I got an Easter Booklet from my church that contains teachings about the seven sayings that Christ said when He was on the Cross. I will translate them to English and put them here one by one starting from today until Sunday.

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Father, Forgive Them            Luke 23:33-38
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

When Jesus was on the Cross, He only said seven sayings. Those seven sayings were not too long but were very powerful. As humans, when we suffer, when we are persecuted, maybe our minds will be filled with anger, hatred, desperation and curses. Even more, if we suffer not because of our faults, then we will not be able to accept the injustice that happens. But when Jesus was put to the Cross, the first sentence that He said was "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do". On the Cross, Jesus was still consistent with the purpose of why He came to this world, that is to give forgiveness. There were no curses that came out from Him, but instead, what came out from Him were words of forgiveness. Jesus asked forgiveness for they that have persecuted and treated Him badly. Jesus also asked forgiveness for they that have put Him to the Cross.

Forgiveness is a very important matter that He did for us when He was on the Cross. Because of His sacrifice, now we have received forgiveness for our sins. Jesus gave forgiveness even when He was still nailed on the Cross. The Scriptures said that "All have sinned (Rome 3:23) and The wages of sin is death (Rome 6:23)". Actually it is us that must suffer, it is us that must be persecuted and nailed to the Cross. But Jesus has became our replacement. Today Jesus offers forgiveness from sins for us. Will you accept it?

If we have received forgiveness from Jesus, then how will we go on with our lives? Are we Christians that fill our lives with praises for Him so that our lives can magnify Him, or have we forsaken the great sacrifice of God?


••• Monday, April 05, 2004 •••