It is always such an honor to be where the Lord has raised
up the gospel, and especially in this place. There's something to me about
this place that is such a blessing. As I look over this congregation
here, there's some sitting here that I've known for a long time. Some of us longer than others,
huh, Bob? There's been some long ones. And the miracle of God's
grace is that we're still here. And for that, I'm thankful. I appreciate the invitation. I never would take this for granted
that I would even be considered to stand here. As Gabe said just
a moment ago, even the very reading of what we just read was such
a privilege to be able to consider what has taken place, what scriptures
has set forth. I pray for just a few minutes
that the Lord might be pleased to bless our hearts. I want you
to take your Bibles and turn back to Luke chapter 23. And I would like to look at verse
34, at really the first part of verse
34. Luke 23 and verse 34. The Spirit of God moved upon
Luke to pen these words. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them. For they know not what they do." The time of our Lord's crucifixion
has come. To this end, He, the scripture
says, according to Isaiah 50 and verse 7, set His face like
a flint. He has submitted himself according
to the reading of the first part of this chapter to the wicked
hands of his accusers. He has bowed to the good pleasure
of his father to do the will of him who has sent him. He has stood before a man named
Pilate, Herod, willingly bowed to the Father's good pleasure
to redeem a people that he had everlastingly loved. And here
is the one of whom Abraham spoke when his son Isaac said, here's
the fire, here's the wood, where's the lamb? Here he is. Here's the Lamb of God. coming
to lay down his life for his sheep. His silence is broken
as he is there to bear the guilt of his church and he's going
to speak seven times from the cross and this is the first of
those seven sayings, and I'd like for us just to take, and
I have taken, and my outline is going to come right out of
that scripture right there. This is the place to find an
outline. Take the scripture. What does
the scripture say? I've actually got five questions
that I'm going to consider, and here's the first one. Who was
praying? Well, the scripture says, Then
said Jesus. Now, just reading His name sets
forth the glorious pleasure and will of Almighty God to show
mercy and compassion to whomsoever he will. Moses said, show me
your glory. He said, I'm gonna cause all
my goodness to pass before you. And here he is, the Lord Jesus
Christ. We behold in the one who speaks,
the merciful Savior, the intercessor, the patient, long-suffering friend
of sinners. This is what the Scripture says,
Matthew 121, call His name Jesus. And listen to the wording now. For or because, this is why you
will call His name Jesus, the Savior. Because He shall save His people from their
sins. What a statement. How emphatic. Here's the One
made flesh. The surety. I love this passage. This is in Proverbs 8. I'll just read this to you. This
is the one right here. Here's the surety who says of
himself, wisdom speaking, Proverbs 8.23, I was set up. I was anointed. I was anointed
from everlasting. How long has there been a surety
of the sheep? Everlastingly. Never began. I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, or ever the earth was. So who's speaking? Here is the God-man mediator,
conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of a virgin, who grew
up in submission, not only to His Heavenly Father, But as the
man, Christ Jesus, in absolute submission to His Father, to
His parents, truly God, truly man, I was thinking about the
submission of the Lord Jesus Christ. to his parents. And it made me think of a passage
of scripture that I guarantee you, my children could quote
to you from their youth up. How many times did you ever hear
Gabe? This scripture, Ephesians six,
one children, children, obey your parents in the Lord for
this is right. Honor thy father and mother,
which is the first commandment, with promise." Here is the Lord,
Jesus Christ, as He Himself, who lived far and died far, His
people, the one who lived the life, earning the righteousness,
the righteousness of God, that is imputed. charged to the account
of everyone the scripture says that believeth. That is, believes
and believes and believes. Why? Because they're kept by
the power of God through faith. Christ Jesus the Lord, the God-man
who came into this world that he might live and die suffering
the death as the substitute You've heard that, you know. You know,
we normally think of one being a substitute. I think, like,
what comes to my mind is a football game, you know. And a substitute,
one is, you know, he's in for a play, and then he comes out,
and a substitute goes in for him. You know, well, that's not
this one. This one is, he was made sin. He became what we are. I don't understand the depth
of that, but I know it's so. He was made sin. Now, who was praying? Then said
Jesus. I'll tell you here, it's the
Savior. It's the Lord himself. Secondly,
to whom was he praying? Here's what the scripture says. the man, Christ Jesus, in absolute
submission unto his Father. Here is God, a very God, who
humbled himself and made himself of no reputation. praying as
he told his disciples when the disciples says Lord teach us
to pray teach us to pray here's here's where we to whom are we
instructed to petition here's what the Lord said he said when
you pray say our father and here he is calling upon the father
as the God-man mediator, the man Christ Jesus, who by faith,
here he is, doing what you and I could never do as he, the son
of the living God, robed in flesh, the only begotten of the Father. Every time I Say that, the only
begotten of the Father. I can understand, I understand,
humanly speaking. I have a son, I have three daughters.
