Good Friday reminds us about Jesus dying on the cross. A little boy was once lost in Glasgow not far from the famous Glasgow cross. He went up to a policeman and said, “I’m lost, but if you show me the way to the cross I can find my way from there!” Sometimes we see a map on a notice board with a big X marked on it and the words, “You are here”. The cross of Jesus is the only starting point that will stop us getting lost as we journey through all the twists and turns of life.

God’s forgiveness is the greatest thing we all need so the first words Jesus spoke as He hung on the cross were, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” [ Luke 23:34 ] He never needed to pray, “Father forgive Me!” for He was the only human being who had never done anything wrong. The wonderful news is that by offering up His sinless body as a sacrifice, He paid the price for our redemption so that at the judgement day we can be reckoned righteous!

Jesus did not pray, “Father, why have you allowed this to happen to Me?” He knew before He came down from heaven that He was the only One who could rescue us from the guilt and grip of sin and guide us safely through life and even through death.

When Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” this was not a blanket promise of forgiveness for everybody! Ignorance is not innocence! His prayer was that God in His mercy, would stay His hand in judgement until people listen to their conscience then turn away from what’s wrong and trust in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, before it’s too late.