Father, Forgive Them

This edition of PowerPoint with Jack later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham heaven first, here's the message.

Father forgive. We are now on our way to Easter and on this journey to the empty two we come to the cross Jesus at the cross declares who he is and how we can know God.

We know God is and what God is like, and we see the heart of God most powerfully in the life in the words of Jesus at the cross at the cross, where the innocent one is dying among the transgressors and between two thieves. We've never seen a crucifixion except on film, but crucifixion was the most shameful and disgraceful death of all.

It was advised and adapted by the Romans as a public display of their power to crush resistance to deter crime and so crucifixion was was common in the day of Christ's and particular Jews were crucified over and over again.

And Jesus was led to a cruel death on the cross, not dying for his own crimes, but for the crimes of others. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities death on the cross was torturous.

That was brutal, agonizing man would literally supplicate in his own fluids dying on the cross, or else die from exposure or the loss of blood. Crucifixion was intended to prolong death as long as possible so that ultimately a man would beg.death would become a delight for someone dying on a cross. But on this cross. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see one who is in charge of his own destiny. Even though he was placed into the hands of sinful men. Yeah, Jesus the son of God is in control of all that goes on around at the cross. There were markers and scoffers. The Romans themselves, who crucified him, who viewed him as a failed King just another uprising among the Jews.

Just another GU diploma cross around the cross at the cross, where the religious leaders of the religious establishment who talk together and conspire together to condemn Jesus to death.

Ultimately the hands of the Romans. Then there was the curious crowd the indifferent. He just came by to see the latest crucifixion on their way to somewhere and then they gathered and they watched in their course, there were a few friends and family members at the cross, but ultimately the cross at the cross, we focus on the one who is on that cross. Who is this one dying on the cross. We never see who he is and what is light more clearly than in the first words spoken by Jesus.

The first of these seven statements that he makes upon the cross. Luke 2333 and 34 and when they came to the place that is called the skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one is left and Jesus said, father forgive them for they know not what they did father forgive them for they do not know what they did.

We have a say air is human and to forgive is divine. Jesus declares and demonstrates his deity with these words, a plea of prayer that he offers to the father. He demonstrates his identity with the father as the son of God. He never lost a sense of his son ship on the cross he he entered with words of affirmation to the father. The daddy father words that he uses the endured suffering when he cried out my God my God why have you forsaken me, and when he expired he committed his life to the father.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. But through and through the long six hours from 9 AM in the morning to three in the afternoon. Throughout those hours he stayed in perfect fellowship with the father and he cries out, he prays, father forgive them for they do not know what they do.

Here we see the heart of God, to give love and mercy and grace, forgiveness, Jesus is telling us from the cross. Why he came, and what he can do for all and that is to forgive. Jesus came to forgive our sins to save people from their sin to say people who are far, far from God, including those who even tortured and put him on the cross he announces his forgiveness that he was dying to give here is one who died like no other. He did not die in his sin, but he died for sin, but God demonstrated his love toward us in that why we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He did not die because of his own sin, but because of the sins of others, yours and mine.

And so when he exclaimed, father forgive them.

They do not know what they do.

This is Jesus with his arms open wide saying I love and I will forgive you if you come to me at the cross. It is written in a way that suggests that he repeated these words again and again. Jesus apparently said father forgive them father forgive them throughout his experience on the cross is death and dying on the cross when they nailed him and inhale him on the cross, dropping in that jagged hole he was crying out father forgive them for they know not what they do when they mocked him.

Father forgive them for they know not what they did when they spit upon them.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

He could have said father condemn them.

He could've called 10,000 angels to deliver him, but rather than saying father condemn them. He said father forgive what amazing life JC Ryle said this as soon as the blood of the great sacrifice began to flow.

The great high priest began to intercede.

