Father Forgive Them (Part 2)
This morning we looked at those who put Christ on the cross
His heart was ‘Father forgive them’
Recap (of this morning)
Jesus came that people would have life – not to destroy them
Example of Samaritan Village
There will be judgment for those who do not repent
There will be life for those who turn and repent – this is great news for us
If when we crucify him afresh in our hearts, Jesus’ heart is soft and gentle to us
Jesus longs for people to avoid hell
We thought how this brought great comfort
But they provide us with a profound challenge
Jesus prayed and worked for the salvation of His enemies – do we?
How do we respond to this?
We have real enemies
John 16:2
John 15:21
How people treated Jesus – people will treat us
Matt 10:22, 5:11
Sinners hate Jesus and want to get rid of Him
It is only natural that the world wants to get rid of Christians
The world hates Jesus and so they hate Christians
In extremis – torture, imprisonment and martyrdom
We should not be surprised at how people treat us – see how the treated Jesus
If not, then we need to question if we are truly living a Christ-like life
How should we respond?
What would Jesus do?
We are Christ’s disciples
We do as He would
Remember that Christ suffered (1 Pet 2:21)
He committed no sin, no deceit, no reviling or threatening (1 Pet 2:22-23)
We should respond ‘Father forgive them’
Jesus seeks God to bring them repentance, bring the weight of their sin to the hearts, and cause them to cry out to God
Do we have the mind of Christ in this?
Example
Quote from song ‘May the mind of Christ my Saviour’
It can be done
We are commanded to love our enemies
Therefore we can do this in the power of the Holy Spirit
It has been done
Example of Stephen
The people’s conscience was pricked
Example of John Huss
Example of Korean Man
We might not be able to do this
It is amazing what God can do in the hearts of his people
It is supernatural
We cannot try to be better
We must be honest
We must ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit
We must acknowledge that we cannot do it
The Spirit gives us the desire and ability, but we must do our part
Remember how Christ has dealt with us
Matt 18:21-22
Not 3 times as the Rabbi’s taught, not 7 times as Peter though, but 70×7 – i.e. an infinite number of times
Jesus tells a parable to illustrate this point
The master forgives the servant who owes him a lot
Yet the servant is very hard hearted … and refuses to forgive the servant who owes him little
The servant should have had compassion on his colleague
The servant had not appreciated what had been done for him
The challenge for us
Do we really appreciate what God has done for us?
We need to meditate on the immensity of what has been done for us
Quote from Song
You never know what God can do with those you forgive
Example of Saul of Tarsus
1 Cor 15:9, Gal 1:13
Acts 8:3 – like a lion with prey
Paul was saved and shown mercy
People praised and glorified God because of his transformation
Reading Acts 7:57-60
Stephen prayed for those who causing his death – as Jesus did as His death
In a sense he said ‘Father forgive them’
Saul hears these words
Then the persecution arises / Saul lashes out
The word of God pricks people’s consciences
Kicking against the goads
God had working in Paul’s heart before the Damascas road experience
One was hearing Stephen pray
All this came from Stephen’s willingness to pray, including for Saul
We should pray for the salvation of our enemies
Example of Coventry Cathedral
Think of the dying thieves – one repentant and one not
Was is Jesus’ prayer that stirred up the dying thieves heart towards Him?
Closing Remarks