________________________________________
The first word Jesus speaks from the Cross
“Father, Forgive Them – The Triumph of Divine Mercy from the Cross”
Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.”
________________________________________
1. Introduction – The Voice from the Cross
My dear brothers and sisters,
The Cross of Christ is not only the place of suffering.
It is also the place where God's heart is revealed.
Before Jesus died on the Cross, He spoke seven times.
These sayings are known in Christian tradition as the Seven Last Words of Jesus.
Each word reveals something about:
• the love of Christ,
• the mission of salvation,
• and the heart of God toward humanity.
The first word spoken by Jesus from the Cross is this:
“Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
This word opens the Gospel of the Cross.
It reveals to us that God is a God who forgives.
The Cross begins not with condemnation,
but with forgiveness.
________________________________________
2. The Gospel of Forgiveness
This first word from the Cross is the Gospel of Forgiveness.
Jesus does not speak about revenge.
Jesus does not speak about punishment.
Instead, He prays:
“Father, forgive them.”
Notice something beautiful.
Jesus does not say:
“Father, punish them.”
“Father, destroy them.”
“Father, judge them.”
Instead, He says:
“Father, forgive them.”
The Cross therefore becomes the great pulpit of mercy.
At the moment of greatest suffering,
Jesus reveals the greatest love.
________________________________________
3. What Usually Happens to Crucified People
History tells us that people who were crucified behaved very differently.
Those who were crucified often:
• cursed the day of their birth
• cursed the executioners
• cursed their enemies
• cursed the crowd watching them
Many of them shouted terrible words of anger and blasphemy.
Sometimes their rage became so violent that their tongues had to be cut down to stop their blasphemies.
Crucifixion brought:
• unbearable pain
• humiliation
• hatred
• despair.
But Jesus is completely different.
While others cursed,
Jesus forgave.
While others shouted anger,
Jesus prayed.
While others spoke hatred,
Jesus spoke mercy.
________________________________________
4. Everyone Was Waiting for His Reaction
At Calvary many people were watching Jesus.
They were waiting to see how He would react.
Among them were:
• Executioners
• Scribes
• Pharisees
• Roman authorities
• The mocking crowd
They expected Jesus to shout in anger.
They expected Him to curse those who nailed Him.
But instead they heard something shocking.
Instead of a cry of revenge,
they heard a prayer of forgiveness.
“Father, forgive them.”
The Cross became the place where divine love defeated human hatred.
________________________________________
5. Jesus Practiced What He Preached
During His ministry, Jesus had preached something very radical.
He taught:
“Love your enemies.”
“Do good to those who hate you.”
These teachings sounded beautiful when spoken in peace.
But now Jesus was experiencing:
• nails in His hands
• nails in His feet
• a crown of thorns on His head
• mockery from the crowd
• betrayal by friends.
Yet Jesus did not forget His own Gospel.
Even in unbearable pain,
He lived the message He preached.
He did not forget the Gospel because of the pain in His hands and feet.
Instead, He fulfilled the Gospel perfectly.
________________________________________
6. Whom Was Jesus Forgiving?
When Jesus said:
“Father, forgive them.”
Who were the “them”?
Many people were involved in the suffering of Jesus.
1. The soldiers who struck Him
In the court of Caiaphas, soldiers slapped Jesus and mocked Him.
2. The Roman soldiers
They flogged Him brutally and nailed Him to the Cross.
3. Pontius Pilate
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent.
Yet, to maintain friendship with Caesar and protect his political position, he condemned Jesus.
4. The crowd
They shouted:
“Crucify Him!”
5. Those who asked for Barabbas
The people demanded that Barabbas be released instead of Christ.
An innocent Savior was rejected,
while a criminal was set free.
And yet Jesus prayed:
“Father, forgive them.”
________________________________________
7. The Mystery of Divine Love
There is a beautiful image used by spiritual writers.
Imagine a fragrant sandalwood tree that spreads a sweet aroma everywhere.
When the tree is cut with an axe.
What does the tree do?
The tree only produces fragrance for the axe.
The deeper the cut,
the stronger the fragrance.
This is what happened on the Cross.
