spel. As Jesus tasted the first bitterness of his anguish he was heard
to pray, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." He did not
have in mind simply the soldiers who were involuntary instruments of his
death, but rather the Jews who had not fully recognized the enormity of
their crime. For them Jesus felt no hatred in his heart. He yearned for
their repentance and their salvation. This prayer was a revelation of the
matchless grace and mercy of this ideal Man. Luke adds the details of the
mockery to which the other evangelists likewise refer. The crowds stood
gazing upon the Sufferer but the rulers and the soldiers cruelly mocked
him; the former scoffed at him saying, "He saved others; let him save
himself." In reality, had he saved himself, he never could have saved
others. He died for the very men who were deriding him, to make possible
their salvation. The soldiers made sport of him by casting lots for his
garments and by offering him drink and hailing him as "King of the Jews."
This last title had been placed on the cross above the head of Jesus. It
was put there by Pilate in bitter irony. It was his way of taking revenge
upon the rulers who, contrary to his conscience, had compelled him to put
to death an innocent Man. In place of this superscription the eye of faith
sees another, "Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the
world!"

I. The Penitent Thief. Ch. 23:39-43

39 And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him,
saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 40 But the
other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear
God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man
hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said, Jesus, remember me when
thou comest in thy kingdom. 43 And he said unto him, Verily I say
unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

This story which enshrines for us the second saying of our Lord upon the
cross has often been regarded as one of the most significant narratives in
the Gospels: first, because it gives us such a picture of the unique
person of Christ; here was a dying man who at the same time was a
forgiving God. Then, here is a picture of the transforming power of Christ
who in an instant of time changed a robber into a saint. Most of all, we
have here a message of the conditions of salvation which