Father, Forgive Them (Lent Devotion 2021)

WHEN THEY CAME TO THE PLACE CALLED THE SKULL, THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM, ALONG WITH THE CRIMINALS--ONE ON HIS RIGHT, THE OTHER ON HIS LEFT. JESUS SAID, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING." (LUKE 23:33-34)

Seriously?! How could Jesus utter these words to those soldiers who nailed him to the cross; to the Roman governor Pontus Pilate who gave the order; to his tribal relatives who cried that Jesus be crucified, as well as the elders of the temple - surely they knew full well what they were doing! What did Jesus mean by these words?

You might excuse the soldiers who were merely following orders. A defense attorney might claim that Pilate had passed the responsibility onto the people.

'[Pilate] took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children”' (Matthew 27:24–25)!

Jesus' first words from the cross were those of compassion and mercy. The reason that Jesus hung on a tree was in order to pay with His innocent suffering, precious blood and death for you and me who also do not know the full extent that our sins do to others, to our ourselves and did to Jesus. The sole reason for Jesus' suffering was in order to offer his Father's gift of forgiveness and salvation to us who don't fully understand our depravity.

By the power of God's Spirit we too can be as gracious and forgiving as Jesus is - to those who should know better, but are presently helpless to change their ways, as we pray with Jesus: "Father, forgive them."

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, your love and mercy moved you to send your Son to take our place and shed His innocent blood to pay for our sin, send your Spirit upon us so that we can be merciful to those who are yet to realize what their sin is doing, in the Name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Pastor Ricky Jacob
Winnebago, Nebraska