Luke 23:34a. ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’
And then it was Friday, a warm but cloudy day, that we call Good Friday. But anyone in their right frame of mind would certainly consider that a misnomer or an inaccurate name for that first Good Friday, a day on which many terrible things happened in the annals of our faith. But then, if we consider the name in the right context of the situation, we can see why it’s a good and fitting name. Why? Because on that First Good Friday Jesus Christ paid the enormous price for our sins with His selfless, sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary.
And as this commentary tells us: ‘Jesus’ death on the cross serves as a “ransom for many,” acting as the required price to liberate humanity from the bondage of sin and death. He served as a substitute, offering his life to satisfy divine justice and reconcile humanity with God.’ As He Himself says: ‘For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto (be served), but to minister (serve), and give his life a ransom for many.’ (Mark. 10:45)
And we arrived at that situation because God the Father desired to give His sinful creation a chance to come back to His fold, but as a righteous and just judge, that could only happen if our sins were paid for. And since only a sinless person could pay for sins, and since Jesus was the only sinless person in the universe, then He was obviously the only choice as the payee.
Now, having our sins paid for, is a wonderful thing, but the injustice and ‘sufferation,’ the cruel and inhumane treatment that Jesus went through to make that outcome possible, is heartbreaking and distresses the soul. We read about how He was betrayed by one of His trusted disciples, Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver and arrested on the night before the Passover in the Garden of Gethsemane, taken before the chief priests and elders, where He was mocked, humiliated and sorely abused.
The scriptures say: ‘And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote (struck) him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who it is that smote (struck) thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.’ (Luke 22:63-65) And when the council of Jewish leaders could not find good false witnesses against Jesus, they questioned Him about who He was, asking, ‘Art thou then the Son of God? and he said unto them, Ye say I am (You say rightly). And they said, what need we any further witness (testimony)? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.’ (Luke 22:70-71)
Then they took him to Pilate, the governor, accusing Him of blasphemy and sedition, or stirring up the Jewish people against the Roman government, for apparently only the Roman Governor could pronounce a death sentence, and that is exactly what the Jewish leaders wanted. But Pilate, on hearing that Jesus was from Galilee, sent Him to Herod, who had jurisdiction over that area. And though Herod questioned Jesus extensively, Jesus answered him nothing. ‘And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. and Herod with his men of war, set him at nought (treated him with contempt), and mocked him, and arrayed (dressed) him in gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate.’ (Luke 23:10-11)
But Pilate found no fault with Jesus, no truth in what He was accused of, and told the people He would chastise and then release Him, as their tradition called for one Jewish prisoner to be released at the Passover. ‘And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition (insurrection) made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.’ (Luke 23:18-19) And though Pilate tried to reason with the crowd, they kept on calling loudly for Christ’s crucifixion.
‘And so, Pilate willing to content the people (wanting to gratify the crowd), released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him (flogged with a Roman scourge), to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall , called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band (a group of Roman soldiers). And they clothed him (Jesus) with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head. And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote (struck) him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.’ (Mark 15:15-20)
Oh friends, you see the unfair and unjust abuse and mockery that Jesus took on our behalf. So how can we ever be ungrateful and treat Him without the respect and devotion He deserves eh? No way! But unfortunately many of us don’t consider Him as highly as we ought, and foolishly refuse to accept His payment for our sins, foregoing the glory of salvation and eternal life for one of eternal separation from Almighty God, thus making Jesus’ sacrificial death of no use to them.
Blessedly for Jesus though, as he was bearing His cross through the streets of Jerusalem, falling down from the weight and human tiredness, the soldiers compelled a man, Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross to a place called Golgotha, where they crucified Him, along with two thieves, one on either side of Him. Can you imagine lying on the ground on a wooden cross and have people driving nails into your hands and feet, without anything to ease the pain, although they apparently gave Jesus wine mixed with myrrh which would have dulled the pain, but Jesus refused it. Then having the cross being lifted up and placed securely in a hole, and you left to dehydrate, or if you were wounded, to bleed and eventually die in the hot sun.
That’s what Jesus endured for us my fellow believers. But you know He was ever so obedient to the will of the Father, obedient even unto death on the cross. And even in the throes of death, stabbed in the side with a javelin, given sour wine to quench His thirst, while the soldiers cast lots for His garments, as prophesied by Bruh David in Psalm 22:18, and the Jewish leaders continually mocking Him, Jesus still found the goodness and mercy to declare: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34a)
Yes my fellow believers, that’s the ultimate in forgiveness! And it will do us well to take a few moments of this Good Friday and contemplate what Jesus suffered for us ungrateful sinners, and see if we cannot come up higher in our appreciation for Him! Much LOVE!
…Jesus…the Son of God…sacrificed His sinless life…so that we sinners could live and be free from the bondage of sin…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
SCRIP-BITS 