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Father, Forgive

Father, Forgive

As we enter this Lenten season, we journey with Jesus from the cross to the tomb. In the final hours of His earthly time, as Jesus was dying, He spoke seven times from the cross. Last words can be very revealing. Jesus’ last words of forgiveness, salvation, relationship abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion enable us to look into eternity and see the heart of God. This Sunday we begin with Jesus’ words: “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do,” and “Today you will be with me in paradise.” We will discover the magnitude, breadth and depth of forgiveness and salvation.

Luke 23:33-43

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Footnotes:

[a] Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
[b] Some manuscripts come with your kingly power

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