The Cross was the axe.
But from the heart of Jesus flowed the fragrance of love.
The deeper the wounds,
the greater the mercy.
From the heart of Christ,
love poured out for the world.
________________________________________
8. “They Do Not Know What They Are Doing”
Jesus adds another line.
“They do not know what they are doing.”
This does not mean they were completely innocent.
But Jesus recognized something important.
Many people who hurt others do not fully understand the evil they are doing.
Sin blinds the human heart.
Hatred blinds the mind.
Fear blinds judgment.
Jesus therefore shows compassion.
He sees beyond their actions.
He sees their ignorance and blindness.
And He prays for mercy.
________________________________________
9. The Challenge for Us
The first word from the Cross teaches us something very difficult.
We must forgive.
Not only the people who make small mistakes.
But also the people who hurt us deeply.
Sometimes the people who hurt us are:
• family members
• friends
• neighbors
• colleagues
• leaders
• people we trusted.
Some wounds in life are very deep.
Yet Jesus tells us:
If we want to follow Him,
we must learn to forgive.
Because the Cross shows us that forgiveness is stronger than hatred.
________________________________________
10. Forgiveness Heals the Human Heart
When we refuse to forgive, something happens inside us.
Our hearts become filled with:
• bitterness
• anger
• resentment
• pain.
But forgiveness heals the heart.
Forgiveness releases the soul.
Forgiveness restores peace.
This is why Jesus prayed for His enemies.
Because forgiveness brings freedom.
________________________________________
11. Becoming People of Forgiveness
The first word of Jesus from the Cross is not only history.
It is an invitation.
Christ asks each of us:
Who do you need to forgive?
Is there someone who hurt you?
Is there someone you cannot forget?
Is there someone you refuse to forgive?
Look at the Cross.
Listen to Jesus.
“Father, forgive them.”
If Christ forgave His executioners,
surely we can begin to forgive those who hurt us.
________________________________________
12. Conclusion – The Greatest Victory of the Cross
At Calvary, hatred tried to destroy love.
Violence tried to silence mercy.
But the Cross reveals the final truth.
Love is stronger than hatred.
Mercy is stronger than sin.
Forgiveness is stronger than revenge.
The first word of Jesus from the Cross, therefore, becomes the beginning of our salvation.
The Cross is not the defeat of Christ.
It is the victory of divine mercy.
And from the Cross, Jesus still speaks to the world today:
“Father, forgive them.”
May we listen to that voice.
May we receive that mercy.
And may we become people who forgive as Christ forgave.
________________________________________
13. Prayer
Loving and merciful Father,
we thank You for revealing Your infinite mercy through Your Son Jesus Christ on the Cross.
When He was wounded, He forgave.
When He was rejected, He loved.
When He was crucified, He prayed for those who hurt Him.
Lord, we confess that many times our hearts are filled with anger, resentment, and unforgiveness.
Teach us to forgive as Jesus forgave.
Give us the grace to let go of bitterness.
Give us the courage to love even those who hurt us.
Fill our hearts with the mercy that flowed from the Cross.
May the words of Jesus,
“Father, forgive them,”
echo in our hearts and transform our lives.
Help us to become instruments of forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation in our families, in our communities, and in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
________________________________________
Contact details:
Dr. ADDANKI RAJU.
addankiraju.blogspot.com
addankiraju9@gmail.com
Mobile, WhatsApp: +91 98481 43047
X: Dr. ADDANKI RAJU@addankiraju
Facebook: Addanki Raju
________________________________________
A Gentle Invitation to Share
If this message has brought you even a small measure of joy, light, encouragement, or spiritual nourishment, I humbly invite you to share this spiritual food with others.
Someone you know may be waiting for a word of hope.
Someone may be silently searching for meaning.
Someone may be thirsty for God.
By sharing this message, you become a simple yet powerful instrument in God’s hands. This small act of sharing becomes a beautiful act of evangelisation — a quiet mission of love you carry out in your daily life.
Let the Word that touched your heart reach another heart.
May the Lord use you to spread His light.
May His Word bear abundant fruit.
God bless you abundantly.
________________________________________
