Forgive Them

What is Good Friday to take you to the greatest, the most unforgettable of all sites want to take you to the cross of Jesus cross of Christ, the Messiah responded and reverent all stand on holy ground. And as we start looking at the cross we do that, not just as an anti-door total in selfishness and self-centeredness. It is that not just as an inspiration of love. We stand looking at the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world takes away our sin, yes, who takes away my sin. We watched Jesus being led from Jerusalem to Golgotha, the place of the scalp and each type is a step of unbelievable agony and what must've been the longest walk of his life. He's been almost beaten to death. His back is in shreds from not lashing his body is covered with the markings of the starch. His face is so disfigured and swollen that he scares scarcely can be recognized is difficult to look at trying of thorns 6 inches long as been placed on his brow cruelly push push time and as we come to the hill of Golgotha, the place of the skull, we see that there are three crosses their two of the classes are for violent robbers.

The middle class is for Jesus. The Romans were the super part of the day they are in charge of his execution and they run a very tight ship there experience executioners and that 9 AM prompt retake the bleeding torn the body of Jesus, and we shudder as we look on in this we hear the hammering of the nails through his holy hands and feet. These hands that taken the children to himself.

These hands that broken the loaves and the fishes and fed the multitudes was hands that had been laying on the blind elector take these hands and they put their nails through it at his feet, which is always walked in perfect divisions to his father, God the nails through his feet and then they raise the cross and we hear as we start looking on the dull, harsh thought that the cross falls into the whole. And Jesus hangs on the cross between heaven and earth is naked. He's exposed he's beaten his bruised is in agony. He's in shame and humiliation and is an abject loneliness and the Lord of glory. Yes, the wonderful son of God is being put to that as we sign the cross we hear any voices there. Harsh voices strident cruel voices. There's the jeering mockery and ridicule of the rulers who say he saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God's chosen one. And then there's the sardonic cynicism of the Roman soldiers who say if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself and then there is the ignorant abuse from one of the robbers been crucified with him, are you not the Christ, save yourself and us as we listen to these harsh voices of mockery of hatred. Yes, of ignorance but also blasphemy and rejection. We hear another voice voice from the man on the middle cross father forgive them for they know not what they doing that today.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Words of forgiveness. Yes, for the most unforgivable people of people we hear these words were looking tonight at the cross of Christ is Good Friday because it is there at the cross that there is forgiveness for you and for me.

Let's read that story from the chapter 23.

If your Bible turn there with me, please look 23 verse 13 to his lips and can't to others who were criminals were led away to be put to death with him and when it came to the place that is called the skull is Golgotha. Calvary and Latin Golgotha.

There they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on his left and Jesus said, father forgive them for they know not what they do and the cast lots to divide his garments and the people stood by watching, but the ruler scoffed at him, saying he saved others like him save himself if he is the Christ of God's chosen one.

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. There's also an inscription over him. This is the king of the Jews.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, are you not the Christ, save yourself and us. But the other rebuked him, saying, do you not fear God centered under the same sentence of condemnation, and we indeed justly, for we receiving the jute award of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong and he said Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom and he said to him, truly I say to you today will be with me in paradise. To hear the words of fresh tonight.

Father forgive them for they know not what they see all of us need forgiveness. All of us need forgiveness because every single one of us here has offended God.

Judas betrayed Jesus. He certainly guilty. The Pharisees and the scribes conspired to put Jesus to death there guilty. Pontius Pilate authorized the death of Jesus. He's guilty and sensed Caiaphas and the Jewish leaders who demanded the death of Jesus.

Surely there guilty of the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus, they must be guilty in the room than the mob came to Mark and to laugh into ridicule guilty of the no yes they're all guilty, guilty of killing the son of God, Christ, the Messiah. Paul describes him as the Lord of glory. He said if you had known what they had. They were doing they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. All of their guilt surely is beyond dispute that one task better than any of them. If we do not Golgotha don't think some of us will be holding the nails would we not have been marking the Christ would we not have joined in the car. I decided crucified him crucified him the prophesying of the death of the Messiah in that context.

Isaiah writes Isaiah 53 verse six all we like sheep have gone astray with tightened everyone to his own weight.

Yes, Isaiah is telling us in all of Scripture is telling us in Julliard when hearts are telling us that all of us of sin. All of us are guilty and therefore all of us here need forgiveness.

So when you to reflect on the wonder of the forgiveness of God we had the words from the cross, father is God the son bring to his father. Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful words of the Christian gospel forgiveness to be forgiven in classical Greek this word this time was sometimes used in the world of commerce to release someone from adaptive obligation picture is that you led me $10,000. I am now in debt to you. All you $10,000 but after a year or so, it becomes obvious that I'm not able to to pay that I'm in debt to you and that you come to me, perhaps after you do and say John is upon that you are unable to pay my debt. And in spite of you being a kind of odd guy strange pastor. I do love you a lot you don't deserve my love because Jim paid my money back, but I do love I am no going to cancel the debt. I am releasing you from the contractual obligation, we made a contract that I was going to give you $10,000 and you were going to pay that over a certain period of time. I understand that by the love for you. I am no releasing you from the debt I'm acquitting you the debt is discharge the debt no longer exists.

