“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM”
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, You pleaded for those who caused Your death, and You live to make intercession for us: Show Your mercy upon us, we humbly pray, and by the merits of Your passion forgive us all our sins; that from this time forward we may live as those You have redeemed with Your precious blood; for the glory of Your holy name. Amen. (Parish Prayers, ed. Frank Colquhoun)
The Sermon Text, St. Luke 23:33-34. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified [Jesus], and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Lord, this is Your Word and these are Your words. Sanctify us by the truth. Your Word is truth. By the word of the cross, bring us to heaven. Amen.
Fellow redeemed in Christ, by whose interceding we are forgiven by the Father: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
As we come with our sins tonight, pleading to be forgiven, we need the first word Jesus spoke on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The words with which Hepleads, not for Himself but for us.
This first saying from the cross – that’s what each “word” from the cross is, not just one word but a saying – this first one is the word of intercession. “Intercession” is “interceding” for someone. It’s being a “mediator,” a go-between. Interceding is begging for someone, on their behalf. There are two parts in interceding: to whom you speak, and for whom you speak.
After they pound the nails into Jesus’ hands, and raise up the beams with Him fastened to His cross, Jesus’ first two words, “Father, forgive,” show:
- To whom He speaks.
Jesus says, “Father!” But when He adds the word, “Forgive!” we know who this is. The only one who can forgive, the Judge of all. This is “your Father who sees in secret,” as Jesus said in the gospel reading tonight.
All the way until He’s put up on the cross, Jesus has been hounded by the question, “Are You the Son of God?” (Lk 22:70), and right after this they’ll say, “If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Mt 27:40)– as if the only important thing is if He is the Son of God and God is His Father. It’s His right to be the Son of God the Father that they question.
Jesus knows there’s no question about that. But there is a question about whether we sinful humans have the right to be children of God. For “your Father is in the secret place” and He “sees in secret.” What does He see? All the sins. These sins cry out against you. They stand y between you and God.
According to God’s justice, because of the presence of sins done by you, He can’t deal with you except in anger. Cry as loudly and as long as you want, God would never hear. According to His justice, He can’t forgive the sins even if you’re sorry. But there is one whom He will listen to. His Only Son in Whom He is well pleased. When He hears His voice, He’ll listen. Jesus is going in between us and the Father. He is a go-between, a “mediator.”
Jesus is “interceding.” This is what happens when a child is in trouble with dad, and brother or sister goes and begs: “Please, go easy on him/her, please don’t punish anymore – Father, forgive!” Jesus is doing this. He “intercedes” with our heavenly Father. He says, “Father, forgive!”
Jesus pleads with His blood – His holy, precious blood which He offers up as the full payment to take away the guilt of all the sins. He is not asking that He be considered the Father’s Son. His next words show:
- For whom He speaks.
What comes after “Father, forgive”? – “Them, for they know not what they do.” When we hear the history of Jesus’ Passion, we don’t think well of “them” – the ones who inflicted so much pain on Jesus, couldn’t get enough of watching Him suffer, beat Him senseless, demanded His death, lied about Him under oath, yelled and hurled insults and hatred at Him.
They act as His enemies. But the Bible says that “we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son … when we were enemies.” It says we are those enemies. Who are the ones who “know not what they do”? You can see that every day it’s been true of you. You did the evil you didn’t want to do. You didn’t do the good that you wanted to do. Did you live like you were God’s child? No. You deserve His anger.
Then take comfort in Jesus’ word “them.” He is speaking of you. He is not speaking against you, as your sins do when they cry out against you. He is speaking up for you! When Jesus says, “Father, forgive them,” He is taking your sins away from you. It is His blood that He is shedding on the cross, which purchases your forgiveness. He pleads for you with His blood.
Then God the Father no longer looks upon your sins when He looks at you. There are no sins of yours for Him to see. His justice is satisfied by the death of His Son. There is no justice being poured out on you, only a full amount of His mercy.
God’s anger over sin will never reach you; Jesus came in between to take it all. This is when Isaiah 12:1 comes true, and we can say with confidence – due to Jesus’ words and His atoning death: “O Lord, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away and You comfort me!”
Jesus turns God’s anger away from you. God forgives you for Jesus’ sake. Jesus is the Son of God, but He makes sure that you are God’s dear child too, by grace – this very forgiveness. He gives you this gift again tonight. Amen!