Sayings on the Cross Part 1 :: Deeper Devotion

Sayings on the Cross Part 1

April 2, 2010

by Tim Wade

Part 1

Luke 23:34
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

It is hard for most people to imagine the searing white hot pain that Jesus endured while being nailed to the cross. It is even more difficult to imagine a Father who would be pleased for his Son to go through it. And yet it was the pleasure not only of the Father to endure such pain, but it was the pleasure of the Son. It was the perfect solution, and it was all part of a plan.

The problem was simple; mankind is sinful and can not have fellowship with God. The solution was simple; make a way for mankind to have fellowship with God. The plan was just as simple; let one man die for the sins of all. If one died for all, then everyone’s sins could be forgiven.

And so with the nails driven into His wrists and into His feet, it was as if in His heart Jesus was crying out; “Father, look. I am nailed to the cross. Their sins are nailed to the cross, Forgive them please!” It was all part of God’s plan, and the Roman soldiers had no idea how perfectly they fit into it.

Do you realize that you too are part of that very same plan? Your sins were nailed along with Jesus to that cross more than two-thousand years ago. If you truly believe that, and will trust Jesus to be your Savior, then you too can be forgiven of your sins. The reality is this: Because Jesus was dying for your sins and mine, we too nailed Him to that cross. It was therefore not only on behalf of the Romans soldiers, but on our behalf that Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)