At our Good Friday service tonight I will preach on the final words spoken by Christ before his death. Here are a few things that stand out to me from these seven sayings:
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 – this is the essence of why Jesus came. Jesus did not come to establish an earthly kingdom but to offer forgiveness of sin.
“Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43 – because we have been forgiven in Christ we look forward to the day when we will see Him face to face in glory. We have an inheritance that is sure.
“Dear woman, here is your Son.” John 19:26 – at first glance this is one of the most interesting statements. Jesus is bearing the wrath of God for the sin of the world and yet He takes the time to make sure that His mother is cared for. When Christ died for our sins He did not just provide for our future, He provided for our present as well. John was to take care of Mary and Jesus sent His Spirit so that we would not be left alone as orphans.
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? Mark 15:34 – here we witness Jesus bearing the crushing weight of God’s wrath on sin. The one who lived in eternal communion with the Father is now being forsaken so that sinners could be forgiven.
“I am thirsty.” John 19:28 – throughout the gospels Jesus spoke of the cup that He must drink. The cup was the cup of God’s wrath and it left Him thirsty. Jesus drank deeply from that cup in order that we might drink of the living water that becomes a well springing up to eternal life.
“It is finished.” John 19:30 – simple and yet profound. All that needed to be done to save God’s people from sin has been done. No other sacrifice is necessary and no work is left to be done—it is finished!
“Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” Luke 23:46 – Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father and because of His death we have no fear of condemnation and we too can trust fully in God the Father who has saved us by grace.
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