I understand begotten, brought forth from, humanly. But Luke,
the only begotten of the Father? God Himself, the Son, the only
begotten of the Father, I've just come to a point to where
don't try to explain that. You will lose, believe me, the
glory of it. He has come forth. The secret
things belong to God. How do you explain the only begotten
of the Father and He's God? There's times it's just best
just Here He is, doing as we're commanded,
praying unto the One who I know hears Him. That's what He said,
Father, Thou heareth Me always, always. The One who hears the
Father, who hears the prayers and the petitions. Turn with
me to Revelation 8. The one who hears the petitions
of the people, of His people, totally in the merit of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Here's the Lord. Then said Jesus,
Father. Look at Revelation 8 and verse
1. And when he had opened the seventh
seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God, and to them
were given seven trumpets and another angel." Now this can
be none other, this angel can be none other than the Lord Jesus
himself. And another angel came and stood
at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given unto
him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of
all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
and the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of
the saints ascended up before God out of the angel's hand."
Now, here's what the scripture says. As we, God's people, are
helped by the Spirit of God with groanings that cannot be uttered. And here's the Spirit of God
helping our infirmities. We don't even know what to pray
for. We don't know what to ask for. And a believer knows that. And he'll admit that, Lord, I
don't even know what to say. I don't know what to ask. Lord,
help me. Help me. Lord, as we said, Lord,
bless the word. I want that. I want that. I truly
do. And Obie, I don't know how to
ask for it. I say I do, but here the scripture says that the prayers
of the saints are taken, and by the incense of the merit of
the Lord Jesus Christ, He presents them in His merit to the Father,
and we're heard for His sake, only for His sake. So here He
is. The one who petitions the intercessor,
the great high priest, praying unto the father, according to
the everlasting covenant of grace, praying unto the one who sent
him into the world to finish the work of redemption and salvation
of his elect. The one who's born witness. He's praying unto the one who's
born witness of the son from heaven. This is my beloved son.
whom I'm well pleased. So who's praying? The Lord Jesus. To whom is he praying? He's praying
unto the Father. And, excuse me, what was the
subject, thirdly, the subject of his prayer? Here's what it
is. Forgiveness for a chosen race. That's what he said. 34, then
said Jesus, Father, forgive them. Now, I'm going over my notes
just a little while ago, and I looked at that word forgive,
and this question came to my mind. On what basis, what's the
basis of forgiveness? Turn to Isaiah 53. Hold your place there and just
turn. Isaiah 53, verse 10. God is a just God. He's a just
God. And He will by no means clear
the guilty. I know that. Forgive. On what basis? Here's the basis.
