IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Words of Forgiveness

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (Jn 1:11).  Some of the saddest words in the Bible. 

 God became man.  He gave up the riches of heaven.  He humbled himself.  He lived among men.  As a man.  He was tired.  Hungry.  Thirsty. He suffered.  He was tempted. Yet without sin.  He was man. 

But he was also God.  The life. And light.  The light that shone in the darkness, but the world didn’t get it.  He spoke with authority unlike any other man.  He healed the sick.  The lame walked. The deaf heard.  The blind regained sight. 

Yet, sin blinded the eyes of the very ones who should have seen who He was.  He came to them.  But they didn’t see Him.  As the prophet predicated they saw no beauty in Him to desire him.  In fact they hated him. 

And now humankind sunk to a new low. They not only did not receive Him.  They rejected him.  After a joke of a trial.  False witnesses suborned perjury.  Now he’s hanging on a cross. Dying. 

And what does Jesus say as he looks down on the those blasphemers who with snide remarks are sneering at him and mocking ?  How does he react?  With anger?  Disgust?  Vindictiveness?   

As he hangs there in excruciating pain he prays,   “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” 

Jesus preached forgiveness in the Mountain Message.  He reminded Peter that forgiveness is not limited to an arbitrary number.  He demonstrated it at the last supper when His apostles were arguing over their position in the Kingdom. Now when His suffering is unbearable and His enemies are reveling in their triumph, he practices forgiveness when it must be the most difficult. 

In these words we see the fulfillment of Isa 53:13–He “made intercession for the transgressor.”  He not only died on the cross as our mediator, but he at the moment actually made intercessory prayer for those who didn’t deserve it. 

 We hear His voice of concern.  For his murderers!  For his betrayers!  For his enemies! His life was a demonstration of compassion for the scattered sheep.  And now in His death we hear it for those taking His life. 

 We feel His love for the lost.  His genuine compassion for those who didn’t get it.  Who didn’t understand.  Who had no clue what they were doing. Father, forgive them! 

I can only imagine how those words fell on deaf ears.  I wonder if they laughed.  Jeered.  Smirked.  And shook their heads, and  thought, “Sure Jesus.  Like we need your prayers.”  That was on Friday. 

On Sunday the Intercessor arose. The laughter stopped.  The jeers ceased.  The smirks turned into confused looks.  Their thoughts turned to, “Could it really be?”  And then just 50 days later, repentance and remission of sins was offered to those who had crucified the Lord of Glory.  Oh, that was on a Sunday too! 

And so, Sunday, as you “go to church.”  Listen for the words of the Intercessor.  He’s saying, “Father, forgive them.” Open your heart. Can’t you hear him?  He’s pleading.  Again.  For you. And for me. 

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman 

Today’s post was the first on the “The Seven Sayings of Christ from the Cross.”  Next Friday, we will look at the words “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”