WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:02.479 Good morning, First Baptist Wimberly. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:03.520 This is Mike Gibbons. 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:05.519 Welcome to Friday. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:12.240 This week we're back in Luke in chapter 23, verses 26 through 56. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:19.199 And the focus in these verses is the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:24.320 So there's a very somber tone to this whole section. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:32.240 But despite the seriousness, I think Jesus encourages us through his prayers. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:39.520 Luke does share fewer prayers than other gospel writers do, but I think he does that on purpose. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:46.320 Let me read the first prayer from verse 34, and then the last prayer from verse 36. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:48.799 First, verse 34. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:54.719 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.039 Now, verse 46. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:07.120 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:11.760 And having said this, he breathed his last. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:19.599 Important to see is that Jesus repeats the word Father in both those prayers. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:24.480 The last prayer is a quote from Psalm 31, 5. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.719 Into your hand I commit my spirit. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:35.359 David is the one that wrote the Psalm, and he's asking to be preserved from death. 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:44.959 But Jesus, the ultimate son of David, used it as a prayer of trust in the Father at the moment of death. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.079 But Jesus added the word Father. 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:52.560 No one dared to use this word before Jesus. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:57.519 But Father was used throughout the ministry of Jesus. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:01.120 It is the one recorded word of his youth. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:05.040 Did you not know that I must be in my father's house? 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:10.800 It was the opening word of the prayer he taught his followers to pray, the Lord's prayer. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:16.080 It was the word he used when he took on the cross. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:20.319 Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.400 And it was the first word he spoke from the cross. 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:28.240 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:34.560 And it is part of the last prayer before his death. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:41.360 It should encourage us to see this relationship of Father and Son. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:46.960 But we also have to see this last prayer as a prayer of triumph. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:56.560 Luke says, Jesus calling out with a loud voice, this was a shout of victory. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:02.879 Jesus was in control, unlike others who are crucified, until the very end. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:13.759 He knew he had taken the totality of sin on himself to give us righteousness. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:18.400 This is the great exchange that Pastor Aaron illustrated a couple of weeks ago. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:24.319 His righteousness for our sin, our sin for his righteousness. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:28.240 And how do we participate in this great exchange? 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:29.520 By faith. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.439 By faith alone. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.479 So the question is: does your faith rest on Jesus? 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:46.400 Are you able to address God as Father, as Jesus does, because you have a relationship with him? 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:52.159 The only way to do this is through repentance and faith. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:56.159 This is Mike Gibbons, and I love being your pastor.