We're going to start in at verse 32, as we think about Jesus' death.
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Jesus to be executed.
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.
Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.
They said, He saved others. Let him save himself if he's God's Messiah, the Chosen One.
The soldiers also came up and mocked him.
They offered him wine vinegar and said, If you're the King of the Jews, save yourself.
There was written a notice above him which read, This is the King of the Jews.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him.
Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us.
But the other criminal rebuked him.
Don't you fear God, he said, since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.
But this man has done nothing wrong.
Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus answered him, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
Let's pray.
Father, these are familiar words.
It's a familiar scene to us.
We've sung about the death of the Lord Jesus.
We've read about it.
And we pray that as we look at it afresh,
that is what it will be.
It will be fresh to us today.
That this event in history would touch our lives today.
And would fill our hearts with joy.
And would send us out motivated afresh.
To live for you.
To serve you.
To enjoy you.
And to look forward with absolute assurance.
That we too will be in paradise.
Father, help us now we ask in Jesus name.
Amen.
Look at verse 34.
They're the most extraordinary words.
Father, forgive them.
This is why Jesus has come.
This is the climax of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem.
In fact, this is the fulfillment of God's eternal plan.
Just flick back a couple of chapters to chapter 18, verse 31.
As Jesus himself read the scriptures, the Old Testament,
it became clear to him why he had come.
Verse 31.
Jesus took the twelve aside and told them,
We are going up to Jerusalem,
and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man,
that's Jesus,
will be fulfilled.
He will be handed over to the Gentiles.
They will mock him.
They will insult him.
They will spit on him.
They will flog him and kill him.
Back to chapter 23.
And now as Jesus faces into the fulfillment of all that was promised,
as Jesus now faces death,
he prays,
Father, forgive them.
It's an incredible moment because,
well, just picture the scene.
Look at who Jesus is speaking to from the cross.
Jesus is offering forgiveness to those who are killing him and mocking him.
Verse 35.
The people stood watching,
and the rulers even sneered at him.
These were the same people who,
hours earlier,
were vying for his blood.
If you look back at verse 20.
Wanting to release Jesus,
Pilate appealed to them again.
But they kept shouting,
Crucify him!
But Jesus not only offers forgiveness to this bloodthirsty crowd.
Look at verse 36.
The soldiers also came up and mocked him.
These were the same soldiers who just,
hours before,
had punched him,
beaten him,
and nailed him to the cross.
Father,
forgive them.
Now, I don't know about you,
but if I were Jesus,
I would want revenge.
I'd be asking the Father
to let the same things happen to them.
After all, it's what they deserve.
But not Jesus.
He's not bitter.
He's not angry.
Peter, one of the disciples,
the one who had denied him,
witnessed these events,
and he later wrote about them
and recorded them in his book,
First Peter.
This is what he says.
When they hurled their insults,
he did not retaliate.
When he suffered,
he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him
who judges justly.
But what's even more amazing,
Jesus is speaking these words to us.
Father, forgive them.
Forgive me.
Forgive you.
You see,
we all need forgiveness.
We've all turned against God,
blamed God,
ignored God.
Like the disciples,
as we saw,
we betray him.
We deny him.
In fact,
God takes our behavior
towards one another
personally.
God has made us.
He owns us.
We belong to him.
And he loves us.
So every time
I hurt someone
with my words
or harm someone
with my actions,
it's not just
the other person
who is offended.
God takes personal offense
because we belong to him.
So every time
we sin against
another person,
we are acting
in defiance
against God.
We are sinning
against him.
So we just
don't need forgiveness
from others.
We all need to be
forgiven by the Father.
God takes
to be forgiven.
But how can I be forgiven?
How can you be forgiven
of all those
private sins,
the ones we keep
locked up
that no one knows about?
Or even the shameful ones
that, well,
people have seen
and do know?
Well, first,
forgiveness
is costly.
Look again
where Jesus is
when he offers
forgiveness.
Verse 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.
And Jesus said,
Father,
forgive them
for they do not
know what they are doing.
He's offering,
for Jesus is not
offering forgiveness
from the comfort
of a seat
by the pool.
Jesus is hanging
from a cross.
He's being executed.
He is being tortured
to death.
Crucifixion was designed
by the Romans
to make people suffer.
It could take days
for people to die.
You died slowly
in agony
and in pain.
Listen to how
one doctor
describes
what would have
happened
as someone
was crucified.
As the arms
fatigue,
great waves
of cramps
sweep over
the muscles,
knotting them
in deep,
relentless,
throbbing pain.
Air can be
drawn into the lungs
but it can't
be exhaled.
Jesus fights
to raise himself
in order to get
one short breath.
Hours of limitless pain,
cycles of twisting,
joint-rending cramps,
intermittent partial
asphyxiation,
searing pain
as flesh is torn
from his lacerated back
as he moves up and down
against the timber.
The heart is now
struggling to pump
heavy, thick,
sluggish blood
into the tissues.
The lungs are making
a frantic effort
to grasp,
to gasp in
small gulps
of air.
