Luke 23:34 is a shocking verse. Verse 33 tells us that Jesus has been crucified. Before this verse, He has been betrayed, wrongfully arrested, mocked, spat on, denied justice, whipped until the skin of his back was shredded, denied sleep, stripped naked (except the loincloth around his middle), and made to carry the heavy wooden crossbeam up the hill named "Golgotha" or "Calvary." He had been so weakened that someone else had to help carry his cross. Now, he has just had his hands and feet nailed to the cross, and still naked, he has been put on display in front of a crowd of people - so they can watch him die. If that wasn't enough, the soldiers at his feet were gambling to see who would get his clothes after he dies.
In the midst of all that, he says (34) "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Jesus understood what Paul said in Ephesians 6:12. He knew that these people, including Judas (the betrayer), Pilate (the unrighteous judge), and the soldiers (the ones who crucified him), were only pawns. Behind all of them stood Satan. He was the real enemy - and he had deluded all those people. So, Jesus can say, "Father, forgive them."
Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Are there any situations that Satan has seemingly won the victory? What can you do, today, to repair those relationships?
"Father, Forgive Them"
Luke 23:34 is a shocking verse. Verse 33 tells us that Jesus has been crucified. Before this verse, He has been betrayed, wrongfully arrested, mocked, spat on, denied justice, whipped until the skin of his back was shredded, denied sleep, stripped naked (except the loincloth around his middle), and made to carry the heavy wooden crossbeam up the hill named "Golgotha" or "Calvary." He had been so weakened that someone else had to help carry his cross. Now, he has just had his hands and feet nailed to the cross, and still naked, he has been put on display in front of a crowd of people - so they can watch him die. If that wasn't enough, the soldiers at his feet were gambling to see who would get his clothes after he dies.
In the midst of all that, he says (34) "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Jesus understood what Paul said in Ephesians 6:12. He knew that these people, including Judas (the betrayer), Pilate (the unrighteous judge), and the soldiers (the ones who crucified him), were only pawns. Behind all of them stood Satan. He was the real enemy - and he had deluded all those people. So, Jesus can say, "Father, forgive them."
Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Are there any situations that Satan has seemingly won the victory? What can you do, today, to repair those relationships?