November 3.
Only God Can Forgive

Luke 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

In this text, Jesus is actually putting his son ship on the line. He said, “I know that I’m sin now.” He that knew no sin became sin so that we who are sinners would be forgiven of our sins. And so he said I’m putting my son ship on the line. In this text, he didn’t say my God, he said, “Father.” You know who I am; I am your son.

Father forgive them. Jesus Himself had forgiven sin during His time on earth. Mark Chapter 2 talks about men who tore up a roof in order to get a paralyzed man to Jesus. And Jesus looked at him and said, “Son because of their faith, your sins are forgiven.” The scribes became angry saying, “No man can forgive sin, but God. Jesus said that ought to tell you something. I forgave sin and the man is walking. So evidently I must be God.

But now at Calvary, Jesus is not forgiving sin. Instead he said, “Father you forgive them.” Even though He forgave sin before he made it to Calvary, at Calvary He became sin. And sin cannot forgive sin. So he said, “It’s out of my hands now. Father you forgive.”

Them. Instead of saying them, why didn’t Jesus name some people? Why didn’t he say, “Father forgive Pilot, because Pilot had a good opportunity to let me go.” Or “Father forgive Herod.” because he sent Jesus to the cross. Herod had tracked him down from a baby to age two up until Calvary. He could have said, “Father forgive the Roman soldiers.” because they were the ones that actually nailed his hands. Or, “Father forgive the Roman centurion.” who cried out, “Surely this must be the Son of God.” The reason he didn’t get into name calling is because it would have taken too long to name everybody. It was not only those around the cross who needed forgiveness. Everyone from Adam and Eve to David needed forgiveness. He said them.