock , and unto the Greeks foolishness;

- For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3. They Crucified Criminals “malefactors” [v. 33, 40-41]

worthless workers of evil [Rm. 5:8]

- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

II. NOTE HIS PRAYER [v. 34]

1. Directed to the Father [the distinction in the Godhead-denies modalism-the doctrine that the persons of the Trinity represent only three modes or aspects of the divine revelation, not distinct and coexisting persons in the divine nature.]

2. Directed for the Soldiers

[designees of the work, v. 34, 1 Cor. 2:8, Rm. 13:1-4]

-Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

- Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

 3. Direction for the Request

[this action- not all their sins, that forgiveness is theirs upon accepting Him]

 

 III. NOTE OUR LESSONS

1. Jesus Knows Us

[1 Sam. 16:7, Jer. 17:10, Jn. 2:24-25] –like Zaccheus

- the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

- I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

- But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

2. Jesus Wants to Forgive Us [2 Peter 3:9, Acts 5:31, 13:38, 26:18]

- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

- Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

- To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

3. Jesus Will Save Us if we Receive Him [v. 47, Mk. 15:39, Jn. 1:12]

- And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

- But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: