Resurrection Sunday: Jesus Speaks from the Cross!‏

Hello Friends!

Happy Resurrection Sunday – April 5, 2015!

This week we will take a brief break from our study of the book of Romans to reflect upon our Savior as an act of “remembrance” – The Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Without the “resurrection” of Jesus Christ our Christian faith would be futile and fickle. As the Apostle Paul expressly stated: “if Jesus Christ is not risen” we would then indeed be “most pitied of men!” – Amen to that!

With that said, I’d like us to consider this most important and exclusive doctrine of the Christian faith… From a different “viewpoint” – Jesus Christ’s last words spoken from the cross…

Jesus Speaks from the Cross!

 
Because of the physical rigors of crucifixion, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke with great difficulty during His final hours on the cross. The Scripture records SEVEN brief statements from the Savior while He hung on the cross. Brief as they are, every word reveals the fact that Jesus Christ remained in absolute sovereign control of His own death. Each of His final statements are rich with significance!

The FIRST statement from our Savior on the cross was a plea for mercy on behalf of His tormentors. Doctor Luke records that shortly after the cross was raised at the place called “Calvary and while the soldiers “crucified” Jesus Christ and “cast lots” for His clothes, He prayed to God to “forgive” them:

And when they had come to the place called Calvary where they crucified Him, the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left, Jesus then said, 'Father forgive them for they do not know what they do’ And they divided His garments and cast lots – Luke 23:34

Jesus Christ responded in precisely the opposite way that most men would have responded. This priestly “intercession” on behalf of His own killers among the “criminals” was done in fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy:

He poured out his soul unto death and He was numbered with the transgressors and He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors – Isaiah 53:12b

The SECOND statement from our Savior on the cross marks the first glorious fulfillment for the answer to His prayer for the “forgiveness” of those who participated in His death. Hours of agony passed, as two “criminals” were crucified “one on the right hand and the other on the left…” However, a tremendous miracle was taking place in the heart of one of those two “criminals” as he declares his own guilt and turns to Jesus Christ – confessing Him as “Lord”:

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” – Luke 23:43

No sinner was ever given more explicit assurance of salvation then to hear it directly from the mouth of Jesus Christ our Lord! In Jesus’ own words to this dying “criminal” was conveyed an unqualified promise of complete forgiveness and entrance into Heaven – based upon nothing he had done to earn it! In fact, it was only upon his desperate penitence and affirmation that Jesus Christ is “Lord.”

 

The THIRD statement from our Savior on the cross is recorded by the Apostle John as Jesus Christ saw His “mother” and “the disciple whom he loved” standing by:

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” – John 19:26-27

Jesus was delegating to John the responsibility to care for, to provide for and to protect Mary. 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Notice Jesus said "Woman." Mary was indeed his earthly “mother.” However, nowhere in the Scripture is it ever recorded that Jesus called Mary "mother." It was as if He was underscoring the fact that He was to Mary much more than just a relationship between a mother and a son – but between a “sinner” and a “Savior.” Jesus Christ was indeed her “God” and “Savior” and she claimed this truth:

And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior – Luke 1:46-47

Mary was not a sinless “co-redemptrix.” She was just as dependent on the divine grace of the “Savior” as was the “criminal” on the cross. In fact, this dying “criminal” had no opportunity to merit salvation. However, Mary had plenty of opportunity to do so – but she could not. She was indeed “blessed among women” and no doubt was a noble and godly young Hebrew girl. However, she needed God’s “forgiveness” just like that “criminal” – just like you and me… No one is “good” enough!

 

The FOURTH statement from our Savior on the cross is by far the richest in terms of mystery and meaning. Matthew records that in fulfillment of David’s prophecy found in Psalm 22:1 as Jesus “cried out with a loud voice”:

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” – Matthew 27:46

What does Jesus mean by this question? As mere human beings, we'll never be able to fully comprehend the depths of this incredible plea. Jesus Christ was bearing the “sins” of the whole world and dying as a substitute for “sinners.” To Him was imputed all the “guilt” of their “sins” and He was suffering the punishment of the wrath of God – for all the “sins” of “all” who would ever “believe” on Him as “Lord” and “Savior.” God the Father was literally pouring out His divine wrath upon God the Son. In that sense, Jesus Christ is forsaken by God. In some mysterious way during those awful hours on the cross, the Son – the God-man – feels forsaken. 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Jesus Christ NEVER DIED SPIRITUALLY and NEVER CEASED TO BE GOD – This is a VERY important point!

 

The FIFTH statement from our Savior on the cross is recorded by the Apostle John:

“I thirst” – John 19:28

As the end of His life neared, Jesus Christ uttered an excruciating plea from the horrible experience of total dehydration. In a mocking gesture, a Roman Centurion offers Jesus a sponge saturated with “sour wine” at the end of a rod by moving it up to His mouth. Here we see the true humanity of Jesus Christ – God incarnate and yet “thirsty.” This is no “phantom” dying here! This is no hallucination. This is a real man – the only begotten God-man!

 

The SIXTH statement from our Savior on the cross is from John's continuation of the crucifixion account:

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit – John 19:30

The work of redemption was now completely “finished!” Jesus Christ was triumphant! We can add nothing to the work of Jesus Christ. Not baptism. Not religious ritual. Not penance – Nothing whatsoever! There is no supplemental religious ceremony, human work or spiritual effort that could ever augment or improve the sufficient and satisfying atonement for “sin” that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross as “He gave up His spirit” in death – “It is finished!” The atoning work was done, the sacrifice was made, the provision for salvation is complete – forever! And it is ours “by grace through faith” as a “free gift” from God – AMEN!

 

The SEVENTH statement from our Savior on the cross was in the form of a brief prayer that expressed the complete submission that had been in the heart of Jesus Christ from the very beginning of creation… Doctor Luke also records Jesus’ faithful and final words of the crucifixion account:

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last – Luke 23:46

When Jesus had finished taking all the wrath of God, He simply yielded up “His spirit” and “breathed His last.” He thus calmly and majestically displayed His utter Sovereignty to the very end. It must have seemed a supreme tragedy on that day for those who loved Him. But today we know it was the greatest moment in all of history! And Jesus Christ would prove His total victory three days later when He rose from the dead – Halleluiah!

 

In closing:

 

In one sense you could say Jesus Christ was murdered by the hands of wicked men – the Bible does say that. In another sense, you could say it was the Father who sent the Son to the cross – “bruising” Him and “putting Him to grief.” In fact, it "pleased" the Father to crush the Son. The Scripture says that too:

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief – Isaiah 53:10

But yet in another sense, no one took His life:

As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep – John 10:15

Jesus Christ did indeed “lay down” His life willingly for “the sheep” – for you and for me! His final passage into death, like every aspect of the crucifixion drama, was a deliberate act of His own Sovereignty…


We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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