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.
1.3 Praying was His Lifelong Habit
Yes, as Jesus was adjusting His back to the rough-hewn wood of the cross, He prayed. As He oscillated up and down on nail-pierced feet in order to draw a labored breath, Jesus prayed.
Now, in one way, I shouldn't be surprised that Jesus is praying at all. The Bible shows Jesus praying twenty-five times while He was on the earth. Prayer was His lifelong habit. We know Jesus prayed in the morning. Jesus prayed alone, and He prayed with others. He prayed before meals, where Jesus offered thanks. He prayed before making important decisions, and Jesus prayed for His disciples. And no matter what He faced at the end of His life, nothing would deter Him from His holy habit of prayer.
1.4 All Night Affair
I am shocked that the first recorded words from Jesus were NOT something like, "Woe is me." A normal person might have prayed, "Get me out of this pain, Father!" Instead, the first recorded words from the lips of Jesus while on the cross is a prayer. Imagine how weak He was after having endured trials that lasted all night. Imagine how feeble He was having sustained the cruel beatings from Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and the Roman Praetorian guards! But, neither the weakness of the past nor the pain of the present could prevent Him from continuing in prayer. Jesus is still praying!
He may not have said a word before Herod, who had questioned Him just a few hours before, but no amount of pain can silence His prayer life before His Father. The Lamb of God may have been silent to men, but he was not silent before His Father. If the cruel pain of the cross doesn't turn Him away from the Father, what will? He's still praying on the cross. Yes, it's fitting that the first thing out of Jesus' lips is a prayer.
1.5 I Cannot Believe in a God Who…
Everything about Jesus is amazing. But I find His remarkable here. We are told in our day by so many skeptics, "I cannot believe in a God who sends people to hell." "I cannot believe in a God who allows genocide, famine, and the Holocaust." We are a generation who has seen suffering and rejected any notion of a good God because of what they have seen.
1.5.1 Not Jesus!
Not Jesus. Jesus is experiencing suffering on a magnitude that I cannot imagine! Jesus is experiencing the wrath of God, crushing Him for the sins of believers everywhere! Yet, Jesus didn't jerk His hand free only to shake his fist at the heavens. Jesus didn't rail at God, the Father, "I cannot believe in You. I cannot believe You would desert me. All I ever did was serve You. All I ever did was walk around doing good. And this is the thanks I get?" We may hear a generation of Americans say, "I cannot believe in a God who allows suffering on such a widespread scale." But no make mistake about it: Jesus can.
Jesus can believe, and He did believe! Jesus believed all the way through the end of the cross and all the way through Good Friday!
1.5.2 The Remarkable Faith of the Son of God
Oh friend, marvel with me in the strength of the Son of God's faith. Just as Jesus taught us to pray in the model prayer, so He prays even now on the cross. "Our Father who is in Heaven…" Jesus prays with the now-familiar words, "Father."
Surely no one has done anything more awe-inspiring as did Jesus on the cross. This is truly a thing to marvel at. The Brits would say, I am gobsmacked by such a thing!" Now, all of us are tempted to give up on faith when tough times come. Not Jesus.
1.5.3 Full of Faith
Jesus is full of faith. Jesus' cup is running over with faith in the goodness of His Father. Every one of His chromosomes is chocked full of faith! If you were to unwind the double helix of Jesus' very DNA, you'd see faith in His Father down to even the microscopic level! When sweat was mixed with blood at Gethsemane, Jesus believed in the goodness of God! When Pilate kissed Him on the cheek to betray Him, Jesus believed in the goodness of God! And when the people taunted Him with cries, "If you're the Son of God, come down off the cross, Jesus never paused, hesitated, or faltered in His firm belief in the goodness of God! Jesus can believe in a good Father who permits the most precious, sinless, spotless Son of God to be crushed by the evil weight of humanity's darkest act. Jesus believed in the goodness of God to His dying breath and all the way through to His first breath again on Easter Sunday morning! A generation may not believe, but Jesus believes!
1.6 He is Faithful When We Are Faithless
Friend, you may be wavering in your belief in the goodness of God in these dark days. A culture of divorce has left us cynical. Corporate greed makes us all think that everyone is only making a buck. Despite all this, there is a Savior who believes in the goodness of God even while hanging on the cross. I love Paul's words when He said, "if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). Yes, Jesus believed!
