Father, Forgive Them
Month 11: The Cross & the Empty Tomb · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 23:33-34 & John 19:25-27
33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. — Luke 23:33-34
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home. — John 19:25-27
Memory Verse
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”— John 3:16 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Acts 22-25
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Paul stands on trial before governors and a king, telling his story of meeting Jesus.)The Heart of It
The cross is the highest mountain of love in all of history. From it, Jesus showed us how to love others even when it costs us everything. First, He loved His enemies. As the soldiers hammered the nails, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (). He didn't wait for them to say sorry. He didn't demand that they deserve it. In His worst pain, His instinct was mercy. This is the love of turned toward the people who hurt Him the most. And it is the love He calls us to. "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you" (). Forgiveness like that does not mean what they did was okay. It means we hand the wrong over to God instead of carrying bitterness in our hearts.
Then, in that very same hour, Jesus loved His family. Looking down through His pain, He saw His mother, Mary, standing nearby. He saw John, the disciple He loved. And He made sure His mother would be cared for. "Woman, behold your son!" He said. And to John He said, "Behold your mother!" From that hour, John took her into his own home (). Think of that. While paying for the sins of the whole world, Jesus still took a moment to tend to one grieving mother's needs. Big love and small love, all at once. He shows us that loving others is not only about grand gestures or far-off causes. It is also about noticing the person right in front of you who needs care. The same Jesus who forgave His killers made sure His mom had a home. Real love looks outward, at our enemies and at our families, even when it would be easiest to think only of ourselves.
Around the Table
Even while He was hurting, Jesus forgave the mean soldiers AND made sure His mommy would be taken care of. Jesus loved everybody, even when it was hard.
Let's do it: Hug someone in your family and say, "I'll take care of you, like Jesus did!"
Jesus did two loving things on the cross at once: He forgave His enemies and He cared for His mother. Love thinks of others even when we're the ones hurting.
Let's talk: Is there someone you find hard to forgive? What would it look like to ask God to help you let it go?
Jesus did two things in His agony. He forgave His enemies, and He tenderly cared for His family. Forgiveness isn't saying the wrong was fine. It's releasing it to God instead of nursing bitterness.
Let's go deeper: Why is it often harder to love the people closest to us than to love a stranger or a cause far away? How does the cross challenge that?
💬 Conversation Starter
Jesus did one big loving thing at the same time as one small loving thing. He forgave His enemies, and He cared for His mom. What's one small act of love, right in front of you, that you could do for someone in this house today?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say Christianity is harsh or vengeful. But its founder, while being executed, prayed for His killers' forgiveness and arranged care for His mother (; ). The cross is the most stunning picture of self-giving love ever shown. And it is the heartbeat of the faith ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
The "seven sayings from the cross" together form a portrait of love under maximum pressure. Two of them speak directly to how we love others. He forgave His enemies, and He provided for His mother. Notice that Jesus' love reached two directions at once. It was vertical, forgiving wrongdoers and releasing them to the Father. And it was horizontal and near, a practical word that made sure Mary had a home. It is easy for zealous people to love humanity in the abstract while neglecting the actual humans under their own roof. Jesus refuses that split. As a father, here is the searching question. Do my children experience me as a man who forgives quickly and notices the small, practical needs of the people right beside me? Bitterness held in a father's heart teaches kids to keep score. Tender, practical care teaches them what love actually does. And remember, this love is not summoned by willpower alone. It is the fruit of the Spirit () growing in a surrendered heart.
Draws on: Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that even on the cross, Jesus forgave His enemies and cared for His mother. Grow that same love in our family. Help us forgive those who hurt us. Help us notice the people right beside us who need our care. Fill us with Your Spirit, so we can love like Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen."
Real love forgives its enemies and tends the person right in front of it, just like Jesus did from the cross.