This message was preached by Colin D cruz at Word of Grace Church Pune, on the 18th April 2014 . You can listen/download to the audio by clicking here
Traditionally today, people focus on the 7 last words
of Christ. The four gospels phrase them differently. All 7 phrases are not in one gospel but it’s a compilation.
Jesus was in great physical pain, he carried a heavy
cross in the scorching sun and finally he was nailed to it. In moments like this, you don’t waste your
words.
Luke 3:34 (starting from verse 32) 2 other criminals
were with him.
1.
Jesus
said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
doing. ’The first thing Jesus said was a
prayer and gave forgiveness. As the blood flowed from his body,
Jesus takes on the role of the high priest. He was in agony- but he did not
lash out or curse them or call judgment on them. Jesus did the opposite, he
prayed and interceded.
Isaiah 53: 12- numbered with the
sinners- what an amazing thing to do! Jesus did not come to condemn them.
Did the people not know what they were
doing? Pilate knew, the Sanhedrin knew, the 3 soldiers knew. What did they not know- that they were
crucifying the Messiah- the Lord of Glory.
How was that prayer answered- very
quickly! The thief on the cross! Both had insulted Jesus but suddenly after
Jesus prayed, one thief got saved.
In Acts 2- a few days later 3000
people were added. Acts 3:6, a large number of priests God saved. That prayer
is so powerful that it is effective even today. Even today he intercedes for
us.
2.
Jesus
answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’The most glorious
answer to the prayer is in this phrase- Matt 23: 39-42- one thief has a change
in heart. Here we see a great response to the gospel. Firstly, he feared God.
In verse 41, he acknowledges his sin and
that he deserved punishment. He knew Jesus was sinless. He acknowledges
that Jesus was a King. And here it come- “ today you will be with me in
paradise.”
This
thief could do nothing – no church, no service to the poor, no tithing, no
baptism- yet he received unconditional salvation. This is a testimony of grace.
2 Corinthians 5:21- God made him who
had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness
of God.
3.
When Jesus saw
his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to
her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ John 19:26 There
were many friends of Jesus there and his mother. Can you imagine her agony?
This reflects his tender love for his
mother. John 19:26- Jesus did not call her ‘mother’. He always called her
‘woman’. Although she was his earthly
mother- the relationship was of a sinner and a savior. She needed saving as
much as anyone.
Luke 11:27- Jesus rebuked people who
elevated Mary.
Jesus had brothers and sisters- Why
did he not entrust his mother to them? Maybe because till then they did not
believe.
Acts 1: 14- but later they did. Jesus
was showing that even in his agony he provided for his earthly mother how much
more in his triumph and resurrection.
4.
About
three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which
means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’Matt 27:46Psalm 21 and Luke 23- Right from the beginning
the father and son were one and suddenly it comes to a halt and the Father
turns his back on Jesus because he became sin.
Jesus
voluntarily took sin upon himself. This reassured that our sin has been paid
for. 2 Corinthians 5:21 is a reality for us.
5.
John 19:28- ‘I am thirsty’.
That is an under-statement! They put some vinegar and give it to him. He had it
to fulfill Psalm 21. We see the true
humanity of Jesus. This debunks another myth that it was a spirit. We see his
deity and humanity on the cross.
6. John 19:30- “it is finished”. Luke 23:46 what was his state.
He called out in a loud voice after all that. He still had strength. He was showing us that he laid down his
life. John 10:18 I lay down my life and I take it up again
In his final minutes he was displaying
his power. It was a deliberate act of His sovereign will.
His suffering was finished. The price
was paid. You can’t add anything to the Cross. There are only 2 religions in
the world. On says ‘do’ and the other says ‘done’!
7. Jesus called out
with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last.Luke
23:46- Displays his submission to the
Father. From creation to the cross, he was submitted. Jesus set us an example
to follow in his footsteps.
The eternal son became man
and died a horrible death to take us to God.
If you don’t know this
assurance, put your faith in Jesus and acknowledge your sin, repent and follow.
A miracle will happen like to the thief on the cross. And you can live for Him.
For
those of us who know- our response should be of immense gratitude for what
Jesus did.
We
are called to follow him. Without the cross there is no glory and no crown. If
the church life is easy, the question is, who are you following? Will we follow
no matter what it costs? By the spirit, it is possible.
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