THE GOSPEL: Jesus Forgives and Saves, While Hanging On the Cross!

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus had taught in His first sermon, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;..." (Matthew 5:43-45; see THE GOSPEL: The "Beatitudes" Lesson)  Jesus never tells us to do something that He himself hadn't already done.  If He could say something like this while being nailed to and raised up on a cross, we should be more than willing to follow His example to love, bless, do good and pray for people who don't care for us; or even if we don't care much for them, we should treat them with love also.  Remember, love is not just feeling, it's action. (I Corinthians 13)

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew [religion language], Greek [society language], and Latin [legal language]. (John 19:19-20; Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38) Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” (John 19:21-22)  Remember, Pilate said during Jesus' fake trial, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:6, 14-15; see THE GOSPEL: Jesus, The Truth before Pontius Pilate) Well, Pilate gets the final word, and the word is the Truth!

Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. (Matthew 27:36) Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. (Mark 15:25) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” [Psalm 22:18] Therefore the soldiers did these things. (John 19:23-24; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34) 

God is always in control!  What will happen will happen, just as God said it will.  We can't control everything that will happen, but we can control the choices we make, to either be a part of the good or the bad. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (II Timothy 2:24-26)  The soldiers, religious leaders and many others were doing evil things towards Christ, but because of how He responded, many of them may (and will) come to believe that He is who He and the Father said He is. 

But for now, the mocking and sneering continued: With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.” [Isaiah 53:12] And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mark 15:27-30; Matthew 27:38-40; see THE GOSPEL: Temple Gets Another Makeover) If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:40) “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” (Luke 23:35) Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." (Mark 15:31-32; Matthew 27:41-42) He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:43) Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. (Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:32) 

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:36-37, 39-43) On a cross, receiving the due reward of his deeds, but still able to receive forgiveness.  Again, reiterating what we previously stated, ...if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 

Why was this one criminal able to accept Jesus Christ for Who He was?  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (I Peter 2:21-24) The criminal saw how Christ responded and knew only the Son of God could respond in such a way.  How was he still able to be saved, in spite of all he had done? Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25) By His stripes we are healed!

Jesus grace, mercy, compassion and love is for EVERYONE! No matter what me may have done or not have done. (Romans 7:13-25; James 4:17)  But His greatest example to us is to obey the commandments and the Word of God, even if it means we will have to suffer because of it.  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,... (Matthew 5:11-12)  The criminal would soon find out how great your reward in heaven is, when he will be with The Lord in Paradise. But Jesus also took time to take care of those who cared for Him. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)