1.7 Casting Lots
Marvel at the Son of God with me. Don't allow the familiarity of the story to rob you of one ounce of wonder at the spectacle in front of us. And if all this is not shocking enough, we read these words just after His prayer: "And they cast lots to divide his garments" (Luke 23:34b). He's still praying while they are throwing dice underneath Him but a few feet away. The callous nature of His executioners was on vivid display. Yet, Jesus continues to cry out to His heavenly Father. No pain can silence Him. No weakness can muzzle Him. Jesus continues to pray. Like drawing warmth from a fire on a cold winter night, Jesus draws comfort and consolation from His heavenly Father through prayer. Though His heart may be overwhelmed with grief, He nevertheless turns to a great God for help. Remember: when suffering comes our way, it should not drive us away from our Lord, but rather, it should drive us closer to the throne of grace.
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34b).
I marvel that the Son of God prayed.
1. He's Still Praying
2. He's Thinking of Others
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34b).
The second part that shocks me is that Jesus' first recorded statement was evidence that He was thinking of others. Yes, there's a time when Jesus does think of Himself on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). But when the pain is coursing through His body, His mind FIRST thinks of others—Marvel with me at Jesus. Bow prostrate to One who every knee shall bow before, and every tongue will confess the worth of His office. Jesus thinks of others first while hanging on the cross.
2.1 If There's One time…
If there was one time when Jesus could have rightly prayed ONLY for Himself, surely it's now when He's first beginning to suffer on the cross. Would anyone castigate Him for not thinking of others in the first hour of His crucifixion? Jesus' first statement is a statement where his mind is focused on others. Marvel at the selfLESSness of the Son of God with me.
Surely Paul is right when he later writes: "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:4-7).
"Yes!," we say in response.
I have the mind of Christ! I am able to overcome my selfishness because I have the Spirit of God residing in me! And if the Son of God can think of others first while hanging six feet from the ground between two thieves, surely I have no excuse for being selfish today.
2.2 Jesus' Message
When Jesus stopped to think of others and pray for others, it's entirely consistent with the message of His life.
2.2.1 Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
In one way, I shouldn't be shocked He's thinking of others. It was Jesus, after all, that taught us to, "Love our neighbors as ourselves…" and then, at the moment of His greatest need, He did exactly that. Jesus loved His neighbor as Himself, even on the cross! Jesus loves His neighbor by praying for others even while He's dying.
2.2.2 Love Your Enemies
Again, when Jesus stopped to think of others and pray for others, it's entirely consistent with the message of His life. "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:44-45a). Jesus is modeling how a disciple should live in this world.
Every time someone hurts you, every time someone pulls the rug out from under you, every time someone takes a shot at you, every time someone crushes your heart, the devil wants you to focus on them. The devil wants you to focus on what they have done to hurt you. When Jesus stopped to think of others and pray for others, He was consistent with the message of His entire life.
I marvel at Jesus for His life and His death. I marvel with awe at how He handles Himself on the cross.
2.3 Jesus is Praying Now
Do you know, Mr. Believer, that Jesus is praying even now for you? Do you know, Ms. Believer, that Christ is at the right hand of the Father and calling out on your behalf even as I speak? "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (Romans 8:34). But while I am encouraged, and I profit greatly from knowing Jesus is NOW praying for me, I marvel that Jesus even prayed for me while hanging on the cross. If Jesus can pray for you when He's being killed, what can stop Him now that He's at the right of the Father?
1. He's Still Praying
2. He's Still Thinking of Others
3. He Still Forgives His Killers
"And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments" (Luke 23:34).
Jesus prayed for His murders. But Jesus just didn't just pray for others, did He? No, He prayed for the very ones who were His cruelest enemies. This is the reason Jesus wear the crown "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" on His head. "Father, forgive them" is for the very ones who are doing unimaginable cruel things to Him.
3.1 He Really Prayed for His Killers
Pause and consider the scene for a moment. His killers certainly did not ask Him to pray for them. I think everyone would agree that they did not deserve His prayer. Still, Jesus prays for His murders. He prayed for people who did not deserve His prayers. They deserved a curse if they deserved anything!
