pain from the nails driven into the tender flesh of His hands and feet. There was tremendous emotional shock. He was the infinite Son of God who could summon legions of angels to His aid, yet He was about to die alone upon a cross. He was the spotless Lamb of God, but He was stripped of His clothing, dying among thieves, and surrounded by those who had turned their backs upon God’s revelation to them. Yet, He didn’t pray for Himself. If ever one could have cried justly for re venge, it was He. None had ever been so cruelly wronged. What about us? Do we find it hard to forgive far lesser wrongs? This forgiveness was all-inclusive. It included the Jews who had demanded His death. It was for the hardened soldiers who even gambled at the base of the cross for His clothing. It was a prayer for Pilate who knowingly, and against the law, had sent an innocent person to His death. But most precious to us is that we were included. Here was not a single word of request for His own pardon. Upon death beds, most people pray for their own par don. Contrariwise, Christ prayed for the pardon of others. The reason is He had no sin of His own. The Ro man captain acknowledged Christ’s deity before the day was done. There were others who turned to Christ on the day of Pentecost. Perhaps some had been there at the hour of the crucifixion. It is God who must pardon sin because sin is committed against Him. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a rejection of God Himself. Christ had come, revealing to man what God was like, showing him the way of salvation. Friend, have you asked God for the forgiveness of your sins through Jesus Christ? The sacrifice which makes forgiveness possible was made that day on the cross of Calvary. Finally, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not 4
what they do.” The ignorance of the people didn’t excuse them. It rather brought them within the reach of the mercy of God. They were in possession of Scriptures which told them about Him. They weren’t ig norant of the Bible’s teachings. Many of them were teachers and in terpreters of the Law. Yet they had intentionally closed their eyes to the truth, being blinded by Satan. Although we may know much about the Bible, even apprehending its moral standards, still, sadly enough, we can be ignorant of the meaning of His death. “Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” We know something about the consequences of our sins though we may not take seriously nor understand fully the results of sin. Even the smallest amount of knowledge about Jesus Christ brings with it great responsibility. We must act upon His gospel, accepting His gracious provision for sin. Have you done this? Receive Him as your Sav iour, and enter into eternal life through faith in Him! Word Two by Dr. Richard I. McNeely A mong the last words of our Saviour, none show such depth of love and compassion as these ad dressed to the repentant thief. “Veri ly I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Read the entire account in Luke 23:39-43. Matthew gives a similar report, add ing information of the crowd’s deri sion. The first thing we’re impressed with is the Reproach of the Saviour. Matthew tells us that the two cru cified with Jesus joined with the crowd around the cross in mockery. This gives a picture of children at play imitating and making fun of someone — usually at the other’s
Made with FlippingBook HTML5