In spite of Jesus being sent to the cross by his disciple, Judas, and highly regarded religious rulers of his day, he cried out for God the Father to forgive them for ignorantly sending him to die. Jesus never committed a sin according to Hebrews 4:15, yet he was condemned to die. The people who sent him to the cross did not understand that they were killing God’s precious son. John 3:16. Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man .Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own.

Question: "Why did Jesus say 'Father, forgive them' on the cross?"

Answer: Jesus’ words “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” are found in Luke 23:34. Jesus looked down from the cross upon the scene that was most distressing to Him. The Roman soldiers were casting lots for His clothing (John 19:23-24); the criminals on the crosses to either side of Him were reviling Him (Matthew 27:44); the religious leaders were mocking Him (Matthew 27:41-43); and the crowd was blaspheming Him (Matthew 27:39). Jesus looked down upon this most unworthy lot and said, “Father, forgive them.” How could this be?

Even in His agony, Jesus’ concern was for the forgiveness of those who counted themselves among His enemies. He asked the Father to forgive the thieves on the cross who jeered and made fun of Him, one of whom went on to accept His love and mercy (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43). He asked the Father to forgive the Roman soldiers who had mocked Him, spit on Him, beat Him, yanked out His beard, whipped Him, put a crown of thorns on His head, and nailed Him cruelly to the cross. Still they personally held no ill will towards Him. They were simply following orders. This was how they normally treated condemned men and they believed that He truly deserved it. They didn’t know that they were killing the Son of God (1 Corinthians 2:8).

Jesus