I bet some of these rough, hard-hearted men even scoffed when they heard Him pray, don't you? I think it's easy to imagine they scorned and ridiculed Him for His prayers. Remember the people calling out to Him on the cross saying, "If you're the Son of God then come down off the cross" (Matthew 27:40). Yes, they made fun of Jesus for praying. Still, He prayed for His murders.
3.2 A Prayer for His Enemies in Real-Time
This prayer was NOT just for people who had done Jesus wrong several decades ago. Not, this was a prayer for His enemies who were busy at that very moment doing Him immense harm. Jesus didn't pray a prayer of forgiveness for His enemies years later while He sat in a nursing home, half-forgetting what they had done to Him. Not at all! Jesus prayed to forgive His enemies while red drops of blood spurt out His hands and feet. Jesus prayed for His enemies in real-time. They crucified Jesus with cruel hate in their heart. The crowd demanded He be crucified over known killers and criminals. Still, Jesus prayed for His murders. They were even willing to say, "His blood be on us and on our children" (Matthew 27:25)! Chills run up and down my back as I hear the crowd chant these words in unison. Yet, Jesus prayed for them in real-time! I marvel at the heart of compassion for One to pray for His enemies like this.
3.3 A Unique Prayer
No other prayer is like this prayer: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Abraham and Moses prayed for their enemies. Yes, the prophets had prayed for the wicked. But no prophet or patriarch prayed for wicked men as they were piercing His hands and feet! Yes, Stephen prayed for those who stoned him, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" as he fell dead on the ground (Acts 8:60). Many martyrs have followed Jesus' example in how He prayed as they were killed for their Christian faith. But Jesus' prayer was the original.
Does not a heart like His make you want to willingly kneel down before in worship? If I knew nothing else about Jesus but this, does not a heart like His not fill your heart with love for Him?
I still think His words, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,' turned the impenitent thief around. Remember, He was surrounded by two thieves, and at first, they both mocked Him. Later, the gospel record the one thief saying this to Jesus: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). We are not told precisely was precipitated the change in the dying thief. All we know about him is that a radical change happened in a matter of minutes. But I have to think Jesus' prayer for His enemies stopped him in his tracks. Jesus' words have this impact on anyone and everyone. No one prayed like Jesus. No one forgives like Jesus. No one loves like Jesus.
3.4 All of His Enemies
This prayer was NOT simply confined to the Roman soldiers who served as His executioners. This was a far-reaching prayer for the Scribes and Pharisees who were His continual enemies throughout His public ministry. This was a comprehensive prayer for Pilate and Herod, who conspired together to grant civil authority to the greatest crime in human history. No, this wasn't a neat and tidy prayer for a simple handful of people. This was indeed a far-reaching prayer. Surely, He was also praying for every believer whose sins sent Jesus to the cross as well. Surely Christ was praying for you. Surely Jesus was praying for me as well. Every one of us is complicit in the murder of the Son of God.
3.4 Jesus Still Prays for His Enemies
Just a moment ago, we paused to remember how Jesus is still praying for His children all these many years later. There is not one person alive who deserved His prayers. Don't imagine your sin didn't put Christ on that cross. It wasn't Romans who killed Jesus or the Jews who killed Jesus, it was you who killed Jesus Christ. If you had not sinned, He would not have died.
Jesus sits at the right hand of God, even now interceding for you. But have you considered this? Jesus is still praying for His enemies even today. Jesus is still calling out to the Father all these many years later, "Father, forgive them!" Jesus is in a much better place. He's not in agony. He's not bearing the weight of the sins of the world on His back as He did then. Yet, He still prays for guilty men and women even to this day. There is not one person alive who deserved His prayers.
While forgiveness is available, it isn't automatic. I don't expect to walk into Heaven and see Judas Iscariot, Herod, Pilate, Caiphas, and Anias one day. Yes, Jesus prayed for them, all of them to be forgiven. And while forgiveness was available for their dreadful deeds, it wasn't automatic. Forgiveness for you is available, but it isn't automatic. You need to do exactly what the thief on the cross did. He turned away from his sins and asked for forgiveness from Jesus Christ. To receive forgiveness, you must ask for forgiveness.
