"Father forgive them" Part 1

"FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO"

A Word of Prayer

Remarkably the last words of Jesus start with a prayer. His public ministry had opened with prayer (Luke 3:21 (KJV) Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened) and here we see it closing in prayer. He prayed during His baptism in water and now in the baptism of His suffering.

No longer might those hands minister to the sick for they are nailed to the cross; no longer may those feet carry Him on errands of mercy, for they are fastened to the cruel tree; no longer may Jesus engage in instructing Apostles, for they have forsaken him and fled-how does He occupy Himself? In the ministry of prayer!  What a lesson for us.

Jesus is praying for His tormentors and dying for them at the same time.

Isaiah 53:12 (KJV) ¹²  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Prayer marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and prayer consumed His life and practice.