Father, Forgive Them Series

Jesus hung on the cross for six agonizing hours before succumbing to the torture of crucifixion through asphyxiation. During that time, Jesus made seven statements on the cross recorded in the four gospels of the New Testament. Each of these statements is significant and worthy of every drop of your mental power.

"Mic Drop" is a term where a performer drops the microphone at the end of a performance. When someone literally drops the microphone, it's an expression of triumph. For many, the term "Mic drop" is known and even passe at this point. Yet, for others, the term "mic drop" is new to your ears. To drop the mic signifies a decisive moment, a crescendo, if you will. Nothing is left to be said on the matter. Presidents, performers, and even princes have dropped the mic at significant moments in their personal lives.

But surely, no one drops the mic like Jesus. Surely, at the end of time, Jesus is alone with have the microphone that matters. He will have the last word. In fact, Jesus' entire life is God's ultimate mic drop. God the Father told the Disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration when His voice came out of the cloud, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him" (Luke 9:35b)! And while the entire life of Jesus is noteworthy, the seven last words of Jesus are among the most noteworthy.

Today's Scripture

"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 on his left. 34 And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments" (Luke 23:33-34).

Jesus said seven Famous last statements from the cross.

During Jesus' six agonizing hours on the cross, Jesus made seven statements recorded in the four gospels. They are not just cute sayings of wisdom or philosophical nuggets to remember like a fortune cookie. They actually represent seven things that Jesus did and said in the moments of His death. While it is impossible to be certain about the absolute exact order of Jesus' statements as they are scattered over the four gospels, most serious Bible students agree on the following sequence.

Jesus first three statements were between nine am and noon:

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34b);

"Woman, behold, your son!" (John 19:26);

"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43);

Jesus' last four statements were spoken between noon and 3:00 p.m., the final hours before His death

"I thirst." (John 19:28);

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34);

"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46);

And last but not least, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

To prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Easter on April 17 just around the corner, I want to focus on the seven last words of Christ: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34b).

Let's slow down to consider each of these seven statements. Let's not gloss over the cross of Jesus as a forsaken fact. Instead, let's allow our minds to marinate in every detail of the important day in history. As I consider Jesus' statement, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34b), there are three Things That Shock Me about Jesus' statement.

Here are three things that should cause every one of us to stop and marvel at the Son of God.

1. He's Still Praying

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34b).

Jesus is praying! Only minutes on the cross, and the prophet from Nazareth is already praying!

1.1 The First Hours of the Cross

The Bible tells us Jesus was nailed to the cross around nine am in the morning. Jesus was enduring the first pains of the agony of the crucifixion. The executioners had just driven the nails through His hands and His feet. His body is pulsating with pain. His mind had endured the heartbreak of the night in Gethsemane. His entire psyche would have been in shock as the nails found their way past the nerves in the wrist. Yet, He still prays! Think of it: blow and after blow from the Roman hammer jarred His whole body. Yet, no amount of suffering could cause Him to cease calling out to the Father in prayer.

1.2 Jesus, Our Model

Let every one of us continue to pray as long as our heartbeats blood through our veins. Jesus is our model here. When suffering comes our way, may it not drive us away from our Lord and rather let it drive us closer to the throne of grace.