The New Testament writers take that work and use it for forgiveness denies of God. You may have difficulty in understanding this order agreeing to it within the eyes of God you're sitting in my sin is like a huge day stop that you've accumulated over the years and find some Israelis days when you disembark disobeyed your mom is that we wisely go when you deliberately defied.

You knew it was wrong through your life the debt of sin is accumulated sin upon sin upon sin upon sent some of them you've totally forgotten yes that there is a really bad once you do remember that that Satan is so high so great that there is absolutely no way that you can paid off over sins. This beautiful word written forgiven given God forgives our sin and were singing about "you listen when were singing about it that our debt of sin is totally 100% cleared and your debt of sin is so devastating and so deep that we marvel at God's forgiveness that God clears it takes know what kind of our sin, the debt of our sin is totally wide tied it is totally gone and under the Bible. The biblical writers struggle almost to describe that they say it that God casts all of our sins into the depths of her seat. Simon says that he removes her transgressions as far as the east is from the west immeasurable read that he remembers her sentence and deeds no more, the debt is paid you at least you are a cricket acquitted the debt of sin is not only gone, it's gone forever and all that our sin is this beautiful word given well. John sounds wonderful. But how is it possible for God to forgive our sins will forgiveness flows from the cross of Christ. Think of this prayer of forgiveness that the prayer of Jesus for forgiveness is the very opposite of what we would expect in the circumstance instead of threatening instead of cursing the people who crucified him. Jesus prays for forgiveness of the very people who are crucifying him. They desired immediate judgment they deserve immediately to be consigned to help. But Jesus is praying for the forgiveness for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The next essays that God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him we might say we might be forgiven.

And so even as the nails a hammer in Jesus and seeking pardon of their sin never before surely had the Roman soldiers had such words they had crucified many many people we read that in history. They would think nothing of it. This was just another common criminal to be put to death. All part of a day's work, and instead they hear amazing words. Father forgive them for they know know what they're doing as I had prophesied of that you prophesied of those who would intercede for their transgression, and now on the cross, Jesus is interceding he's praying for the transgressions of the very ones who put them today was happening God and grace is reaching down and down to the very depths of human evil forgiveness of sin is a overwhelming demonstration of the love of God on the power of the grace of God that all of our sins. Just think of it, all of our sins yes may be washed may be eradicated maybe completely wiped out so that over this man's stack of our sins would be written the words forgiven paint the adult totally gone. If you think of the cost of forgiveness to the cross shows us, among other things, the seriousness and the cost of the forgiveness of sins. God is a holy God. God is 100% holy and righteous. That's why while our sin has such an impact on their selves in this devastating the lives of those around us.

Most of all sin is an offense against a holy God. The God who made you the God's plans for you.

We got to place this place you on this planet know so that you would live your own life and go your own way. Whether your life would be one live to his glory with all of us have turned aside from that, would like sheep going astray, every single one of us so holy God just can't pretend that your sin doesn't this writer indulgent grandfather who does says there is blank as well.

That doesn't matter. No, this is God were talking about.

This is our creator. This is the eternal God, who is absolutely holy and the forgiveness of our sins, therefore, is immense.

What the one there was a beauty was the brilliance of the gospel as it is that this holy God sends his holy son, sinless son, God the son into this world that God enters our world in human flesh. This God who has an infinite abhorrence of sin was in their sins, but discussed you.

I won't name them. You can think of the sins in your own life and the lives of others you have done things that disgusted yourself and you certainly can think of sins done by people around us that apartment you can hardly describe them. You find some sins important holy cards. He has an infinite apartness of sin so that God is so pure. The Bible says that he can't even look on sin and yet in the wonder of the grace of God and in the mercy of God. All of the filthy sewer of our sin is poured on him, so the Bible says that he's numbered with the transgressors that he dies for the sinner that he suffered once for sin is wounded for our transgressions that he is made sin for us before one sin of one person could ever be forgiven. The Savior's blood to be shed and so at the cross we see not only the worst of sin. We see the magnificence of the love of Christ for you and for me, for those who have received Christ. For those who have been saved for those who have a personal relationship with the living Christ.

All of our sins have gone past, present and future. Never, ever again will sin relate to the current of those who receive this forgiveness which flows uniquely from the cross of Christ lives across the symbol of Christianity for many reasons why do we have it on the on the ceiling of the century because it's there we see our sin is there. We see our Savior and then we see and hear the forgiveness of sins and asked you to receive Christ forgiveness today can never deny visit what the doing of technology or sin, but should be difficult as to if you don't admit your sin.

There's no forgiveness.

If you think that you're not a sinner, if you think you're not guilty before God, there can be no forgiveness to criminals to robbers to nasty would call them today.

