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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.