W e r e o n t h e w e b ! w w w . t s u m c . o r g "Father, forgive them..." Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34a) This month I'm taking a break from our current newsletter series called "Embracing the Future NOW," in order to focus on Lent and th e cross. Each Sunday morning of Le nt we're f ocus- ing on the statements Jes us made from the cross. The gospels record seven final st atements. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing ," is the first of those final sta tements. Let's examine this statement together I. There's a need for forgiveness Some of what Jesus says on the cross i s directed to people. He says to one of the criminals beside him, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Later he talks directly to one his disciple, John, as well as directly to his mother, Mary. Sometimes his words re flect his own needs, "I am th irsty." Yet the very first of his final words is a prayer to his Heavenly Father to for- give others. This communicates th e importance and the need for forgi veness. Our prayers refl ect things that are important t o us. Jesus' prayer reflects th e importance and the need for forgiveness. And the n eed is our s. The "them" incl udes us. Romans 3:23 say s, "all have sinned and fall short of th e glory of God." We all need forgivene ss. II. Forgiveness is God's gift It's a gift of grace. Grace is God's unearn ed, undeserved love offered to humankind. We don't deserve it. We haven' t earned it. Even sti ll, God ex- tends the gif t. It becomes ours when we receiv e it through faith . Paul says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is th e gift of God." (Eph. 2:8). John writes, "But if we confess