These words. Only Seven. Are. What changes the world. These words.
Are. Your identity. These words. Mark you. As Christian.
As He began His passion. Knowing all that was going to take
place. Knowing all that would be required of Him. Jesus took the time to pray.
It is a simple prayer. Yet. A profound petition. It gives us an overall picture.
Of what this Jesus is all about. Jesus -
On the cross. Suspended between earth and heaven. Prays. "Father forgive them for they know not what
they do."
1. The reason for this prayer is obvious.
A. It
tells why He was dying. He is dying. For man is blind to his sin. In ignorance.
Man falls to the wayside. And follows a different road.
B. This
prayer. Reveals Jesus' character. The ruthless world says: "Don't get mad - get even!" The attitude of this present age says, "Divide and conquer." "To the victor comes the spoils."
"An eye for an eye. A tooth for a
tooth." Jesus responds by
saying: "Father forgive them."
C. This
prayer. Becomes a perfect example for Jesus' followers - His disciples. As the Savior has forgiven. Therefore. We too
forgive. A student is under his master. And taught by Him. As the Savior has so
taught us to forgive. What else can we do but forgive?
D. Jesus
prays this pray. To fulfill prophecy. As He prays for. And asks for His
accusers' pardon. The events once predicted of old are beginning to take shape.
The Father is acting. – The Father is moving.
2. Who are the objects of this first
prayer from the cross?
A. First.
There are the soldiers. Who nailed Him there. Do they recognize Jesus to be the
Savior? The world's redeemer? Or do they see Him. As one of many upstarts? Do they simply see Him as one who is
worthless? It does not matter. What they think of Him. He prays for them. - Regardless
- Regardless of whom they were. Regardless of where they had been. Regardless
of what they had done.
B. Then
there are the authorities who condemned Him. To be nailed there. "It is necessary that one man die for the
sake of the country". That's
how the High Priest and the leadership sized things up. Little did they know. They
were speaking prophetically. His death is sufficient for all.
C. The
Savior prays. For all. Who have in any way contributed to the sin load. Which
brought Him to the cross. The Savior. As He prays. Offers up this request to
the Father for you. All who are in need
of the Savior's mercy. Are included in this petition. How good it was of the
Savior. To pray for you.
Transition: Thus. The Savior offered up a
prayer. As the first word from the cross. How was that prayer answered?
3. Jesus prayer was answered in three
specific ways.
A. First.
The soldiers and the authorities were spared. Then and there. The Lord's
visitation was curtailed. And halted. Jesus had told Peter in the garden: "are
not 10,000 legion of angels at My disposal?
Yet all this must be done that the Scriptures may be fulfilled".
B. The
Jewish nation was give 40 years of grace. To receive the great message of the
cross and empty tomb. When Jesus rose from the dead. Appeared to His disciples.
And ascended. The early disciples didn't run off to Athens or Rome. They went right
back. To the very city where Jesus was crucified. Until Jerusalem was destroyed
in the year 70 AD. The inhabitants of that city. Had the very eyewitnesses of
the resurrection living in their neighborhoods.
C. This
prayer. Was answered. As all people have been forgiven. – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” – Now. People
must simply receive this forgiveness. Which has already been provided. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will
be saved.” "Whoever believes in him will not perish but
have everlasting life."
On the
cross. Suspended between earth and heaven. The Savior prayed for you. – “Father forgive them for they know not what
they do.”
Passive Sentences –4%
Readability-83.6
Reading Level -2.9
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