Father, Forgive Them... God's Call

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” [Luke 23.34] 

This is grace. It is God's will that all mankind be saved and understand the truth. God's forgiveness is His call to every human being.

As Luke records this, it takes place before the criminals crucified on either side of Jesus were even discussed. This is important.

What follows Jesus' exposé of undeserved grace “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” is a timeless look into saving faith (or the lack thereof). Faith is what separates the "called" from the "chosen."

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23.39-43]

The criminals on either side of Jesus represent all of humanity for all time. They represent the "called."

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.14]

The scoffing criminal, in unbelief, challenged Jesus just like the religious leaders who sentenced Jesus to death. The other criminal however did not challenge Jesus, but in a simple faith-filled request said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And, as Jesus responded, this humble criminal was thereby "chosen."

The difference between Jesus and the two criminals is basic. The criminals were justly being crucified because of their selfish actions. Jesus was unjustly being crucified because of His selfless commitment to God (and mankind represented by the two criminals).

It is profound that the criminals were deservedly on crosses. The faith-difference in the two criminals however is found in one proudly rejecting his cross while the other humbly embraced his. The humble criminal, in effect, "took up his cross..."

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

For all the selfish motives that landed both of the criminals on crosses beside Jesus, it was the realization that he deserved to be there that resulted in the humble criminal's proclaimed faith in Jesus. This faith in Jesus, made evident in his request, forever secured the humble criminal's salvation.

We are just as guilty as the two criminals crucified on either side of Jesus. We are guilty of responding to Satan's lie that we should follow our selfish desires. The criminals, instead of giving up their own selfish desires, acted upon them and found themselves crucified for it. Like the criminals, we act upon the very same selfishness that was Adam's and Eve's original sin in the Garden of Eden when they doubted God's intentions in forbidding they eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3). Adam and Eve believed Satan's lie that God was holding out on them, and so, they took matters into their own hands. Adam's and Eve's guilt of taking matters into their own hands is effectively the same guilt of the criminals on either side of Jesus. It is our same guilt too. And, it is the reason "idolatry" is the first thing forbidden in the Ten Commandments because idolatry is the self-centric disobedience that leads to all other sin. Idolatry is man's way of taking matters into his own hands independent of God's demands. When man follows this his own way, making his own solutions, all manner of telltale disgusting sin follows. The Bible supports this exhaustively.

Idolatry is criminally taking from God His role of solely caring for us. Idolatry puts us in the same proximity to Jesus as the two criminals crucified on either side of Him. In that proximity, Jesus' prayer on the Cross covers us as it covered to two criminals, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” This is the undeserved grace-call of God extended to all. We have the choice to respond in humble faith embracing our criminal fate or to continue in arrogant selfishness rejecting and fighting against our criminal fate.

Like the men on the crosses beside Jesus, we are ALL criminals for trusting and pursuing anything other than God ALONE (ourselves, finance, insurance, medicine, technology, religion... all crimes of idolatry against God). Jesus' call to the Father, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” is God's call to us. We can only enjoy that forgiveness and all the blessings it brings when we humbly acknowledge we are criminals and in need of Jesus. We are not done following Jesus until we are with Him where He is. Neither are we done giving up our own way until that time. And, most relevant to the topic of this article, we are not done taking up our cross until we are fully united with Jesus in God's presence in heaven.

Our undivided faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that renders us chosen. We should not wait until death is imminent upon us to exercise this faith - Jesus' life on earth was more than the Cross - and so, He demanded miracle-working faith of all who would follow Him. Whether it's faith to live or faith to die, only faith in Jesus pleases God because Jesus is the only Way to God.

The two criminals crucified on either side of Jesus give deeper meaning to:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Father, my unwritten thoughts accompanying this article are more than can be articulated. It is sufficient today to understand Your call (the offer of forgiveness) and to respond in humble faith to receive it as I give up my own way, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. May I be found only in Jesus. So be it.