You see,
the point is,
forgiveness
is not easy,
it's costly.
Tim Keller
in his book
The Reason for God
illustrates
the point
very well.
let me read
to you.
Imagine
that someone
borrows your car
and as he
backs it out
of the driveway
he strikes a gate,
knocking it down
along with
part of a wall.
Your property
insurance
doesn't cover
the gate
and garden wall.
What can you do?
There are essentially
two options.
the first
is to demand
that he pay
for the damages.
The second
is to refuse
to let him
pay anything.
There also
may be
middle-of-the-road
solutions
in which you
both share
the payment.
Notice
that in
every option
the cost
of the damage
must be borne
by someone.
Either you
or he
absorbs
the cost
for the deed.
but the debt
does not
somehow
vanish
into thin air.
Forgiveness
in this
illustration
means
bearing
the cost
for his
misdeed
yourself.
So let's
just think
about that
for a moment.
If that's
your car
how would
you respond
if someone
is taking
your car
and crushed
it?
Well
you can either
take revenge
that means
you make
them pay
for what
they did
and they
have to
cover all
the costs
or you
can forgive.
You see
true forgiveness
means that
you refuse
to make
them pay
and you
bear the
cost
yourself.
If it's
revenge
well they
pay
and they
suffer.
If it's
forgiveness
you pay
and you
suffer.
You see
forgiveness
is never
easy
it's
costly.
If someone
hurts you
through the
words they
say
you can
take revenge
and say
hurtful words
back to
them.
You can
make them
suffer
or
you can
forgive
and refuse
to say
hurtful words
back.
You have
to absorb
the hurt.
You have
to bear
the suffering
yourself.
You see
forgiveness
is never
easy
it's
costly
and that's
what's
happening
on the
cross.
Jesus
is taking
my sin
your sin
Jesus
pays
Jesus
suffers
rather
than take
revenge
rather
than pay
back
Jesus
pays
the debt
Jesus
offers
forgiveness.
So
first
forgiveness
is always
costly.
Second
forgiveness
means
death.
If you
or I
are to
experience
forgiveness
then Jesus
must die
instead
of us.
Look at
what the
people are
saying to
Jesus
on the
cross.
Verse
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.
The
soldiers
also
came up
and mocked
him.
They
offered
him
wine
vinegar
which
was
to
kind
of
kill
the
pain
and
said
well
if
you
are
the
king
of
the
Jews
save
yourself.
well
Jesus
has a
choice
to
make.
Does
he
save
himself
or
does
he
save
you?
He
can't
save
both.
He
must
choose.
If
Jesus
chooses
to
save
himself
then
you
die.
If
Jesus
chooses
to
save
you
then
he
will
die.
the
crowds
the
rulers
the
soldiers
who
are
all
watching
and
shouting
at
Jesus
don't
realize
that
if
Jesus
does
save
himself
they
could
never
be
forgiven.
So
Jesus
chose
to
die
for
them.
He
chose
to
die
for
me
and
he
chose
to
die
for
you.
And
we
need
to
understand
this
no
matter
how
familiar
it
may
be
that
when
Jesus
was
dying
on
the
cross
he
was
taking
the
sin
of
all
these
crowds
all
these
soldiers
all
the
insults
and
all
the
things
that
we
have
ever
done
he
chose
to
die
for
them
he
suffered
for
you
and
for
me
but
the
real
suffering
isn't
the
physical
suffering
it
wasn't
just
the
beating
and
the
nails
and
the
crown
of
thorns
it
was
the
spiritual
suffering
that
he
was
enduring
he
had
to
drink
the
cup
just
the
night
before
as
he
was
in
the
garden
sweating
drops
of
blood
he
cries
out
to
the
father
take
this
cup
from
me
the
cup
being
the
symbol
of
God's
wrath
and
here
and
now
on
the
cross
he
drinks
that
cup
to
its
very
last
dregs
he
suffers
hell
for
you
and
for
me
isn't
that
what
Jesus
was
doing
for
Barabbas
have a
look
back
at
verse
18
you
know
Barabbas
as
Jesus
is
put
before
the
crowd
verse
18
the
whole
crowd
shouted
away
with
this
man
release
Barabbas
to
us
Barabbas
had been
thrown
into
prison
for
an
insurrection
in the
city
and
for
murder
wanting
to
release
Jesus
Pilate
appealed
to them
again
but
they
kept
shouting
crucify
him
crucify
him
for
the
third
time
he
spoke
to
them
why
what
crime
has
this
man
committed
I
have
found
in
him
no
grounds
for
the
death
penalty
therefore
I
will
have
him
punished
and
then
release
him
but
with
loud
shouts
they
intensely
demanded
that
he
be
crucified
and
their
shouts
prevailed
so
Pilate
decided
to grant
their
demand
he
released
the man
who had
been thrown
into prison
for insurrection
and murder
the one
they asked
for
and surrendered
Jesus
to their
will
that's where we
stand
Jesus has
paid the price
for all our
hurts
all our
anger
our selfish
choices
the revenge
that we have
set out on
others
the lies
the greed
Jesus
chose
to save
us
by dying
for us
taking this
suffering
taking that
place
exchanging
places
for us
so that
we can
be
forgiven
so what
are we
going to
do with
this
offer
of
forgiveness
how do
we
