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

Good Friday: Christ Died In Your Place

Angela Lee Price

Happy Good Friday to you!  We've been hearing a lot of bad news lately.  Are you ready for some good news?   Jesus loves you and he died for you!  Romans 5:8 states, "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  There is so much in this passage, but I want to focus on the phrase, "...Christ died for us."  We remember the death, burial and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this Easter Weekend because He didn't die merely for our benefit, Jesus died in our place! You and I should have been on that cross that Good Friday. Instead, Jesus took our very place on the cross, paying the penalty,  the price (Rom. 6:23) for our sins.  Isn't that good news?  And it gets better!

In the New Testament,  Jesus is described as having died in place of the Christian, the church, and the world.  First, Jesus died in place of the Christian. 1 Peter 2:24 states, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed."  And Romans 6:8 states, "And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him."  
Secondly, not only did Jesus die in place of the Christian, He also died in place of the church. Ephesians 5:25 states, "For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.  He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by cleansing of God's word."  Jesus is head of the church and he loves the church. Colossians 1:18 states, "He is also head of the body, the church and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything."  

Finally, Jesus died not only in place of the Christian and the church, but also the world. Hebrews. 2:9 states, "What we do see in Jesus, who was given a position 'a little lower than the angels'; and because he suffered death for us, he is now 'crowned with glory and honor.' Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone." 

The good news is this. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. Christ died in our place and he died for everyone who would place faith in him.  

Living for Jesus may seem like a daunting task.  I get that.  But the entire book of Romans, and the New Testament, for that matter, lets us know it is possible to live a life that is pure and pleasing to God.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not make that a priority today.  When you accept Jesus into your life, He gives you the Holy Spirit. If you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5), you will not serve God out of fear and duty, but out of love and gratitude. The Holy Spirit will give you the power to resist temptation and win battles against the world, the flesh, and the devil.  You will declare, "Greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world!"  You will be motivated out of love for Jesus and by a desire to be close to Him, recognizing you already have God's approval because of what Jesus did in dying on the Cross for you.  Now, that's good news indeed! It is Friday, but Sunday's coming!  Jesus saves!

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Holy Monday - Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus cursed the fig tree because it did not bear fruit (Matt. 21:18-21).

"Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.  Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!'  Immediately the tree withered.  When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.  'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?' they asked.  Jesus replied, 'Truly I tell you, if you have the faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was don to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.'"

The cursing of the fig tree is an incident in the gospel, presented in Mark and Matthew as a miracle in connection with the entry into Jerusalem, and in Luke as a parable.  The cursing of the fig tree is connected with the cleansing of the temple.  The image is taken from the Old Testament symbol of the fig tree representing Israel, and the cursing of the fig tree in Mark and Matthew and the parallel story in Luke are symbolically directed against the Jews, who have not accepted Jesus as king.

Figs generally appear on fig trees in February, followed by leaves, which are not formed until late Spring. Jesus cursed the tree because it was well past fruit-bearing season, yet it was still unproductive.   Is there spiritual fruit on your tree? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? When we accept Jesus as Lord, He gives us the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear fruit. The Bible states in Luke 13:8, "And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." We should do what God requires and bear much fruit in developing godly character and in loving one another (Gal. 5:22).  If we do not bear fruit then for what good are we?  Why are we here?  

The parable of the sower highlights the importance of bearing fruit (Matthew 13:3-23 & Mark 4:3-20).  In the parable, seed is thrown on four types of soil, but only seed planted in good soil grew plants that produced fruit.  When we hear, receive and obey the Word of God believers can bear much fruit.  When we reject the Word of God because of stony hearts, we will not bear fruit.  

Finally, believers are to be faithful branches of the Vine of Christ.  In John 15:1-8, Jesus tells his disciples, I am the vine, you are the branches; he that abide in me, and I in him, will bring forth much fruit.  Further He says, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples (vv7-8).  This last statement mirrors what Jesus said in Matthew 21:20-21.  The important point here is to have faith in prayer.