"FATHER Forgive Them; For They Know Not What They Do."

Does CHRIST think on me?
Does HE notice me?
Does HE love me?
(Frank Hall)

"FATHER, forgive them; for they 
know not what they do." Luke 23:34

JESUS of Nazareth, the sinless SON of GOD, 
was hated without cause, arrested, beaten, 
mocked, laughed at, reviled, ridiculed, spat 
upon, shamed, stripped naked, crowned 
with thorns, publicly humiliated, nailed 
to a cross, and left to die!

What is the first thing HE says while 
hanging upon the cruel tree? Does HE 
ask HIS FATHER to send a legion 
of angels to destroy HIS persecutors? 
Does HE condemn HIS unjust 
executioners? Does HE call for fire and 
brimstone to fall on these wicked devils?

That's what we would do, is it not? 
But HE is not like us. HE is holy, 
harmless, undefiled, and separate 
from sinners. HIS ways are not our ways, 
and HIS thoughts are not our thoughts; 
for as the heavens are higher than 
the earth, so are HIS ways higher 
than our ways, and HIS thoughts 
than our thoughts!

Instead of fire--

we see forgiveness.
Instead of words of wrath--

we hear words of mercy.
Oh what grace! 

HIS lips are like lilies, dropping 

sweet smelling myrrh.  CHRIST prays, 

"FATHER, forgive them; for they 
know not what they do."

"I pray for them. I am not praying 
for the world, but for those YOU have 
given ME, for they are YOURS!" John 17:9. 

HE prayed,

 "FATHER forgive them (MY people); 

for they know not what they do." 

Child of GOD, be of good comfort--
you were on the heart of CHRIST as 
HE hung upon the cross! 

You may ask yourself, 
Does CHRIST think on me? 
Does HE notice me? Does HE love me? 

Oh you of little faith! 
You are always on HIS heart! 
You were on HIS heart in eternity past, 
in Gethsemane, on the cross--
and you are on HIS heart now in glory! 

As HE died in agony and blood under 
the wrath of GOD, HE was thinking 
of you: 

"FATHER, forgive the sin of MY poor, 
ignorant, rebellious child; for he knows 
not what he does!"

  
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GraceGems has published William Nicholson's uplifting short article,
"The Journey of God's Ransomed People to Heaven".