A PORTRAYAL OF FORGIVENESS
Notes
Transcript
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine
The 1986 movie titled, The Mission, tells the story of a Jesuit priest named Gabriel who is commissioned to build a mission in South America for the Guarani Indians.
On the way, Gabriel meets Mendoza played by Robert DeNiro, a mercenary who has been a slave trader. His slaves have included Guarani Indians. Mendoza is also trapped in a prison of guilt and regret for having killed his brother in a jealous rage. Gabriel attempts to persuade the guilt-stricken man to accompany him to the Guarani village where he has committed so many of his sins.
"There is a way out, Mendoza," Gabriel says.
"For me there is no redemption," Mendoza replies.
"God gave us the burden of freedom. You chose your crime; do you have the courage to choose your penance? Do you dare do that?"
"There is no penance hard enough for me."
"But do you dare try it?"
"Do I dare? Do you dare to see it fail?"
As they begin the arduous journey, the priest straps a huge sack of armor on Mendoza's back. To reach the village the men must travel over cliffs and waterfalls. The journey is nearly impossible for someone with 100 pounds of armor strapped to his back.
They finally reach their destination, and the Indians are excited to see Gabriel. But as they recognize Mendoza, it becomes a moment of truth. One of the Indian men unsheathes a knife and holds it to Mendoza's neck. Mendoza remains calm, prepared to receive the punishment he deserves for his sins. Then, in an unexpected portrait of grace, the Indian removes his knife from Mendoza's throat and cuts the pack of armor free. All watch as it falls from the slave trader's back and clanks down the mountainside into a ravine below. Mendoza, shocked and confused, begins to sob uncontrollably and clings to the Indian man's feet in contrition.
In today’s text Jesus takes His abstract teaching from the Sermon on the Mount
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
and brings it into the realm of the actual. The teacher brings his point to life by forgiving those who are taking His life. Jesus did more than direct his followers to forgive He demonstrated it in the most vivid way. Let’s examine his portrayal of forgiveness.
LOOK AT THE CROSS
LOOK AT THE CROSS
Christ’s crucifixion paints a portrait of humans at their worst and God at his best.
The Creator had come to His creation, and yet they knew him not. The Lord of glory moved into humanity's neighborhood only to find rejection. Eyes, blinded by sin, did not desire nor behold his beauty.
His birth foreshadowed his human experience, just as no vacancy signs filled Bethlehem, so to did the hearts of those he came to save. Herod’s infanticide decree launched a series of murderous plots against the Savior, culminating in man’s most torturous form of punishment, the cross.
The invention of the cross reveals the depths of human depravity. Never had man’s depraved mind revealed its depths until this moment.
There he hangs, nails in his wrists and feet. Placed there, not by the court but the crowd and condemned, not by the prosecution but the people.
Waves of pain surging through His body yet silence. No cry for pity. No call for relief. Will he die in silence? Crucifixion causes men to either blaspheme or beg.
Golgotha's Hill experienced a reaction on that day foreign to its onlookers. Neither blaspheme nor begging came from his lips, only benediction.
LISTEN TO THE CRY
LISTEN TO THE CRY
Our text today is Jesus first cry from the cross and the last prayer he prayed—“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do” ().
No longer might those hands minister to the sick, for they are nailed to the cross; no longer may those feet carry him on errands of mercy, for they are fastened to the cruel tree; no longer may he engage in instructing the apostles, for they have forsaken him and fled. How then does he occupy himself? In the ministry of prayer! What a lesson for us.
A question is often asked by those who are unable to serve the Lord as they had; why has the Lord left me here in this condition? Perhaps your existence is to engage in the ministry of prayer, whereby you might possibly accomplish more in this duty than by all your past service. Do not disparage such a ministry but remember your Savior. He prayed, prayed for others, prayed for sinners, even in his last hours.
