“Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Today marks the darkest day in the history of the world!
This is how Luke partially described what literally happened two thousand year’s ago in Luke 23:33-36 when he said, “When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed Him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on His right and one on His left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let Him save himself if He is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked Him, too, by offering Him a drink of sour wine.”
I’m flooded with emotion (as well as with many tears) as I imagine being there to witness the crucifixion of my Lord and my Savior. I find myself overwhelmed with shame, recognizing the horrendous way in which Jesus chose to suffer and die for all of my sins.
Amidst the tremendous sadness I’m feeling right now in remembrance of that awful day when Jesus willingly experienced, and took on the sins of the whole world … I’m beyond grateful that because of His obedience to the Father, He provided the only way for me to be cleansed of my sins and to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:22-26, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.”
1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] If we admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing]. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
If you have not yet surrendered ownership of your life to Jesus, may you sincerely consider today (Good Friday 2025) to be the day you say “Yes” to Jesus.
And may this Sunday (Easter 2025), be a celebration unlike any other, now that you’ve become born again and you’re eternal future has been secured!!