“The Mark of Compassion”
Luke 23:26-43
(From video intro) That’s a poignant picture of grace, isn’t it? Calvary. It’s where forgiveness was finalized. It’s the epitome of compassion in action. Love on display. Grace poured out.
As that image remains in your mind’s eye, may I remind you of at least ten of the words Christ said while dying for us? It’s the first part of Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Go ahead and turn there, for we’ll be looking at several verses that surround that phrase. And while you’re turning, will you say it together with me? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Have you ever wondered what that phrase really means? What was Christ accomplishing when he stated, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?” Today let’s take that phrase and first break it down, then tie it all together, and then drive it home with some practical application. For in this phrase we see what is the second mark of the cross, the second imprint Calvary leaves upon us.
Break it down!
1. First, the words “Father, forgive.” The word ‘forgive’ here means to send away or depart, to let go or give up a debt. It is a willingness to let mercy rule in the short term so that repentance may win in the long term. It is compassion for the purpose of change. Simply put, Jesus was asking the Father to hold back, or send away/let go of, his judgment and extend mercy; to give them one more opportunity for forgiveness.
Personally, I believe this had both an initial fulfillment and an eventual fulfillment. Initially, God did delay his judgment upon the nation of Israel for another 40 years, for it wasn’t until 70 AD that Jerusalem was trampled. But make no mistake – God could have rained down judgment on that Good Friday, but he choose to wait even longer. That’s “sending away” or “giving up” the right to judge. That’s compassion!
Better still is the eventual fulfillment of this prayer – He has postponed his judgment upon the rest of the world as well, and allows us time to repent and believe. Because of Jesus’ death and the fulfillment it brings (which the law could not do), God gives all men everywhere the opportunity to believe. Truly, God is longsuffering and patient, not willing that any man or woman should perish in their sins (2 Peter 3:9).
But on whom did he extend this compassion, this request for a delay in judgment?
2. Specifically, the verse says “them” and “they.”
More than likely, this is referring to the Jews who were responsible for his death and the Romans who carried out the crucifixion. In his message at Pentecost, Peter affirms this when he says “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
But a wider scope may also be in view, for this entire passage is a snapshot of Christ’s forgiving spirit even as he walked the via Delarosa. From the women to the criminals to the people, Jesus was a walking model of compassion and forgiveness. Let me show you what I’m referring to.
23:26-31 - Compassion towards the mourners
23:32-34, 40-43 - Compassion towards the criminals
23:35-39 - Compassion towards the crowd
Yes, even throughout his worst hour – his crucifixion – he is compassionate towards those around him, requesting forgiveness and pleading for mercy for those who would kill him, and even saving those who look to him. During a time when he was in need of compassion, he still found the strength to model it. Odd, isn’t it? If you were watching this from a distance, you would think the one in need of compassion would be Jesus. But the real needy ones were all the others involved in this injustice. As Darrell Bock says, “The real tragedy is not his but theirs.”
Only the cross can instill that type of love within us; only Calvary – the place of the skull – can mark us with that kind of compassion for others.
So our Lord is asking for a delay in judgment – a compassionate request for forgiveness – towards those involved in his demise. But on what basis? Why?
3. Because they “know not what they do.”
It’s hard to imagine that the people involved didn’t know what they were doing. How could they not? It was so deliberate, manipulative, and malicious. And based on what we have seen in our study of Luke, they had wanted his death for some time. So how could they not know what they were doing?
The meaning lies in this: Their sin was rooted in ignorance in that they didn’t understand the full extent of their actions. They thought they were getting rid of a spiritual zealot, a religious threat; they didn’t know they were actually crucifying God. The enormity of their sin was beyond their comprehension. They looked at it strictly from a human level, yet what was actually going on was a divine battle, a cosmic struggle that was predicted as far back as Genesis.
Earlier I mentioned Peter’s sermon in Acts, remember? Not only does his message affirm who put our Lord to death, but it also confirms that they did it in ignorance. Look with me at Acts 3:17 – “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.” Did you notice what Peter said? That’s right – they acted in ignorance! In other words, they didn’t fully grasp the enormity of their sin.
Keep in mind something very important – their ignorance (of the full extent of their sin) did not absolve them from responsibility. But it did give Christ grounds for pleading for a delay in judgment on them. What Jesus is asking for is mercy in spite of their ignorance and lack of understanding, not because of it. He is showing a compassionate offer of forgiveness in the midst of spiritual blindness and ignorance.