In praying for his enemies, not only did Christ set before us a perfect example of how we should treat those who wrong and hate us, but he also taught us never to regard any as beyond the reach of prayer. If Christ prayed for his murderers, then surely we have encouragement to pray now for the very chief of sinners!
As Christians, we should never lose hope. Does it seem a waste of time for you to continue praying for that man, that woman, that wayward child of yours? Does their case seem to become more hopeless every day? Does it look as though they had gone beyond the reach of divine mercy? Remember then the cross. Christ prayed for his enemies. No one is beyond the reach of prayer.
Jesus sets an example for us while showing us the efficacy of prayer. We see the effectiveness of Jesus' prayer in the conversion of 3,000 souls on the day of Pentecost. I base this conclusion on Peter’s words in
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
, where the apostle Peter says, “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as also did your rulers.” Peter’s use of “ignorance” corresponds with our Lord’s “they know not what they do.” Here then, is the supernatural explanation of the 3,000 converted under a single sermon. It was not Peter’s eloquence, which was the cause but the Saviour’s prayer.
Peter’s use of “ignorance” corresponds with our Lord’s “they know not what they do.” Here then, is the supernatural explanation of the 3,000 converted under a single sermon. It was not Peter’s eloquence, which was the cause but the Savior's prayer.
Did you know that Christ prayed for you and me long before we believed in him? Turn to for proof. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.
Let us follow our Savior’s example and intercede for our enemies. Our prayer may not save three thousand but what if it saved one? We must cease with our condemning wishes and begin to praying unceasingly for those, especially our enemies, who don’t know Christ as Savior.
Consider for a moment those 3,000 saved under Peter’s preaching. Do you believe they would have experienced salvation without Jesus’ prayer? Possibly but let’s stick with what we know for sure, Jesus prayed for them and His Father answered.
Jesus never once reacted surprised by his treatment. He came into a world knowing that its inhabitants were by nature children of wrath. Living according to the passions of their flesh and under the control of the prince of the power of the air.
Fully knowing what awaited him, he came.
When Jesus says, “they know not what they do,” he is not saying they are ignorant of what they were doing. They knew full well for they cried, “Crucify him.” If they knew then why did he say, “they know not what they do.” Their ignorance pertained to “him,” they crucified. They “knew not” that it was the Lord of glory they were crucifying. The emphasis is not on “They know not,” but on “what they do.”
Blindness is not an acceptable excuse on the Day of Judgment. Those who crucified the Savior witnessed his majesty, “no one ever spoke like this man.” If his words were not a reliable enough witness, what of his miracles for they were well-known and attested to by many. Their rejection of the Son of God bore full witness, once for all, that the carnal mind is “enmity against God.”
This tragedy did not cease at the cross but continues today. Daily, multiplied millions, neglect and reject God’s great offer of salvation. Weekly, people throughout our world, attend gospel services only to spurn His merciful invitation. They shun him with no fear. They are like those in who said, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
Let me put forth Pilate’s question to you this Lord’s Day, “What shall you do with Jesus which is called Christ,” you either reject him or receive him as the Saviour of your soul and the Lord of your life.
Is there one amongst us this morning who has shelved this all-important consideration. For years you have steeled your heart against Christ, closed your ears to his appeals, and shut your eyes to his surpassing beauty. You know not what you do. Blind you are to whom you have sinned against, yet excuseless. Today, God’s Spirit, whom you have resisted in past days, comes once again speaking, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Blinded sinner, your sight awaits. Leave here this Lord’s Day singing, “I was blind but now I see.”
LIVE CROSS-CENTERED
LIVE CROSS-CENTERED
In the Sermon on the Mount our Lord taught his disciples, “
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
). Above all others Christ practiced what he preached. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. He not only taught the truth but was himself the truth incarnate. Said he, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (). So here on the cross he perfectly exemplified his teaching of the mount. In all things he has left us an example.
Above all others Christ practiced what he preached. So here on the cross he perfectly exemplified his teaching of the mount. In all things he has left us an example.