Jesus is the great I high priest who is praying for us then and now. Somehow Jesus found strength and courage to pray at the cross as I told you death on the cross was so torturous and you would die because of its initiation, you would suffocate. So it was almost impossible to breathe so you could somehow lift yourself up if there was a little pedestal there. Remember I said the Romans wanted you to linger as long as possible and to die is painful and anguishing at death as possible. Some would last for multiple hours, even days on the cross, but you could somehow lift yourself up on this little pedestal and get air in. In order to speak and somehow Jesus was able along the cross is terrible way to speak at his first words father forgive them for they know not what they do reminds us that prayer is always possible for the believer and follower of Jesus because we have a God and a father who cares about us and in severe crosses and extreme losses. Sometimes we feel God are you there. I don't know how to pray.

I don't know what to say but remember Jesus who prayed for forgiveness to all who would come to him and no matter what you're facing in your life no matter how difficult the pain and anguish in your life can barely breathe. You can even speak, you can cry out to God, he will hear your listening to PowerPoint with Jack Brown and today's message father forgive them even in Mike's heaviest moments, the promise of heaven holds out and encouraging hope for you today. When you understand what your future with God will be like the burdens of the present for lighter, that's a pastor grants but heaven is all about and it's why we want to get a copy into your hands today heaven is our thanks for your gift to help share the truth of the gospel to more people around the world. The call now to request your copy of heaven. When you give call 1-800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack M.org where you can shop our E store. Give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotion our website again is Jack Graham.Margie. Now let's get back today's message.

Father forgive me as for whom was Jesus pray it was Jesus pray when it says father forgive them. They do not know what they do. What is that me well you certainly praying for the soldiers. He was certainly praying for the religious establishment.

Those who crucified him. The the immediate surrounding persecutors. He prayed for them. He said they do not know what they do.

Those who crucified Jesus in arrogance and those who crucified Jesus in ignorance. Some said we will not have this man to reign over us. They crucified him in arrogance, but they crucified the glory of the Lord of glory because I didn't know what they were doing. They could've never understood the enormity of their sin and the consequences of their sin.

They could have never imagined what they were doing in crucifying Jesus they didn't know son didn't know who it was they should have known who he was.

He told Emily was as he stood on trial as he stood before Manny clearly announced his deity, his son ship. They should've known but they refuse to believe they were blinded by their sin. Just like people today who are blinded to the truth and the reality of who Jesus Christ is. They choose their sin over the Savior. Ignorance is no excuse the other day I was driving to the church about a month ago I was driving to the church and I came back way that I normally don't travel and I'm going down the thoroughfare and in the and I was driving the speed limit 45 miles an hour. This particular area. Then I took a turn to get to the church and when I did not realize and did not see that there are a couple of signs on the little side road where I was cutting through that took the took the speed limit from 45 to 30 I found out that it was a 30 mile speed limit. When I got pulled over by a nice officer and he asked me, sir, W know you're getting a lot older when the policeman look like they're about 16 and call you sir right, but he said sir what what is any reason you were driving so fast, Wiley asked that question. I know better than to give an excuse.

I thought he said no sir.

I just I just wasn't paying attention to the speed limit. I'm still driving 45, but I was over the speed limit.

So I got a nice ship ticket just to remember what the speed limit is at that particular place.

I didn't know I I thought I was innocent, but I was guilty and in ignorance didn't save me from the consequences of my actions.

So when it comes to the cross.

We cannot plead ignorance. We know and yet father forgive them for they do not know what they do. We see his amazing grace and desire to forgive all even those who crucified him. Jesus is interceding and he is inviting all to receive his forgiveness. He will forgive anyone, anyone who repents of sin and receives his grace he gives hope for every poor on serving center so when he prays father forgive them who is them. We is that them in that personal pronoun said pronoun means you may can be forgiven. Every sin do you not think it Jesus would pray to forgive those who committed this unconscionable act of different finance and rebellion and brutality against him. Do you not think that if he would choose to forgive them that he would choose to forgive you. Here is prayer receive as part this is the last invitation of the Bible who so ever will make Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Father forgive them father forgive them father forgive them, these words echoed through the generations binders in our souls today, God the father answer this prayer. Yes he still answering it today as Jesus spoke and interacted with these two thieves crucified one of the right one on the left. One of the fees believe that I can help but think that what was what drew this thief to Jesus, the dying, believing thief was was hearing these words father forgive them a guilty man who no new he deserved to die. He hears Jesus praying to the father forgive and he said I want to be forgiven, remember me when you come into your kingdom was all said and done in Jesus God and commit his Spirit to the father hardly Roman soldier never seen a man die like this wanted.he said surely this man was the son of God, it must've been the mercy of Jesus and the forgiveness of Jesus that would forgive that man before he even asked that brought them to confession and declaration that Jesus is the son of God. And yes, God is still answering that prayer of Jesus today.