Isaiah 53, 10 to 12. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise
him. He hath put him to grief. when thou shalt make his soul
an offering for sin. He shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in
his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoiled with
the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death. He was
numbered with the transgressors, and he bared the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors." Father, forgive
on what basis he bore the guilt. He paid the price. He put away
the guilt of his people. But listen to the wording. Then
said Jesus, Father, forgive them. Who? forgive the elect now I
know this based totally on his word he said in John 17 9 and
I know who he's praying for because he said who he was praying for
I pray for them okay now he's going to qualify
what he's saying I pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me, for they are thine." Now, when I know
that he's praying according to his word for those that the Father
has given him, we can with all assuredness say, I know In Luke
23, 34, based on what He said in John 17, and He being God,
changeth not. He never changes. He who prayed
for His people, those given Him in John 17, prayed in Luke 23,
then said, Jesus, Father, forgive them. The Lord Jesus, according
to the revelation of the Holy Spirit, prays only for His sheep,
only for the ones that God has been pleased to show mercy and
compassion, and prays unto the one who can alone forgive. Who can forgive sin but God,
Almighty God? He being satisfied by the life,
the death of the Lord Jesus Christ forgives his people on the petition
of the Lord Jesus Christ who earned their forgiveness, paid
the debt, and now God justly, mercifully, compassionately,
justly forgives their sin. Here's the Lord now. FORGIVE
THEM. NOW THE WORDING OF THIS SCRIPTURE
RIGHT HERE, IF YOU JUST TURN BACK AND LOOK AT VERSE 32, 33,
34, THERE WERE ALSO TWO OTHER MALIFACTORS LED WITH HIM TO BE
PUT TO DEATH. AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO THE
PLACE WHICH IS CALLED CALVARY, THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM AND
THE MALIFACTORS, ONE ON THE RIGHT HAND, THE OTHER ON THE LEFT,
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them. Mr. Gill, other commentaries,
made this statement, which I think it very well could have been.
I don't know. But they said that it seems to
be that while the Lord was actually being nailed to the cross, while
he was actually being lifted up and placed into that place
that he was praying for them even then, praying for his people
while. I said, well, for that, I can't
tell you for sure, but I can tell you of one. Look at Book
of Acts, Chapter 7. I can tell you of one that the
Spirit of God was pleased to reveal his prayer for those that
were murdering him. Look at Stephen, Acts 7, verse
58, the scripture says, here's Stephen at the end of his message,
and they've heard what he said, and they were the 54, they were
cut to the heart, they gnashed on his teeth, and 58 says, and
cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses
laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul.
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God. While he's calling
now on the Lord, they stoned him. And here's what he was saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried
with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he'd said this, he fell
asleep. That's grace, that's mercy. Almighty God would move upon
one, but for the Lord himself, here he is being crucified. And the scripture says, while
he's surrounded, abused, in contempt, and these soldiers, whether they
had or they were driving the nails at that time, he cried
out unto the Lord, forgive them. No record of him speaking resentment
toward those that were around him. He uttered no cry of pain. He wasn't moved to anger. His
heart was revealed to be moved with pity to all who were the
objects of his mercy. He opened not his mouth in defense
of himself, but the scripture says he did open his mouth in
intercession for his people. And then fourthly, why did he
pray for her? Why was he praying for her? Well,
based upon his word, he said, for or because. Father, forgive them because,
for. They know not what they do. Knowing for sure the ones for
whom he was praying, the suffering servant of Jehovah, even while
they were actually but ignorantly nailing him to the cross, they
did not know the injury of that which were they doing to their
own souls out of holy love though. compassion for the salvation
of his people, he pours out his compassionate prayer of intercession
even while they were staining their hands with the precious
blood that was flowing from his body, pleading their cause while
they ignorantly crucified their only hope of glory. But their
ignorance even in their ignorance. Ignorant of their election unto
life for the ones for whom he was praying. Ignorant of his
atoning work. Ignorant of his death on their
behalf. Ignorant of the fact that they were nailing the Lord
of glory to the cross. Here he is praying for them. The Apostle Paul says, and now
brethren I want that through ignorance you did it. and your
rulers. He says in verse 8 of chapter
2 of 1 Corinthians, if they would have known Him to be the Lord
of glory, they wouldn't have crucified Him. But here was the
amazing thing. He must die. He must die. He set His face as a flint. They were actually angry. They
were actually resentful. Those that he knew that were
in that crowd, that were his everlastingly. In ignorance they
did what they did, and they did it on purpose. But the purpose
of God was being completed and assured. Psalm 76 10, Surely
the wrath of man shall praise thee. and the remainder of wrath
shalt thou restrain." Even in their ignorance, accomplishing
the will of the Father, in ignorance, doing what they're doing, doing
it on purpose, knowing that He must die, and He prays, Father,
forgive them. And He must die. He must die. for them to go free. And he said,
Father, forgive them. Forgive them for what they're
doing, accomplishing the everlasting purpose of Almighty God. I just,
I read that and I thought on that. And he must die. He must die. And the Lord said,
Lord, forgive them. Forgive them for what they're
doing in accomplishing their salvation. From his word of intercession,
how quickly, in closing, we behold the Father's answer. Luke 23 and verse 34, he says,
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And in verse 42, There were two
malefactors there. And one of them, well both of
them for a while were railing on him. But in answer to his
petition, look at verse 42, how quickly the father answered.
