“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Luke 23:34
We’ve taken a step back to look at what the men who crucified Jesus were actually doing at the cross. Now let’s take a look at what Christ Himself was doing on the cross.
Thank God that Jesus does not just look down from the cross and say, “They know not what they do!” Jesus taught: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mat. 5:44), and that is precisely what He is doing here.
Jesus prayed for His enemies; and He did it even as they were inflicting horrible pain on Him. The people who were pouring out cruelty on Him were the very ones who were on His heart, so He prayed for them while they were crucifying Him.
Christ had compassion on them because He knew what they were doing. Jesus knew the heaven they were spurning, the eternal hell they were preparing, and who they were defying. He knew the full weight of the sin they were committing, and He had compassion.
Christians should be the most compassionate people in the world. If you know the hell sin brings, the heaven it spurns, and the God it defies, you will have compassion for sinners. Knowing what sin is and where it leads will soften your heart, and it will help you to grow in compassion.
Will you ask God to soften your heart and help you grow in compassion for sinners?