experience
this
forgiveness
daily
in our
lives
well let's
read verse
32
these two
other men
both
criminals
were also
led out
with him
to be
executed
when they
came to
the place
called the
skull
they crucified
him there
along with
the criminals
one on his
right
and the
other on his
left
and as
Jesus dies
they engage
in a
conversation
two criminals
two responses
look at how
the first criminal
responds to
Jesus
verse 39
one of the
criminals who
hung their
hurled insults
at him
aren't you
the messiah
save yourself
and us
this guy
is dying
he's about
to face
God's
judgment
but all he
can do
is mock
Jesus
and insult
Jesus
if you're
the Christ
if you're
God's
saving
king
then save
yourself
and us
you see
for the
criminal
the only
value
Jesus
has
is that
he might
be able
to save
him
from this
torturous
death
get us
out of
here
Jesus
well of
course
Jesus
could
save
him
he could
send
an army
of angels
but
Jesus
wants him
to see
that he
has come
to save
him
from
something
far
more
serious
God's
wrath
it's
not that
Jesus
doesn't
care
about
his
physical
pain
but
Jesus
wants
him
to know
eternal
life
you see
we can
be like
the first
criminal
sometimes
we treat
Jesus
like this
that the
only value
that Jesus
has is to
help us
when we're
in trouble
to give us
something that
we want
help me get
that job
Jesus
take away
this suffering
that I'm going
through
Jesus
help me
win my
match
Jesus
help me
find a
partner
Jesus
but that's
not how
Jesus
works
Jesus
is not
a magic
genie
who grants
everything
we wish
for
Jesus
is not
there to
meet our
physical
and material
desires
on our
demand
he comes
to give us
something
greater
forgiveness
of sins
and life
with him
how do
you treat
Jesus
look at
the response
of the
second
criminal
verse 40
the other
criminal
rebuked him
don't you
fear
God
he said
since you
are under
the same
sentence
we are
punished
justly
for we
are getting
what our
deeds
deserve
but this
man
has done
nothing
wrong
the criminal
knows he
is about
to die
but what's
more troubling
is he
knows he
will face
God
that's why
he shouts
out
don't you
fear
God
dying
on the
cross
will mean
separation
from his
friends
and from
his family
but facing
God
without
forgiveness
would be
something
much
worse
separation
from God
separation
from his
gifts
suffering
for all
eternity
he knows
he is
facing
hell
and knowing
his situation
he cries
out to
Jesus
verse 42
and he
said
Jesus
remember
me
when you
come into
your kingdom
him
he knows
Jesus
is innocent
and he
knows
he's
guilty
he's
heard
Jesus
offer
a
forgiveness
from the
cross
father
forgive
them
and he
has come
to see
that he
needs to
be forgiven
too
and he
knows that
Jesus
is the
only one
who can
deal
with his
sin
and he
comes
with simple
words
Jesus
remember
me
and
Jesus
response
is quite
incredible
verse 43
Jesus
answered
him
truly
I
tell
you
today
you
will be
with
me
in
paradise
to
be
in
paradise
is
well
it's
to be
in
the
new
creation
God's
eternal
kingdom
it's
this
world
that we
live
in
made
new
this
world
made
perfect
a world
without
suffering
or pain
or death
no
funerals
no
hospitals
a world
without
evil
and sin
a world
full of
joy
and peace
and happiness
forever
and forever
and that
day
that
criminal
would be
with
Jesus
and
everyone
who is
forgiven
by the
father
will be
with
Jesus
in
paradise
that is
our
future
that is
our
destiny
with
Jesus
we will
see him
we will
be with
him
and we
will
rule
with
him
in the
new
heavens
and the
new
earth
into
John
are
running
tell you
about
and
i know
the
ones
i
don't
want
you
to
know
come before him
listen to his words
father
forgive them
listen to the promise
with me
in paradise
know the joy of forgiveness
live as free people
know the joy
know
sins forgiven
let's pray
it's a familiar scene
it's a stunning scene
to see Jesus
crucified
executed
tortured
to listen and hear his words
father forgive them
father we confess
that we have denied you
betrayed you
we have treated you
like as we talked about
a magic genie
demanding our wants
ignoring you
when we have nothing
to ask for
father forgive
forgive the times
forgive the times where we
have spoken
out of turn
where we have
taken revenge
with our words
on other people
where we have held them
at distance
refusing to forgive
and wanting them to hurt
and pay
father forgive us
and may we know
that fresh
beginning
the slate
wiped
clean
as far as the east
is from the west
you remove our sins
from us
thank you that because
we are forgiven
we can look forward
to paradise
itself
with Jesus
forever
and forever
thank you
in Jesus name
amen
we are going to sing
about the cross
but we want to
celebrate
the cross
to see
to listen
and to know
that we can be
forgiven
let's
stand as we sing