Tie It Together
Let me see if I can take this phrase we’ve broken down and piece it back together for you, okay? What we’re talking about is immediate mercy before judgment, not eventual or eternal pardon from judgment. We’re talking about second chance to believe, not a “pass” from responsibility. Though judgment would have been appropriate, Christ asked God to delay it based on the simple truth that they weren’t fully aware. He interceded for them and requested God show extended mercy even though they chose a course that reflected a lack of understanding. Jesus wanted God to give them just one more chance! As Darrell Bock says, “Jesus’ intercession lays the basis for God’s offer of forgiveness. God’s love expressed here shows that rejection need not be permanent, neither for an individual nor for a nation.” (p. 373, Luke)
In our vernacular (Stiles’ paraphrase), Jesus was saying, “Father, hold back your judgment! On my behalf, show mercy just a little while longer! Why? They aren’t fully aware of the long-term consequences of their actions.”
Let me illustrate by telling you about how my kids used to respond to me and Julie during discipline when they were very young. When they would disobey or do wrong, and the sin called for a spanking, I recall vividly the words, “Mercy, daddy, mercy!” Or, “Mercy, mommy, mercy!” What were they asking for? A release from immediate consequences! You see, when they disobeyed, often they weren’t fully aware of the full extent of their sin. It was still sin, and they were responsible, so punishment was in order. However, they simply didn’t understand the long-term consequences of their wrong behavior. But we did. And so to correct it, we would go to the root of the problem. And as we did, they would cry out for mercy. Essentially, they would intercede for themselves and ask for one more chance to “get it right” so to speak. They were begging for a delay in judgment so that they would have one more opportunity to repent. They were looking or compassion and promising to change. They were hoping for mercy and, in return, showing repentance.
That’s the gist of this phrase, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” It’s an intercession on behalf of others who simply don’t understand the full extent of their sin; its compassion and forgiveness from us towards those entangled in unbelief and sin. And that is how the cross marks us – with compassionate forgiveness and mercy. It imprints us with a compelling love that looks beyond the offense and somehow finds the will to delay just one more time in hopes of repentance.
This attitude Christ exhibited on the cross – and one which he wants to instill in us – reminds me of how God has dealt with the Jews. In Romans 10-11 we find that God’s patience is called “kindness,” and we’re even told that the “goodness of God leads to repentance.” In this verse, “goodness” refers to God’s ability to withhold judgment and delay just a little longer so that Israel may be saved.
Additionally, it is how God deals with us today. Peter instructs us in 2 Peter 3 not to misinterpret God’s patience as divine sleepiness. Instead, realize it is simply God’s patience and compassion that is withholding eventual judgment. Why? Because he doesn’t want anyone to perish! God is delaying the coming judgment because he loves people so much and wants to see them saved. It is evident that from Jesus’ cross on earth to God’s throne in Heaven, compassionate forgiveness rings out across the world and says to the nations, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
That same character trait should mark the followers of Christ. And for centuries it has been stamped upon his most humble leaders. For example, Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen 18:16-33; Moses pleaded for Israel in the Pentateuch; and Stephen pleaded for the Jewish leaders (Sanhedrin) in Acts 7:54-60. In each case, a compassionate offer of forgiveness was requested. Someone interceded and asked God to show mercy – “give ‘em one more chance” – in spite of their ignorance and blindness.
This is what those who have been marked by the cross do – we plead for people! Whether it is the man or woman in the cubicle next to us, the factory worker we eat with in the break room, or the neighbor next door, for those who underestimate the enormity of their spiritual callousness, we ask God to show mercy and delay judgment. We plead to God on their behalf!
And to help us apply this, I’m going to ask you to take out your feedback card at this time and turn it over. You’ll notice three lines for three names. I’d like to ask you to write down three people you will start pleading for…three people you will intercede for…three people that, more than anything else, need the mercy of God! These are the people we’re going to start praying for weekly as we get ready for our Easter services. After all, it’s Missions month this month, and I can’t think of anything better to do than to ask God for a heart that pleads for others. Perhaps as we start praying for them, God will open up doors of communication – bridges of reconciliation – that we can walk though for his sake. And imagine if this Easter someone on your prayer list became a follower of Jesus! Wouldn’t that be just great? Hallelujah!
While you’re thinking, watch this simple video clip and let God use this time to bring the names of people to the forefront of your brain. When he does, jot down their names on the card in front of you. Watch the screen, would you?
“People Need the Lord” video clip
Altar call
Closing Song/Dismiss
