Seven Last Words - First Word, Do You Know What You Are Doing?

Min. Angela Lee Price

Scripture records seven occasions on which Jesus spoke at the point of His greatest extremity, as He hung naked on the cross. His statements open a unique window into His heart and mind and as such demand our reverent attention. Today we will reflect on His remarkable prayer: "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals -- one one his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots" (Luke 23: 32-34).

Jesus knew what to do on the Cross:

Jesus knew what to do on the Cross, and that was to pray.  He knew to whom to pray, to the Father.  He knew what to pray about, that was forgiveness of sin.  He knew for whom to pray, "them," his enemies including you and me.  Jesus prayed to the Father when he might have focused on the gross injustice of the situation - the treachery of Judas, the deceitfulness of Pilot, the cruelty of Roman, the hostility of the establishment, the timidity of the disciples.  He could have focused on this own considerable suffering as he had done the night before in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is remarkable because Jesus prays this selfless prayer at the time HE is most in need of prayer. He is concerned for the people crucifying him and with compassion and mercy, he asks God to forgiven them. It’s unconditional. That’s love. 

Do you know what you are doing?

You and I made the cross necessary. We are the ones he prays to the Father to forgive. Do you know what you are doing? Because none of the leaders of that day understood the magnitude of their sin. 1 Corinthians 2:8, “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Paul himself did not what he was doing? He, a man of Jewish pedigree and religious upbringing, persecuted Christians because he didn’t know to do, he didn’t understand.  

When you don't know what to do:

 

1. Pray to the Father and constantly maintain awareness of the Father's presence in your life. He is the One who knows all things. He knows about your problems and can handle them.

 

2. Pray for your enemies and resist the temptation to pray only for yourself in those trying, back-up-against-the-wall situations. Praying for our enemies is what we tend to do last.  However, this is what Jesus did first on the Cross. 

3. Pray for forgiveness in love unconditionally. Jesus prayed on the Cross for his enemies unconditionally.  It wasn't about IF they would get him down off the Cross, of IF they would take take care of his family members or give them something, nor IF they would apologize to him for their unjust accusations. Jesus asked God the Father to forgive his enemies without condition.  In doing so, Jesus prayed for our forgiveness, thereby canceling our sin debt by dying on the Cross while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

Sermon Excerpt from Seven Last Words on the Cross, Kenwood Northeast Missionary Baptist Church, March 2021