Jesus on the Cross

GOLDEN TEXT: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.” —Luke 23:34

LUKE 23:33-46

JESUS’ sacrificial death is the basis of salvation for both the church and the world. His shed blood, or sacrificed life, is “the propitiation, or satisfaction, for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2) It was on the cross that Jesus gave his flesh, his humanity, that the world of mankind through him might have an opportunity to gain everlasting life.—John 6:51

God’s love for the world was manifested by the gift of his Son, Christ Jesus, to be the Savior and Redeemer. And Jesus’ love for the sinful and dying human race was equal to his Father’s. We would expect, therefore, that Jesus would love even his enemies who were instrumental in bringing about his crucifixion. Certainly, therefore, Jesus would have the spirit of forgiveness toward his murderers. However, Jesus did not ask his Heavenly Father to forgive his enemies, as our Golden Text indicates.

The purported statement by Jesus, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” is spurious, having been added by a copyist some time during the early centuries after the apostles fell asleep in death. It does not appear in the earlier Greek manuscripts. Actually, this purported request by Jesus is not in harmony with the facts as they are revealed to us in the Word.

To a certain extent, the religious rulers in Israel did know what they were doing. They did not sin against such a full knowledge as to bar them from a future opportunity to repent and to obtain salvation through the Redeemer, but they understood the situation sufficiently to make them worthy of punishment. Their punishment was reflected later in the destruction of the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and the nation, in addition to horrible experiences through which they passed individually. Jesus understood the Father’s arrangements too well to ask that these hypocritical religious leaders be spared from this just punishment which had been foretold.

Later the Apostle Peter, speaking to this same general group concerning their part in bringing about the death of Jesus, said, “I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” (Acts 3:17) They did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, and were ignorant of the fact that his death was essential in order that mankind might be redeemed from death. But in their hearts they knew that Jesus had done nothing that warranted their putting him to death. For this they will have to repent if their sin is to be “blotted out.” And we are glad that this opportunity will be given to them.—Acts 3:19-21

The two “malefactors” Luke speaks of as being crucified with Jesus, are described by Matthew as “thieves.” (Matt. 27:38) The conversation between these thieves and Jesus is always of interest. One thief was unfriendly, the other friendly. The friendly thief, apparently noticing the inscription on Jesus’ cross, “This is the king of the Jews,” requested, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”—vs. 42

The translators of the King James Version have destroyed the real meaning of Jesus’ reply to the thief’s request by the misplacement of a comma. As we now have it, the reply reads, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” It should read, “Verily I say unto thee today, Shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (vs. 43) It is so punctuated in Prof. Rotherham’s translation. The punctuation of the Bible is not inspired. It did not come into use until centuries later.

The assumption has been that this thief repented of his sins and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior, but the record does not so indicate. Even the disciples did not understand that Jesus was dying as their Redeemer, so how could the thief know this? To the thief, Jesus was a fellow convict being put to death. Since Jesus was being crucified as a king, why not ask to be remembered in his kingdom?

But Jesus, alert to witness to his Father’s plan, replied with confidence, “Verily,” or, Yes, I will have a kingdom, and you will be remembered in that kingdom. I say unto you today, when I am dying, and you are dying, “Thou shalt be with me in paradise.” It was to be more than nineteen centuries before Jesus’ kingdom would be established, and through its agencies, paradise conditions restored to the earth; but Jesus had faith that the Father’s kingdom plan through him would be carried out; and it will.

This statement of Jesus implied faith in the resurrection, and Jesus was raised from the dead. The thief—both thieves, as a matter of fact—will be raised from the dead during the thousand years of Christ’s kingdom, and given an opportunity to live forever in the restored paradise.

QUESTIONS

Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?

Explain why the first part of the Golden Text could not be true?

Is the punctuation of the Bible inspired?

What did Jesus really say to the thief on the cross, and how is his promise related to the thief’s request?

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