In fact, did you know that Jesus is still praying not on the cross, but at the throne of God for Hebrews 725 says he always lives to make intercession for them. So he died interceding for us and he live interceding for us. He is praying for our forgiveness. The portrait here is a defense attorney.

Standing before the bar standing in our defense at the judgment bar interceding for us. Interacting with us praying and pleading for us that we would be forgiven. What a prayer to God the father, who for freely forgives all who received his son Jesus is praying on this altar of sacrifice bearing our sins and each pleading his own blood and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's son cleanses us from all sin. His dad secures the promise of forgiveness. Forgiveness is free, but it cost God his only son. Forgiveness is not.

She the consequences of sin is there but Jesus painted that the debt that we owed in order that we might be forgiven. Father forgive but I know not what they did and if you have received his forgiveness and mercy and there's only one thing that you can do. Having repented of your own sin and receive God's grace and mercy by trusting in his son Jesus only to be your Lord and Savior.

There's only one thing for us to do and that is to forgive others to live a life of forgiveness because those who have been forgiven, forgive all of us have been hurt and damaged by people send against and broken by other sin.

Perhaps you're thinking there is no way that I can forgive because of this or him or her on this. You probably know by now, if you know me that I had the deal with that question as a young man when my father was brutally murdered.

I had to decide if I was going to live in bitterness or live in forgiveness and we all things that I can. Yes, by God's grace. You can, and I stand as a testimony to say is true that God will give us the grace and his love to forgive others. This is at the heart of the cross we talk about picking up the cross and following Jesus I can think of nothing more centered in the cross than forgiveness. If you're carrying the cross you are offering forgiveness. These words mark the lives of the testimonies of the disciples of Christ to forgive your enemies to forgive those who hurt you and pray that they will be my God the father. Jesus there listening to PowerPoint.

Jack ran in today's message. Father no matter what struggles you are facing today. You have hope in the premises awaiting you in heaven. And God calls you to share that hope with others today. That's why we want to encourage and inspire you today by sending you pastor Graham's but had this exciting book takes you straight to Scripture to help me see all that awaits you in the life to come, and how it impacts your life today to find hope for today encouraged to share that hope. So don't wait to request a copy.

Heaven is our special thanks. Get help proclaim God's word through PowerPoint to request your copy when you call today: 800-7956 27. That's when it 795467. You can also text the word PowerPoint to 59789 and don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop RV store give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotion our website again is Jack Graham.March pastor what to PowerPoint when life is difficult, and when people they would you defraud you when you're the victim of some injustice or wind sickness and suffering attacked you is always a crate idea to keep your eyes on Jesus, to keep your eyes on following Jesus. And that includes the cross. The reason is at the cross we see something incredible, something wonderful, something glorious that happened in the midst of the greatest tragedy imaginable. God was achieving his greatest victory. And so when our lives. We look to the cross and we remember that God uses sufferings and pain for his own purposes in us. We look to the cross to remind ourselves that even when life is hard and difficult. God loves us more than we can possibly imagine.

We know that if we allow this much.

If he is given us this great love then we can get through anything. We look to the cross to remember that we have been forgiven and our eternal future in heaven is guaranteed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I want to encourage you to visit Jack Graham.org and there you will be able to request prayer we would love to hear from you. If you have prayer request some way that we could minister to you. Prayer is so powerful and we're so grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and to connect with God in this way, their materials and resources available to you and Jack Graham.org you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. From there I just a great way for us to get together on a regular basis is also an opportunity that Jack Graham.org for you to give an online donation a gift that will go towards the advance of the gospel through PowerPoint. God is opening some amazing doors in our times and through PowerPoint and where grateful so we definitely need your financial support. So thanks for listening each day.

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