Thursday, February 17 – Luke 23:34

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves.

Have you ever looked back on an incident and regretted your actions? Many times, after gaining some perspective or some extra information, there are things that we would do differently. Amid the gruesome moments of the crucifixion, Jesus cried out to the Father. In his commentary, Adam Clarke describes the moment this way, “If ignorance does not excuse a crime, it at least diminishes the atrocity of it. However, these persons well knew that they were crucifying an innocent man; but they did not know that, by this act of theirs, they were bringing down on themselves and on their country the heaviest judgments of God.”[1]

It is easy to look back to apologize for our actions after the fact or excuse by claiming, “I didn’t know.” If we respond to the gospel this way, we misunderstand the weight of the crucifixion. All your sin had to be covered by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Our sin is not to be excused away. Jesus became nothing for us so that we might be reconciled to God. If you are a follower of Jesus, recognizing your sin is a constant process. You cannot claim ignorance of the weight of your actions any longer. The gospel opens our eyes to the seriousness of our situation. But there is also a cure. Our Savior died but was resurrected three days later to put an end to this vicious hold sin has over our lives. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

• What does it look like to take your sin seriously every day?
• How does understanding the weight of your sin help you appreciate the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice?

Pray and thank Jesus for His sacrifice that has paid for your sin.

[1] Adam Clarke and Ralph Earle, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1967).