Seven Messages From The Cross
Introduction
One of the most difficult things a mother may have to witness is watching her child die. As we come to the end of the 1000 days of Christ, we are going to look at Jesus’ final words to His mother Mary and the other last words He spoke as He hung suspended between heaven and earth, dying. This would be Jesus’ crowning achievement, the purpose for His coming. Dying was the mission for which He came to earth, for which He marched up Calvary that day. As we have been reliving the last 1000 days of Christ, it all points to this event. We want to look very deeply at His dying words. His dying words are so important for us; they are words we can cling to for eternity.
The Road To The Cross
As we have relived the final 1000 days of Christ, we have seen Him get baptized by John, teach & preach, heal the sick, make the blind to see, raise the dead, teach His disciples, share a last meal with the disciples in The Upper Room, get arrested after betrayal by Judas, get beaten and nailed to a cross, and now, finally, He is dying a slow agonizing death on Calvary. As Mary stood there weeping, she and the others heard Jesus’ final words before GHe died. We often gather in hospital rooms or at bedsides, places where loved ones are about to slip into the presence of God. We sit at their sides clinging to every word because we want to hear important words. We hope we can catch what they are saying in those last moments of life. Those words are so meaningful because they are the dying words. They are the last we will ever hear from them in this life.
People don’t always manage to speak profound words as their last, but Jesus’ dying words were highly important. These seven statements summarized everything Jesus had taught and how He wanted us to live.
Statement # 1: A Display Of Supernatural Forgiveness.
Luk 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
These may be some of the last words Jesus spoke on the cross to God The Father but they are constantly spoken time and time again every day in Heaven as Christ intercedes on our behalf to God Almighty.
Statement # 2: A Display Of Supernatural Compassion.
Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Even as the three hung dying on the cross, Jesus had compassion on the one who called on Him as Lord. We are also promised such loving kindness because the Bible says “All who call on the Lord shall be saved.”
Statement # 3: A Display Of Supernatural Caring.
The third dying statement of Jesus was partly spoken to His mother, indicating that she should now look to John as a son, and partly to spoken to John, indicating that he should adopt Mary as his own mother.
Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Statement # 4: A Display Of Supernatural Commitment.
Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
This was a rhetorical question: that is, Jesus knew the answer. Separation in the Godhead had to take place because that is infinite spiritual death; that is the kind of death that substitutes for us and saves us. Jesus knew that this is what He had come into the world to do.
Statement # 5: A Display Of Real Humanity.
The next words that Jesus spoke revealed His humanity.
Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
This is God The Son, who created with His Father all the rivers, oceans, and groundwater, and who planned and set in motion the pattern of rainfall. It shows that He was 100 percent human; just at the same time He was 100 percent God.
Statement # 6: A Display Of Supernatural Victory.
Joh 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
The word “finished” in the original language is “tetelstai”, which means a past completed action that has continual and enduring results. This is the same word that would have been used in that day by an artist or sculptor when he had completed an incredible piece of art.
Statement # 7: A Display Of Supernatural Security.
Luk 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Luk 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus used His last breath in His human body to place His spirit into the hands of His Father. By this Jesus displayed to all who gathered there and to us today, that supernatural security is found in the hands of Almighty God. That is the only place to be. When we come to that last moment of life, when we take that last breath and slip into eternity, we can trust God fully.