Welcome to South! We're glad you joined us today! Below you will find some sermon notes and Bible passages, to help you follow along with Pastor Scott's message. This is an Easter series entitled, "Easter: Cries from the Cross." We hope you will be encouraged by what is taught today.

Forgive Them

The very first words that Christ spoke after being hung on the cross to die – those words being, “FORGIVE THEM, for they know not what they do”. In spite of the worst that was done to him, the first words out of Christ’s mouth while hanging on the cross were not ones of cursing the very ones who had treated him so poorly, nor were they a cry for justice and punishment, but instead they were a cry for mercy and forgiveness.

Things to Note:

1) This cry for forgiveness of Christ on the cross helps to grow our understanding of the fact that the cross of Christ is in fact a place for the hurting, angry, bitter sinner to find the hope of mercy and forgiveness.
2) It should also help us to grow in our understanding of what forgiveness is really all about.
3) Forgiveness is an act of the will, not a following of emotions.
4) Christ’s cry lets us know that He was absolutely confident that in the midst of such unrestrained wickedness, and the pain it was causing him personally, God was present and working.
5) This cry of Christ’s on the cross was really a PRAYER to his ever present and working Father.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”