The Daily Walk | 03.20.2026 | Pastor Mike Gibbons | Luke 23:34; 46

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good morning, First Baptist Wimberly. This is Mike Gibbons. Welcome to Friday. This week we're back in Luke in chapter 23, verses 26 through 56. And the focus in these verses is the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus. So there's a very somber tone to this whole section. But despite the seriousness, I think Jesus encourages us through his prayers. Luke does share fewer prayers than other gospel writers do, but I think he does that on purpose. Let me read the first prayer from verse 34, and then the last prayer from verse 36. First, verse 34. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Now, verse 46. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last. Important to see is that Jesus repeats the word Father in both those prayers. The last prayer is a quote from Psalm 31, 5. Into your hand I commit my spirit. David is the one that wrote the Psalm, and he's asking to be preserved from death. But Jesus, the ultimate son of David, used it as a prayer of trust in the Father at the moment of death. But Jesus added the word Father. No one dared to use this word before Jesus. But Father was used throughout the ministry of Jesus. It is the one recorded word of his youth. Did you not know that I must be in my father's house? It was the opening word of the prayer he taught his followers to pray, the Lord's prayer. It was the word he used when he took on the cross. Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. And it was the first word he spoke from the cross. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And it is part of the last prayer before his death. It should encourage us to see this relationship of Father and Son. But we also have to see this last prayer as a prayer of triumph. Luke says, Jesus calling out with a loud voice, this was a shout of victory. Jesus was in control, unlike others who are crucified, until the very end. He knew he had taken the totality of sin on himself to give us righteousness. This is the great exchange that Pastor Aaron illustrated a couple of weeks ago. His righteousness for our sin, our sin for his righteousness. And how do we participate in this great exchange? By faith. By faith alone. So the question is: does your faith rest on Jesus? Are you able to address God as Father, as Jesus does, because you have a relationship with him? The only way to do this is through repentance and faith. This is Mike Gibbons, and I love being your pastor.