In praying for the forgiveness of his enemies Christ struck right down to the root of their need. And their need was the need of every child of Adam. Reader, have your sins been forgiven? that is, remitted or sent away. Are you, by grace, one of those of whom it is said, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” ()?
Mark carefully the word with which our text opens:
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke“Then.” The verse which immediately precedes it reads thus, “And when they came to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” Then, said Jesus, Father, forgive them. “Then”—when man had done his worst. “Then”—when the vileness of the human heart displayed itself in climacteric devilry. “Then”—when with wicked hands, the creature had dared to crucify the Lord of glory. He might have uttered awful maledictions over them. He might have let loose the thunderbolts of righteous wrath and slain them. He might have caused the earth to open her mouth so that they had gone down alive into the pit. But no. Though subjected to unspeakable shame, though suffering excruciating pain, though despised, rejected, hated, nevertheless, he cries, “Father, forgive them.” That was the triumph of redeeming love. “Love suffereth long, and is kind … beareth all things … endureth all things” (). Thus it was shown at the cross.
“Then.” The verse which immediately precedes it reads thus, “And when they came to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” Then, said Jesus, Father, forgive them. “Then”—when man had done his worst. “Then”—when the vileness of the human heart displayed itself in climacteric devilry. “Then”—when with wicked hands, the creature had dared to crucify the Lord of glory. He might have uttered awful maledictions over them. He might have let loose the thunderbolts of righteous wrath and slain them. He might have caused the earth to open her mouth so that they had gone down alive into the pit. But no. Though subjected to unspeakable shame, though suffering excruciating pain, though despised, rejected, hated, nevertheless, he cries, “Father, forgive them.” That was the triumph of redeeming love. “Love suffereth long, and is kind … beareth all things … endureth all things” (). Amazing love how can it be that you my king would die for me!
Christians are forgiven says the Holy Spirit:
). The believer is in Christ, and their sin will never again be counted against them. This is our place or position before God. In Christ is where he beholds us. And because I am in Christ, I am completely and eternally forgiven, so much so that never again will sin be laid to my charge as touching my salvation. I am out of that place forever. Listen to the testimony of scripture: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” . Note what Christ has unified—his resurrection with my forgiveness! If then my life is “hid with Christ in God” (), then I am forever out of the place where the charge of sin applies. Thus it is written, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” ()—how could there be if “all trespasses” are forgiven? None can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect (). Dear Christian, join the writer in praising God because we are eternally forgiven everything.
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
The believer is in Christ, and their sin will never again be counted against them. This is our place or position before God. In Christ is where he beholds us. And because I am in Christ, I am completely and eternally forgiven, so much so that never again will sin be laid to my charge as touching my salvation. I am out of that place forever. Listen to the testimony of scripture: “
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
. Note what Christ has unified—his resurrection with my forgiveness! If then my life is “hid with Christ in God” (), then I am forever out of the place where the charge of sin applies. Thus it is written, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” ()—how could there be if “all trespasses” are forgiven? None can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect (). Dear Christian, join the writer in praising God because we are eternally forgiven everything.
Note what Christ has unified—his resurrection with my forgiveness! If then my life is “hid with Christ in God”
, then I am forever out of the place where the charge of sin applies. Thus it is written, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” ()—how could there be if “all trespasses” are forgiven? None can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect (). Dear Christian, join the writer in praising God because we are eternally forgiven everything.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
then I am forever out of the place where the charge of sin applies. Thus it is written,
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
)—how could there be if “all trespasses” are forgiven? None can lay anything to the charge of God’s elect (). Dear Christian, join the writer in praising God because we are eternally forgiven everything.
—how could there be if “all trespasses” are forgiven?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
). Dear Christian, join the writer in praising God because we are eternally forgiven everything.
Dear Christian, join the writer in praising God because we are eternally forgiven. Furthermore, leave this gathering of the redeemed committed to forgiving and praying for those who need forgiveness.