Sermon Tone Analysis

*Now You Know*

/Luke 23.34/

Pastor Oesterwind

 

*Introduction: * We can travel to many places in the world and see great poverty.

Many countries lack sanitary conditions, and even drinking water is rife with disease.

Some people live in holes and call them houses.

They find food in garbage.

What is very disturbing about all of this is that */many of these people don’t even know/* they are living out a wretched existence.

If this is all they have known and if everyone around them lives this way, then these folks really do not understand what it’s like to live in a country that is clean, free, and overflowing with abundant resources.

Of course, spiritually speaking, here we are this morning – greatly impoverished.

Unclean, rife with disease and sin.

We live in miry pits and accept these as the norm – expecting nothing better …knowing nothing different.

We feed on the garbage all around us – the movies, entertainment, and sensuality of the world.

This is our food.

What is very disturbing about all of this is that */many of us don’t even know/* we are living out a wretched existence.

If this is all we have known and if everyone around us lives this way, then we really do not understand what it’s like to live on higher ground.

*Transition: * Isaiah wrote that the Suffering Servant bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (53.12).

Jesus fulfilled these words in our text this morning.

We may live for years not knowing that Jesus bore the sin of many, but after a careful look at Luke 23.34 this Easter morning, I’ll be able to say to you, */“Now you know!”/* 

 

*Background:*  The verse we are examining this morning contains the first of seven sayings of Jesus Christ from the cross.

We could say that these seven sayings are the last words of Jesus Christ just before He died.

You will not be able to find the seven sayings in one Gospel.

They are spread throughout the gospels; therefore it is more difficult for us to recall them without a concerted effort.

Taking the time to collect all seven and to think through them, produces a valuable look at what it is Jesus came to accomplish – to seek and save the lost.

Let’s just briefly survey the seven sayings[1] before concentrating on the first:

 

1.

/“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”/ (Luke 23.34).

Men must come to understand their need of forgiveness; Jesus came to forgive them and restore fellowship with the Father.

2.       /“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”/ (Luke 23.43).

Christians often go to this passage for assurance.

/Today/ the thief would be with Jesus in Heaven – the soul does not sleep, there is life after death, being with Christ is paradise, and paradise is for all who repent!

3.       /“Woman, behold your son!/  [and to John]/… Behold your mother”/ (John 19.26-27)!

Jesus did not neglect temporal responsibility for His mother.

4.

/“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

…My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me”/ (Mark 15.34)?

This communicates Jesus isolation from the Father for us.

He died alone so that you would not have to die alone – He is with believers even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

This is also the only time Jesus refers to His Father as “My God”.

5.

/“I thirst”/ (John 19.28)!

These words indicate the humanity of Christ and highlight the physical suffering.

They also fulfill an OT prophecy (Ps 22.15).

6.       /“It is finished”/ (John 19.30)!

One word in Greek summing up the whole of mankind’s redemption.

7.

/“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit”/ (Luke 23.46).

This was spoken immediately after the words, “It is finished”.

The words of triumph are followed by words of rest.

This is what physical death holds for us – the commending of our own spirits to God.

When we die, we go home.

Death no longer contains a sting.

To live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1.21).

*/Let us look closely at the first of these seven sayings…/*

*/ /*

*/“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23.34).”

Fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah:  “He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53.12)./*

Luke states that two criminals were led along with Jesus to a place called Calvary.

The only thing we may say with certainty is that this place was outside the walls of Jerusalem.

Jesus is crucified and as He is lifted up for the sins of mankind, He prays for the forgiveness of those who are carrying out this terrible deed.

His garments are divided, soldiers gamble for His covering, people look on, rulers sneer, soldiers mock, and even one of the thieves in this context blasphemed Jesus.

An inscription was nailed above Him.

It said, “This is the King of the Jews.”

All of this is being done in ignorance.

Jesus prays, “*/Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”/*

*/Transition:  The revealed Word of God concludes that this ignorance, while inexcusable, is forgivable!  /*

Ignorance:  Inexcusable but Forgivable

Three observations from the context help us understand the revealed Word of God…

 

1.

Those who crucified Christ did not know what they were doing because they did not know what God was doing.

a.

This verse is not speaking just of the Roman soldiers.

I believe Jesus had all of those gathered at the foot of the cross in mind.

I believe ultimately He had you and me in mind as well.

b.

Peter spoke to the men of Israel after healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3.

He told those Jews that they were the ones who delivered up Jesus and denied Him in the presence of Pilate (v.

13).

Pilate wished to let Jesus go, but they would not let Pilate do that.

They asked that a murderer name Barabbas be granted to them.

Peter said that the Jews “killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead” (v.

15).

Then he concluded, “Yet now, brethren, I know that */you did it in ignorance/*, as did also your rulers” (v.

17).

c.       Paul wrote that none of the rulers of this age knew what they were doing on this dreadful day.

“*/Had they known/*, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2.8).

2.       Those who persecuted and killed the disciples of Jesus did so because they did not know what they were doing.

a.

Others persecute and kill disciples of Jesus even today because they do not know what they are doing.

b.      Jesus said, “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

And these things they will do to you */because they have not known/* the Father nor Me” (John 16.2-3).

c.

People do not know or understand what you and I know and understand.

They do not know about the grace, mercy, love, and peace that we bring with the Gospel message.

Many are self-righteous, but they are also blinded by ignorance.

3.

Those who do not know what they are doing are still without excuse even though they are not without forgiveness.

a.

Jesus prays that the Father forgive these men.

That is, one day, these men will have to realize what they have done.

They will have to know Who Jesus is!

They will have to understand their need to be forgiven.

Jesus did not pray, “I have forgiven them.”

The only people who ever hear those words are people who repent!

b.

If they do not, Jesus Christ Himself will come “from Heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 1.7-8).

c.

Jesus did not pray, “Father, vindicate Me and judge these men even though they do know not they are doing.

Send a legion of angels to slay them.

Let the earth open and swallow them up.