One of those malefactors started talking to the other one, verse
39. He railed on him, if thou be the Christ, save us. The other,
verse 40, answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear
God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we justly For
we received the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath
done nothing. Now, I want you to just look
in these last few minutes and just consider this. Here's the
Lord praying, Father, forgive them. Forgive, they don't know
what they're doing. And here's one of these malefactors,
and all of a sudden, just a change of heart comes over him. And
he says in verse 42, Remember me when thou comest
into thy kingdom. Lord, forgive them. And one says,
Lord, remember me. I'm sorry. The scripture says in verse 47,
just a few verses later. Now, when the centurion saw what
was done, he glorified God saying, certainly This was a righteous
man. Certainly, this was a righteous
man. He glorified God. I wanted to
know exactly what that meant. So I looked up there. He glorified
God. He praised, extolled, magnified,
and celebrated God to be truly God. This was a righteous man. Less than six weeks later, on
the day of Pentecost, how many were there at the crucifixion?
I don't know. I know there were a bunch of them wagging their
heads and railing on him. He says he's the son of God. If
he's the son of God, maybe God will save him if he will. Father, forgive them. They don't
know what they're doing. Six weeks later, the scripture
says in Acts chapter two, verse 36. Acts 2, 36. Peter preaching, therefore, let
all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made
that same Jesus whom ye have crucified. I know there were
some there, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they
were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and the rest
of the apostles, men and brethren, What shall we do? Then Peter
said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promises unto
you, to your children, to all that were afar off, even as many
as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation, then they that gladly received his word were baptized,
and the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls. The Lord who ordained the end,
ordained the means to that end, and he granted them faith to
believe. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. And when they believed, that
was an evidence of what God Almighty had done for them. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do. Four things from the cross. I
said I had five questions, and I do. Here's the last question. Can it be that he prayed for
me? He prayed for them. Can I find
any hope that I might be found in that them? I would desperately
desire to be found there. Here's my last passage. Here's
the evidence of one that the Lord has given life, prayed for. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. 1 Thessalonians. Can it be that the Lord has granted
me faith to believe, predestinated me unto the adoption of children
of sons by Jesus Christ to himself, elect according to the foreknowledge
of God. God who ordained the ends ordains
the means to that end. Does a man have to believe? Absolutely. Absolutely. He must, you must
believe and God's people will. First Thessalonians chapter one.
Verse two, we give thanks to God always for you all making
mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your
work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father, knowing,
brethren beloved of God, beloved your election of God. Okay, Lord,
what's the evidence? We're thankful, we remember your
work of faith, your labor of love, your patience of hope,
knowing, beloved, your election of God. Lord, how do I know? Verse five, for our gospel came
not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy
Ghost and in much assurance. You could not do without it.
One to whom the gospel comes not in power, He could take it
or leave it. In much assurance, as you know
what manner of men we were among you for your sake, and you became
followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction with joy in the Holy Ghost, so that you were examples
and samples to all that believe in Macedonia, Achaia, For from
you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and
Chaia, but also in every place your faith to God is spread abroad,
so that we need not speak anything. For they themselves show of us
what manner of entering in we had unto you, listen to this,
and how you turn to God from idols to serve the living and
true God. One to whom God Almighty has
shown mercy, granted faith to believe the gospel of God's free
grace comes to them, not in word only, but in power, much assurance,
and in the Holy Spirit. And they follow Him. He said,
My sheep Hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. Lord, speak to my heart. Lord, save
me for Christ's sake. Have mercy upon us this evening,
we pray, amen.