Luke 23:33-37
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

They did not know what they were doing. They thought, perhaps, they were executing a criminal, or at the very least someone who was deceiving the people and going against their religious rules and laws. They thought to get rid of someone who made them uncomfortable, who confronted the sin in them with the boldness and authority of the Son of God. They were out for blood, and they perhaps even thought they were doing some good thing.

But they had no idea what was really happening here. Here was Jesus going willingly to the cross, offering up Himself as the atonement for sin, laying down His life of His own will, power, and volition. Here was Jesus knowing that He would give His life, and on the contrary, no one could stop Him from dying, for it was what He came to do all along. This was always going to be the culmination of His time on earth. And here is Jesus offering forgiveness, as only He could do.

At this time, they didn’t know what they were doing or what Jesus was doing or what God was going to do through this. But hopefully afterwards they would see and know and understand and believe. Even as they were dying there together, one of the thieves came to believe and changed the course of his eternity with only hours to spare. The centurion looking on knew something significant was happening, that Jesus was different from other criminals he’d put to death.

But do you know what Jesus was doing there that day? Do you understand how Scripture was fulfilled and salvation was secured for all who would believe? Do you know that Jesus didn’t stay dead but rose up from the grave to set you free from sin and death and hell? And if you do know that, if you have believed, are you helping others to understand what was accomplished that day and how they can know Jesus for themselves? Are you giving Him your life as He gave His life for you?