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Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals\u2014one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.\u201d And they divided up his clothes by casting lots (Luke 23:32-34).

It\u2019s the hush in middle of the storm.

Here stands the crowd of thugs who arrested him in the garden \u2013 they knew what they were doing, \u2013 earning a night\u2019s pay. Its likely they didn\u2019t know Jesus well, if at all, indifferent to his guilt or innocence.

Here stand the disciples who abandoned him -- they knew what they were doing \u2013 they had sworn to stick with him, to intervene, not to let this happen. But it had happened. They had run when Jesus needed them.

Here stands the high priest, surrounded by his minions, they had brought false charges against him \u2013 they knew what they were doing \u2013 getting rid of him. This Jesus had constantly eaten away at their control over the Jewish people, he didn\u2019t mind pointing out their hypocrisy and abuse of power, it was time to be rid of him. Death by crucifixion was the surest way to be rid of him. No one had yet survived.

Here stand the soldiers who had beaten him to inches of his life \u2013 they knew what they were doing \u2013 they had been trained for this \u2013 this beating \u2013 this torture \u2013 this humiliation \u2013 it was their game, their thing, it was the one thing they were good at, very good at. All in a night\u2019s work.

Here stand the women who had cared for his needs and followed him \u2013 maybe they weren\u2019t quite sure what they were doing here. They had followed him and cared for him; quietly, in the shadows mostly. They would stick with him to the bitter end. Among all those at the foot of the cross, they illustrate for us what discipleship truly looks like (see yesterday\u2019s WW for more on that).

In that moment of silence, when all the cruel work of trial, torture and crucifixion was finished, Jesus gasps for breath, they all hush, he seems to look at each in turn: the disciples, the women, the soldiers, the leaders, he\u2019s going to say something, but what \u2026

\u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d

Suddenly, we become bystanders, eavesdroppers of a deep conversation in the heart of the Trinity\u2026this is not about all those people, not about us, for us, yes; this is about God, the Triune Creator God.

We think we know ... we know how to live ... but look at our lives ... we know how to love ... but look at the hate in our hearts ... And Jesus cuts across all our puny efforts to play nice to God and says, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

Its so counter intuitive, so astonishing. We don\u2019t do it this way. We want people to know first, how much it hurt, how deep, how lasting, how permanent the scars they have inflicted on us. People must know, they must earn the right, they must demonstrate they won\u2019t hurt us again. Then we will think about forgiving.

Yet here, from the cross, is pre-emptive forgiveness. We end with forgiveness. Jesus begins with it. All those scoundrels, and deserters and false accusers gathered around the cross\u2026The first words out of his mouth, Father, forgive\u2026

The first word of God was, \u201cLet there be light\u201d. The first word of redemption is \u201cfather, forgive.\u201d The first word into our darkness, \u201cfather forgive.\u201d This is not about us, for us yes, but not about, it is about God, about His desire to have us back, about the depth of pain he endured to bring us back.

If God is going to wait until we know the wrong that we do, God will wait forever. If God's going to wait to talk with me until I first admit that I'm a sinner, the conversation will never occur. I'll be too defensive, too deceitful in my guilt. I'd rather die. \u201cDid you conspire to crucify the Son of God?\u201d \u201cWho, me? Why are you always picking on me? I'm doing the best I can.\u201d

Our salvation begins with these words. \u201cYou are forgiven.\u201d Hear Jesus anew, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d