Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
The very words Jesus Christ uttered in the pinnacle of his suffering being hanged on the cross. Besides the cross being tilted, Jesus also experienced being humiliated by the Roman soldiers, he was mocked, he was thirsty, but not given the drink he needed, laughed by the crowd, while gushing in blood.
Yet Jesus, looking at them, lifted to heaven and prayed on behalf of the people saying, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” a clear representation that Christ looked at us with compassion while in deep sorrow. Some of Christ’s words while suffering on the cross were, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) which shows that Jesus, a 100% man and a 100% God, felt the pain of being rejected in despair. Another statement that Christ made on the cross was when the other criminal hanged beside him who even did not know about Jesus’ works and ministry yet at the very moment believed in Christ and said “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” and Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43). All these statements ultimately speak of Jesus Christ as a King who empathizes with all of us.
All our earthly life’s pain isn’t disregarded because our Lord and savior King, Jesus Christ, empathizes with you. He looks at us with love and understanding that we can no longer bear the curse of the law, he sees ahead of us the sorrow it brings, thus Christ, being empathetic to us, suffered, died, resurrected and living in us in spirit, to guide us, to sanctify us and to console us in the highs and the lows while we wait for His glorious day to come. Today, be encouraged to know that you are never alone, there is someone who knows exactly what you are going through, Jesus Christ. Cast your cares today to Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
