The words of a man on his death bed are usually fairly important. The more important the man, the more important his words. We have the last words of some of the people in the Old Testament: Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David.
But nothing compares with the last words of Jesus on the cross. The last words have importance because they are His last words, but also because of the nature of the one who uttered them – He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. There are seven “words” – statements – from the cross three from Luke and one from Matthew & Mark and three in John. One from Luke is the focus of our attention.
Each statement has its own importance. Nothing Jesus said on the cross is worthless. When we read these words, we realize that Jesus was speaking to His Father twice and He spoke to a penitent sinner once. We can learn many things about the nature of Jesus and what was in His mind in His last hours on earth.
“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM” (23:34):
What would you say on your death bed? Would you say: “Father, forgive me, because I was a sinner!?” Jesus did not pray for his forgiveness, being sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21). But, according to God’s plan throughout the centuries, forgiveness or reconciliation between God and mankind was at the heart of the coming of the Son of man on earth (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:24).
So, even “on this death bed,” Jesus has in mind forgiveness – forgiveness of those who crucified him. For those who mocked him. For those who blind-folded Him and struck Him on the face. For those who cast insults at him in their teeth. For those who shouted out – “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” For those evil doers who were crucified with him.
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For those who forsook Him and fled. For those who followed Him from a distance. For those who testified falsely. For those who spat in His face. For those who beat him with their fists. For those who slapped Him. For those who denied Him.
For those who shouted out – “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” For those who plaited a crown of thorns and put it on his head and a reed in his hand. For those who bowed before them and mocked him. For those who cried out: “Hail, King of the Jews!” For those who took the reed and beat him over the head. For those who passed by and mocked him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who destroyed the temple and build it again in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
There are two applications for us today – first, the forgiveness of sins is still available. Those to whom Jesus spoke from the cross received the forgiveness of sins on the day of Pentecost when they fulfilled the divinely imposed conditions (Acts 2:37-38). If we fulfill those same conditions, we can also receive the forgiveness of sins.
In the second place, just as Stephen did when he was stoned to death (Acts 7:60), we need to forgive (Colossians 3:13). The love of God being revealed fully at the cross in the crucifixion of Jesus, let us love Him because He first loved us – 1 John 4:19.
–Paul Holland
