As recorded in The Bible, the following were the Last Words spoken by Jesus as He endured the gruesome hours at Golgotha:
1. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).
3. Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27).
4. Eli Eli lama sabachthani? (“My God, My God, why have you forsaken
me?”) (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
5. I thirst (John 19:28).
6. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).
7. It is finished (John 19:30)
In this presentation, which will be a series of seven essays, the words of the Lord Jesus are presented in the light of the knowledge mediated to mankind by the Grail Message.
The Easter Season is certainly a good time to contemplate the deeper meaning of these words and their significance.
The words point to the real Mission of Christ, His suffering in the hands of ungrateful men and the way that leads to salvation.
We now take them one after the other:
FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO!
Many today explain the crucifixion of Jesus as a sacrifice meant to appease God and that man is saved by the sacrificial death of Christ!
This longstanding thinking is questionable in the face of the statement made by Jesus as He was nailed to the cross: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
The words “forgive them” can only refer to a wrongful act.
After the words “Father forgive them” comes the extremely severe words: “for they know not what they do”. These words also confirms that what was being done was wrong.
Instead of holding a grudge, Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of His enemies and this is a lesson for us. However, while Jesus could forgive and pardon the wrongs done against Him, the Laws of God continues to work out the just reaction on all who rejected the Teachings of Christ. For humanity, the rejection of Christ and His Mission has brought the results now manifesting as the current world events. Yes, the guilt of Golgotha is now being resolved in the World Judgement currently in full swing! These are reflected in the existing confusion, frequent wars, political unrests, economic difficulties, the incredible fate of individuals and the masses, new ailments with some leading to epidemics and pandemics, the natural catastrophes, and the global warming. To be saved we need to abide by the true teachings of Christ!