Terrorists there been crucified with Jesus. One of those insults at Christ the other incredible stories and the right moment of his execution. He looks to the only one in all of the universe. You could forgive his sins and he said Lord. Remember Jesus remember Mooney, jerking Jesus is today to be with me nice, but you're a nasty criminal.

You deserve to die, your intelligent taking people's life.

You're Robert here.

A violent man.

Is it true that a very and of your life. After all that you've done you can go to paradise. Yes, because you received Christ look to Christ to trust Jesus Christ to receive the forgiveness of sins say this calls for a personal response for us but when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus in John three quoted from verses 16 and 17.

Verse 14 says that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up so you recall the story in the wilderness when the snakes good people because of the sins of the Israelites and Moses is told to do a very strange thing to do, make a snake printed on the Paul and more dance to the people. If you look to that snake will be cured when a silly thing to do. Look and live. Some looked lived others know me, I'll take my chances. The dive sources.

Jesus just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, referring to the cross. So this people look to Jesus.

They will be saved. They will be healed, they will be forgiven. That is, you must personally receive Christ as your Savior look, the Lord Jesus except Christ. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and when Jesus is praying for forgiveness that the Roman soldiers are casting lots for the garments they hear his cry of forgiveness, but they're totally insensitive to the spiritual realities around them that in in their midst. The Lord of glory divine creator. The pudding today too occupied with it on measures of gambling garments roll the dice and sand was agreed to concerned with their own lives by someone that Las Vegas is the gambling table, rolling the dice, totally unaware that at any moment they miss stand before a holy God, like the soldiers possible to be here right as we celebrate Christ with Christ in the midst to hear his words, and yet for your heart to be hardened to spiritual realities. No, don't miss this forgiveness which is offered to you today trust Jesus Christ. God according to him, rather than the beginning.

From Ephesians 1 God according to the riches of his grace, which he lavishes upon this will forgive you of all of your sins, you say well I'm a pretty bad person. I may not be as bad as that tenderness with them a pretty bad individual you the very person that Christ came to save came to save the chiefest sentence we receive Christ. Many of you today have received God's forgiveness but have a question for you. It's a tough question when you think of it very personally when you need to wonderful to receive forgiveness.

Jesus taught us to pray that they forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

You claim to have received the forgiveness of God is when you need to forgive God's forgiveness of you is to be the pattern. The standard is aware of the motivation for forgiving others to forgive and to be forgiven is to be totally free not to forgive others is to be held in the chains of bitterness of anger and the frustration government. Something is better almost always is a failure to forgive some people go through all the lights are just there nasty people. Those when they tell you had been wrong may have happened 1020 use a good one to tell you the story in the there's consumer the bitterness in the bill doesn't work. This case shall bind themselves and trapped themselves as a prisoner to their own unforgiveness. You say John I've been I was very very wrong question that one little, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. Forgive others forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. I'm saying to you today.

As I brought you to the cross of Christ. I want each of you to receive the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ, so that your sins are totally forgiven and I want you then to forgive that person who is wronged you so badly.

Previous friends, family member, amazing is in the many have family members that you been wronged by a family member. Perhaps your your dad your mother or brother or sister, your son, your daughter by the boss, but you did you badly and you really this is banjo a shape for a long time business partner Naranjo betrayed you took most of the shares of the profits manipulated you, you been left asking God's name to forgive them.

When Jesus taught us this in Matthew chapter 18.

He talked about forgiving the person he says from your heart, not just with your mouth on to say yes, I forgive you if you've ever I've ever offended you. Please forgive me. Not that kind of thing. The forgiveness from the heart because when God forgives us he totally forgives us of the matter is, and that he doesn't bring up sins against us. The sins that we could commit Woodland are completely gone and when you forgive that person.

It's gone. You don't bring it up again is gone, you say well I'm waiting for that person to admit the wrong that no no don't do that.

Don't do that when you do take the initiative when you deny this week as we break bread in your heart to forgive that person and then to be able to reach out to that person and an end to seek some reconciliation that may be very very difficult. Perhaps the other person won't respond when you as a follower of Jesus Christ who received God's forgiveness.

You will be this Scripture and the power of the spirit to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you. Can you not with how can you withhold your forgiveness of that person. When God has forgiven you all all of your sins. I'm asking you to look across my skin, utility Jesus Lamb of God for you masking once again to listen to his words to father forgive them for they know not what today sequence forgiveness, forgive others.

Father, help us, we thank you for the magnificence of your forgiveness is overwhelming because women understanding of it on sin and deceit, and when waywardness. We thank you for the precious blood of Christ in this week as we break bread with and be reminded of that so we pray father and you open her eyes. Some here have not come to Christ that rebelled against it. For some reason father open their eyes, perhaps some young man some young woman.

Perhaps a an older person, whoever they are little boy little girl, but the look to Christ loves them died for them and to offer some eternal life forgiveness and help us father to be people of forgiveness even as we talk about the subject names people come into our lives. We think of them, some perhaps are very old wounds and the painful, may we forgive them from their from our hearts extend that gracious forgiveness to them.

We ask Christ name