And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) 

This is one of the most remarkable sayings that the Lord Jesus ever made.  There He was, crucified on the cross, in agony beyond our understanding and comprehension. The Roman centurions  and religious people of that day had tried to do their worst to the Lord Jesus.  They had beaten Him, mocked Him, spat upon Him and even made Him carry His own cross before ultimately nailing Him to the cross.

I don’t know about you but my human instinct would be to show resentment and anger towards the crowds who stood below and were ridiculing Christ Jesus. Not this Man.  Christ Jesus is different to each and every person that has ever been born. Yes He had a human body and felt many of the emotions which we feel every day. Yet He is so different, completely sinless, God’s only Son in a human body.

Rather than show resentment towards the crowds, He showed contentment. Rather than display bitterness He showed goodwill. Rather than show hatred, He demonstrated great love.

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. (Luke 23:34)

Christ Jesus had a deep concern for the spiritual wellbeing of these individuals. He looked down on them as “sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34).  Christ had a deep concern not only towards the people on that particular day, today He also has a great concern for you.

Maybe you don’t realise like the people that day who Christ Jesus really is:  that the purpose of His death upon the cross was all part of God’s great master plan.  The result of Christ’s death means that we have this great opportunity to be saved from our sins.

The choice we all have to make is whether or not we accept the opportunity of forgiveness that Christ Jesus offers to all.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:9)