WHY DID JESUS SAY FATHER FORGIVE THEM?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Why did Jesus, in the book of Luke, say "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do . . ." while he was on the cross?
a) The reason Jesus (who was God) came in the flesh to Earth is so that all of humanity might have their sins washed away and have the opportunity to be at one with Him and the Father. Most people do not understand why we need God to forgive us, but we ALL do, whether Christian or not. The Jewish leadership who had Jesus crucified, even though knowing all the prophecies regarding the Savior, were blind themselves as to who He really was. Therefore, in their own minds, they were executing a blasphemer, which was the legal thing to do under their law.
b) What was ILLEGAL was the fact that the Jews had the trial at night with false witnesses, a kangaroo court if you will, because they feared the people. Now, let us look at a few Scriptures and get the context.
i) 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary (also known as Golgotha or the place of the skull), there they crucified Him . . . 34 Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' (Luke 23:33 - 34)
c) Since those who were killing him were deceived, and did not understand what they were doing, Jesus asked God to forgive their sin. This implies very strongly that someday all will know the full extent of what they did. It will be at that time that repentance will come. Read Jesus' statement in Matthew 23 where he bemoans Jerusalem's rejection and the fact that the city would soon be left desolate. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Roman troops took the city, destroyed it, and burned down the temple.
f) Jesus was aware that God the Father would offer EVERY person, in His own time, the chance to fully repent and receive eternal life. In what the Bible calls the second resurrection, those who killed Christ will have their spiritual blindness taken away from their hearts and given a chance to repent. When repentance does come God will forgive them and lead them to obey his will.
The End ...
1. Why did Jesus, in the book of Luke, say "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do . . ." while he was on the cross?a) The reason Jesus (who was God) came in the flesh to Earth is so that all of humanity might have their sins washed away and have the opportunity to be at one with Him and the Father. Most people do not understand why we need God to forgive us, but we ALL do, whether Christian or not. The Jewish leadership who had Jesus crucified, even though knowing all the prophecies regarding the Savior, were blind themselves as to who He really was. Therefore, in their own minds, they were executing a blasphemer, which was the legal thing to do under their law.
b) What was ILLEGAL was the fact that the Jews had the trial at night with false witnesses, a kangaroo court if you will, because they feared the people. Now, let us look at a few Scriptures and get the context.
i) 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary (also known as Golgotha or the place of the skull), there they crucified Him . . . 34 Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' (Luke 23:33 - 34)
c) Since those who were killing him were deceived, and did not understand what they were doing, Jesus asked God to forgive their sin. This implies very strongly that someday all will know the full extent of what they did. It will be at that time that repentance will come. Read Jesus' statement in Matthew 23 where he bemoans Jerusalem's rejection and the fact that the city would soon be left desolate. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Roman troops took the city, destroyed it, and burned down the temple.
d) It says in Scripture that every knee will eventually bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is their Savior.
i) "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth . . . " (Philippians 2:9 - 11)
e) In the eleventh chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul states that God will not ultimately cast away or reject His people (Israelites and Jews) whom He foreknew (Romans 11:1 - 2).
i) "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth . . . " (Philippians 2:9 - 11)
e) In the eleventh chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul states that God will not ultimately cast away or reject His people (Israelites and Jews) whom He foreknew (Romans 11:1 - 2).
f) Jesus was aware that God the Father would offer EVERY person, in His own time, the chance to fully repent and receive eternal life. In what the Bible calls the second resurrection, those who killed Christ will have their spiritual blindness taken away from their hearts and given a chance to repent. When repentance does come God will forgive them and lead them to obey his will.
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