Jesus’ Compassion on the Way to the Cross: “Father, Forgive Them” (Luke 23:27–34)

Jesus’ compassion is never more stunning than when He is suffering. In Luke 23:27–34, on the way to the cross, Jesus speaks words we could never manufacture in our flesh: “Father, forgive them.” While the crowd mocked, while soldiers carried out their cruelty, while His strength was failing, our Savior’s heart was still turned outward—toward sinners. This passage shows us not only what Jesus endured, but what He desired: mercy for the very people who were putting Him to death. https://youtu.be/eTfFgscNmNY Table of contentsSuffering and self-focusLesson one: Even at the end of Jesus’ life, He remained compassionateLesson two: Suffering can reverse blessingsReversal #1: “Blessed are the barren…”Reversal #2: “Fall on us… cover us…”The proverb: Green wood and dry woodLesson three: Isaiah 53:12 fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixionPart one: Jesus poured out His life for usPart two: Jesus was numbered with transgressorsPart three: Jesus interceded for transgressorsPart four: Jesus was our High Priest and sacrificeLesson four: Ignorance minimizes accountabilityWe are not ignorant, so we are accountable Suffering and self-focus I think suffering and concern for others are often inversely related: The less we suffer, the less we focus on ourselves, and the more we can focus on others. The more we suffer, the more we focus on ourselves, and the less we can focus on others. When pain is intense enough, it’s hard to speak graciously, hard to think straight, and hard to care about anyone else. We understand that. And because we understand it, we often make allowances for people who are suffering. That is what makes Jesus’ journey to the cross so surprising. If anyone ever had the “right” to be focused on Himself, it was Jesus. He had been falsely accused, beaten, and scourged. He was so exhausted and near death that the Romans compelled Simon of Cyrene to carry His cross. Yet even at the end of His life, Jesus was still concerned about others. Lesson one: Even at the end of Jesus’ life, He remained compassionate Luke writes: Luke 23:27 — A great multitude followed Him, including women mourning and lamenting. We don’t have to pin down exactly who these women were—faithful followers, outraged observers, or emotionally overwhelmed witnesses—because Luke emphasizes something more important: what Jesus said to them. Luke 23:28 — “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” The verse begins with a contrast (“but”). Jesus does not respond the way we would expect. We would expect Him to affirm their grief—after all, His suffering is undeserved. Instead, He redirects their weeping from Himself to the suffering that would come upon them and their children. Even in His lowest moment, Jesus is not self-absorbed. He is still compassionate. And Jesus' compassion includes a warning: He is referring to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70—something He had already foretold earlier in Luke: Luke 19:41–44 — Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and foretells its destruction. Luke 21:20–24 — Jesus describes the siege of Jerusalem that the people will experience and how terrible it will be for them. Lesson two: Suffering can reverse blessings Jesus describes a time of such horrific judgment that people will speak in shocking reversals. Reversal #1: “Blessed are the barren…” Luke 23:29 — “Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!” That sounds almost unthinkable—because Scripture consistently presents children as blessings (Psalm 127:3–5, Exodus 23:26, Deuteronomy 7:14). And barrenness is often portrayed as grievous—sometimes even as judgment (Genesis 20:18, Hosea 9:14). So why would Jesus describe barrenness as “blessed”? Because intense suffering can invert what is normally good. In the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, pregnancy and parenthood would mean added vulnerability: more mouths to feed, more fear, more suffering to endure, more heartbreak to witness. Paul expressed a similar idea about marriage: marriage is a gift, but in extreme distress it can add weight to an already crushing situation: 1 Corinthians 7:26 I think that in view of the present distress (referring to the persecution the Corinthians were experiencing) it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. Reversal #2: “Fall on us… cover us…” Luke 23:30 — People will say to the mountains, “Fall on us,” and to the hills, “Cover us.” This language appears as a repeated pattern in Scripture—judgment so terrifying that death feels like an escape (Hosea 10:8, Revelation 6:16). When judgment is severe enough, people don’t ask for comfort—they ask for concealment. They don’t ask for relief—they beg to be crushed. That is the horror Jesus is warning about. The proverb: Green wood and dry wood Luke 23:31 — “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Green wood doesn’t burn easily. Dry wood burns easily. Green wood points to Jesus: innocent, undeserving of judgment. Dry wood points to sinners: guilty, deserving of judgment. It is as though Jesus says, “If Rome will do this to Me—the innocent One—what will they do to those who reject their Messiah?” And there’s a sobering layer to the image: Jerusalem and the temple were, quite literally, burned. Lesson three: Isaiah 53:12 fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion Luke 23:32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Luke’s language emphasizes that these men are criminals, and Jesus is placed right in the middle of them. In doing so, Luke is showing us the unfolding of Isaiah 53:12. Part one: Jesus poured out His life for us Isaiah 53:12 says He “poured out His soul to death.” That phrasing evokes the imagery of a drink offering—poured out completely. Jesus did not give part of Himself. He gave Himself entirely. This language also echoes Jesus’ words about His blood in Matthew 26:28: "this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Part two: Jesus was numbered with transgressors Isaiah 53:12 says He was “numbered with the transgressors.” The leaders wanted Jesus treated like the worst of the worst. In doing so, they fulfilled prophecy written centuries earlier. Jesus was not crucified because He was guilty. He was crucified as if He were guilty—for those who actually are. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us. Part three: Jesus interceded for transgressors Luke 23:34 — Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” While soldiers gamble for His clothes—fulfilling Psalm 22:18—Jesus prays. And these are His first words from the cross. We might expect, “Judge them,” or “Destroy them,” or “Prove Me innocent.” Instead: “Father, forgive them.” Jesus is doing two things at once: He is practicing what He taught in Luke 6:27–28 He is fulfilling what Isaiah foretold in Isaiah 53:12 This is a window into Jesus’ disposition. Forgiveness is difficult for us; it does not come naturally. But Jesus’ posture is merciful. He does not delight in condemnation—He delights in saving. And there is something deeply convicting here: Jesus is interceding in real time—while the sin is happening. Part four: Jesus was our High Priest and sacrifice Priests did two primary things: They interceded for sinners. They offered sacrifices for sinners. On the cross, Jesus does both—simultaneously. He is the High Priest making intercession while also being the sacrifice poured out. Two verses shine even brighter in the light of Luke 23: Romans 5:8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus was literally dying for sinners sinning against Him. It’s like another living illustration for us. Hebrews 7:25 He always lives to make intercession for His people Jesus lives to intercede, but on the cross He interceded while dying. Lesson four: Ignorance minimizes accountability Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This does not mean the people involved were automatically forgiven of every sin they ever committed. Forgiveness for all sins is received through repentance and faith. But Scripture does emphasize that their ignorance minimized their accountability for this particular act. 1 Corinthians 2:8 If they had understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Peter says something striking to the Jews in Jerusalem: Acts 3:17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. Paul also describes his former persecution of Christ as something he did ignorantly in unbelief: 1 Timothy 1:13 Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, Ignorance does not make sin “good,” but it can lessen culpability. We are not ignorant, so we are accountable They were ignorant. They did not grasp that Jesus was the Son of God. They heard Him speak without recognizing they were hearing God’s words. They watched Him die without understanding for whom He was dying. But we are not ignorant. We have the Scriptures. We have the testimony of the resurrection. We have centuries of the gospel proclaimed. We know the identity of the One who hung on that cross. So the question is not, “Did we know?” The question is: What will we do with what we know? Jesus remained compassionate while suffering. He interceded while being sinned against. He prayed,