The forgiveness of Jesus from the cross, why?

[Mike_Wathen]

When Jesus said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”, why does someone need forgiveness if he doesn’t know he is doing wrong?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

I think a good reference point is John 11:41-42

And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Jesus didn’t necessarily say that pray out loud because he needed to, he said it out loud so that we might see and understand that it was not the Romans that put Jesus on the cross but our sins.