Reflecting Christ’s mercy and forgiveness in a divided and hurting world.
Part 1: Understanding Jesus’s Prayer from the Cross
The Prayer That Still Speaks
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He was in deep pain. He had been mocked, beaten, rejected, and nailed between two criminals. Most of us would expect someone in that kind of suffering to cry out for justice or judgment. But Jesus did something different. He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Those words were not only for the people standing at the cross that day. They still speak to the church now. They remind us that mercy is at the heart of Jesus. Even when He was being treated unfairly, He chose compassion. Even while He was suffering, He prayed for the very people who were hurting Him.
What Was Happening at the Cross?
Luke’s gospel shows us Jesus on the cross, surrounded by people who did not fully understand what they were doing. Roman soldiers were carrying out orders. Religious leaders were protecting their power and traditions. The crowd had been stirred up by fear, confusion, and pressure from others.
Jesus knew their actions were wrong. Forgiveness does not mean pretending evil is good. But Jesus also knew their hearts were clouded by ignorance, pride, fear, and spiritual blindness. So instead of cursing them, He prayed for them. That is radical mercy.
What Does “They Know Not What They Do” Mean?
When Jesus said, “they know not what they do,” He was not saying they were completely innocent. They still made choices. They still caused harm. But He was showing that people often do wrong while not fully understanding the damage they are causing.
That is true for us too. Sometimes we hurt people with our words and do not realize how deeply they are wounded. Sometimes we defend our opinions so strongly that we forget to love. Sometimes we follow a crowd, a tradition, or a habit without asking whether it reflects the heart of Christ.
Jesus’s prayer reminds us that ignorance may explain some things, but it does not erase responsibility. We still need mercy. We still need correction. We still need God to open our eyes.
The Church Today Needs This Prayer
If Jesus looked at the church today, what would He see? He would see faith, worship, service, and love. But He would also see division, pride, bitterness, harsh words, competition, and people hurting one another in His name.
Sometimes Christians fight over doctrine but forget compassion. Sometimes we protect traditions but ignore wounded people. Sometimes we speak truth without love, or we speak love without truth. In many ways, the church still needs the prayer of Jesus: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
This is not a call to excuse sin or ignore harm. It is a call to be humble. It is a reminder that all of us need forgiveness, and all of us are capable of misunderstanding God’s heart while thinking we are defending His name.
Forgiveness Is at the Center of the Gospel
The cross shows us why Jesus came. He came to bring forgiveness. He came to make a way for sinners to be restored to God. Even as His blood was being poured out, His mercy was being poured out too.
Forgiveness does not mean sin is small. It means God’s grace is greater. It does not mean pain does not matter. It means Jesus carries our sin and pain to the cross and offers healing that revenge can never give.
For the church, this means forgiveness cannot be just something we preach. It must become something we practice. If we have received mercy from Christ, we are called to show mercy to others.
The Two Thieves: Two Responses to Grace
Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One mocked Him. The other became humble. One remained hard. The other admitted his guilt and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered with mercy and promised him paradise.
These two men show us two different ways people respond to grace. Some resist God even when mercy is near. Others open their hearts, admit their need, and receive the forgiveness Jesus offers.
The forgiven thief reminds us that no one is too far gone for Jesus. But his story also warns us not to delay repentance. We should not assume we can live however we want and turn to God only at the last moment. Mercy is available today, so today is the time to respond.
Jesus Prayed for the Guilty
Isaiah 53:12 says the suffering servant would make “intercession for the transgressors.” That means Jesus would pray for sinners. At the cross, we see this prophecy fulfilled. Jesus prayed not only for friends, but for enemies. Not only for the faithful, but for the guilty.
That gives hope to all of us. If Jesus could pray for those who nailed Him to the cross, then His mercy can reach people we might think are beyond help. It can reach the angry, the confused, the proud, the broken, and even those who oppose the gospel.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2026