THE WORDS OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS
THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS
LUKE 23:13-16, 21-24, 33-34.
Introduction:
Man has done his worst! “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:11). Christ made this world and breathed the breath of life into man, but man rejected Christ as his Savior.
Man, blinded by sin, does not see in Him the beauty that he might desire to know Him as Savior.
Yet Christ died on the cross as the sacrifice for man’s sin, praying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
I. CHRIST FULFILLED THE PROPHETIC WORD IN ISAIAH 53:12.
A. This does not refer to the ministry of Christ in the present.
1. It is true that He is able to save souls as is said in Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
2. This speaks of what Jesus is doing now for those who have trusted in Him.
B. Isaiah 53:12 refers to the gracious act at the time of His crucifixion: “and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Note the list of 10 things regarding His suffering in this passage:
1. “He is despised and rejected of men; v. 3.
2. “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:” v. 3.
3. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” v. 5.
4. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:” v. 7.
5. “And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” v. 7.
6. Not only did He suffer at the hands of men, but was “smitten of God,” v. 4.
7. “he hath poured out his soul unto death: v. 12.
8. He was buried in the tomb of a rich man, Luke 23:51-53.
9. “He was numbered with the transgressors;” v. 12.
10. “And made intercession for the transgressors.” v. 12.
II. WE SEE JESUS IDENTIFING WITH HIS PEOPLE.
A. “Father, forgive them;” vs. 28-31.
1. Never before this occasion had Jesus invoked the forgiveness of the Father for others.
2. Before He pardoned the sinners.
a. The paralytic, Matthew 9:2, “And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
b. The woman who wash the feet of Jesus with her tears, Luke 7:48, “And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”
B. Why did Jesus ask the Father to pardon those folks instead of Him pronouncing them forgiven?
1. Forgiveness of sin is a divine privilege. In Mark 2:7 the Pharisees asked: “who can forgive sins but God only?”
2. Jesus could not execute his powers on the cross.
a. He had power on the earth, Matthew 9:6, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.”
b. But on the cross He was lifted up from the earth, John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
c. Jesus was acting as the substitute, identifying with His people, Isaiah 53:12, “And made intercession for the transgressors.”
III. HERE WE SEE THE ESTAMATE OF SIN.
A. Ignorance is no excuse.
1. Those of the Old Testament, who were guilty of a transgression of the Law through ignorance, brought a sin-offering, Leviticus 5:15-16, “If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: 16-And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.”
2. The Psalmist prayed in Psalms 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.”
B. Sin is always sin in God’s eyes. Ignorance is not innocence. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
C. Man needs forgiveness.
1. The thief recognized his need, Luke 23: 40-42.
2. Man is without excuse.
a. Because of the life of Christ, John 7:46, “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”
b. Because of His message, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
c. Because of His prayer, “Father, forgive them;” Jesus prayed for all of us, John 17:20, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”
CONCLUSION
Jesus prayed for you on that cross! It was for your forgiveness for which He prayed. He was intervening on your behalf before the God of Heaven.
You say, Preacher, I was not there. I did not crucify Jesus Christ! Yes, but your sin did! Now Jesus is asking the Father to forgive you that you might receive Jesus as your Savior.