Father Forgive Them
Jesus spoke seven times while hanging on the cross outside the gates of Jerusalem. The first of those seven sayings are found in Luke 23:34. “Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.”
Who were “they”? Who was it Jesus had on His mind when He spoke these words to His heavenly Father. Though it is impossible to know the mind of Christ beyond what He has revealed in His word, I believe there are many of us on His mind.
The Tormentors
Jesus had just been nailed to the cross with spikes driven through His wrists and feet. In the previous hours, He had been stripped naked and publicly scourged to the point of exhaustion. He had a crown of thorns driving into His scalp with rods. His beard had been torn from His face as He was spat upon. Could Jesus have had these tormentors on His mind when He called out, “Father forgive them”?
The Materialists
All four Gospels tell us that a group of soldiers took His clothing. Then they gambled over His outer tunic by casting lots. With three men suffering above them and mourners gathered around them, these cold-hearted men focused on what they could gain in material goods. Like them, we often worry about material things in this world while men are dying and people are suffering all around us. Could Jesus have on His mind those who were too focused on this world to see what mattered for eternity when He cried, “Father forgive them”?
The Betrayers
Hours before His trusted disciple Judas consummated his betrayal of Christ with a kiss (Matt. 26:49). Judas had been the treasurer of Jesus’ band of twelve disciples. He had walked with the Lord for three years. Jesus invested precious time teaching Judas and caring for him. Yet, Judas chose to turn his back on His teacher for a small sum of money. Was Jesus thinking of Judas’ betrayal, or all of us who may eventually betray Him, when He spoke those first words on the cross?
The Deniers
Jesus had three most trusted followers – Peter, James, and John. The night before the cross Peter made the boldest promises of commitment. Regardless, it was Peter who denied ever knowing Jesus when Jesus was on trial (Luke 22:54-62). It had only been a few hours. Was Jesus thinking of Peter and all those who would deny knowing Him when they faced the threat of persecution? Jesus forgave Peter and restored Him in the days to come. Maybe it was those deniers for whom Jesus asked forgiveness, because we “don’t know what we are doing.”
The Unfaithful
Mark tells us that when the soldiers arrested Jesus to the garden all of His disciples disappeared. Mark 14:50, “Then they all deserted him and ran away.” Judas had already betrayed Him and Peter would soon fervently deny him. Additionally, all of the other disciples simply ran away at the time of Jesus’ greatest need. Only John would eventually appear at the foot of the cross where he stood alongside Mary (John 19:26-27). Was Jesus thinking of His close friends who fled when trouble came as He said, “Father forgive them”?
The Religious
In the verse following Jesus’ statement, we find the religious leaders scoffing. These men claimed religious superiority. They were supposedly followers of Jesus’ heavenly Father. They had memorized the sacred texts that would point to Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, their hearts were so hardened by religion they completely missed the Christ when He stood before them. Does Jesus look upon the religious with tears and cry out, “Father forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing”?
The Onlookers
In Luke 23:35, we also find the ambiguous group simply referred to as “the people stood watching.” These were the onlookers. They were not involved in Jesus’ crucifixion. They had not betrayed Him or denied Him, because they simply did not know Him. They were observing the spectacle with interest but had no “skin in the game.” Yet, what happened on the cross that afternoon would have a direct impact on their eternity. Like “the people” in verse 35, we stand gazing upon Christ on the cross and our eternity will be determined by what we do with His death.
The Two Criminals
The passage also has two other key figures – the criminals who died on either side of Christ. Those two men represent us all. Like us, they had committed “crimes” and deserved to die. God’s word makes clear that we all have sinned and our sin separates us from God “for the wages of sin is death.”
One of those criminals looked at Jesus and yelled insults at Him. The other looked to Jesus and asked for mercy. He confessed that he was a sinner and deserved to die. He recognized that Jesus had done nothing wrong. In that moment, he made a simple request, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus responded with what must have been the sweetest words that criminal ever heard, “Today I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Those Who are Forgiven
Jesus had all of us on His mind when He cried out, “Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.” He fulfilled His purpose on the cross crying out, “It is finished.” He died to complete His mission of atonement for your sin and my sin. He died for the tormentors, the materialistic, the betrayers, the unfaithful, the deniers, the religious, and the onlookers. He died for us all! He offers the gift of forgiveness for all of us.
We are left with a simple choice portrayed by the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. We can insult Him with our unbelief. Or, we can accept who we are, our need for a savior, and trust Him with our soul. He has offered the gift of forgiveness. We now choose our response.