Father Forgive Them

From the cross Jesus prayed Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.

Key Concept

• Nailed and mocked, Jesus prayed for the people driving the nails - Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.Luke 23:34 NASB1995

• Mercy spoke before anyone apologized: intercession for enemies at maximum injustice - not a lecture after He won.
• Moved with Compassion bent His calendar for hurting people; here mercy speaks when He had every right to condemn.
• Under Free Grace, I am among the forgiven who did not know the weight of what we rejected. His prayer bought space for Repent and Believe later.

Level 1 - Recognize

At the cross Jesus asked the Father to forgive the people who crucified Him - they did not know what they were doing.

Level 2 - Explain

At maximum injustice Jesus prayed for enemies - mercy before escape, intercession when condemnation would be easier.

Level 3 - Use

Pray for someone who wronged you before you rehearse the case against them - intercession first, ledger second.

Level 4 - Connect

Because intercession came at the moment of greatest wrong, the prayer models mercy when power could have demanded payback.

Level 5 - Create

Write an intercession practice for moments of real wrong. Name the person, ask the Father for mercy. Let received Free Grace reshape the next response.

Examples

• Someone slandered me online and my thumb hovered over a nuclear reply - glad Father forgive them turned revenge into prayer before I sent it.
• The coworker who sabotaged my project walked past my desk - Jesus prayed for His executioners while they were still executing.

Note Relationships