Father Forgive Them

As if the suffering from the severe flogging wasn't bad enough, Jesus is now nailed to a cross. The pain is excruciating. Nevertheless, we see that the focus of our Savior is still outward, and his first words from the cross are a prayer to God: "Father, forgive them…" What we see at the cross is the heart of God, which is a desire, even an eagerness, to forgive sin, regardless of how wicked it may be. Jesus intercedes for sinners, and he is willing to pay the price for their sin, so that they can be forgiven. As a response, the apostle Paul tells us to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32).