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SermonCast: THE SEVEN FINAL STATEMENTS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS | EP 02
SermonCast: THE SEVEN FINAL STATEMENTS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS | EP 02
The seven last sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross reveal profound spiritual insights applicable to our faith journeys today. Each statement demonstrates Christ's love, forgiveness, and completion of His redemptive mission despite experiencing the ultimate suffering.
• "Father, forgive them" shows Jesus maintaining His relationship with God while extending grace to His persecutors
• The promise of paradise to the repentant thief illustrates salvation through acknowledging sin and placing faith in Christ
• Jesus' concern for His mother demonstrates fulfilling earthly responsibilities even during His divine mission
• "Why have you forsaken me?" reveals the spiritual separation Jesus experienced as He bore humanity's sins
• "I thirst" displays Christ's full humanity alongside His divinity
• "It is finished," announces the complete accomplishment of our salvation
• "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" demonstrates perfect trust and submission to God's plan
The seven last sayings of Jesus Christ. These seven last statements of Jesus Christ are the things that Jesus Christ said while he was on the cross. It's very interesting to consider and listen attentively to a dying man's word, because when a man is dying, when a man is living this earth, when you read the Old Testament, in some cultures, when somebody is about to pass away, they will call your children to come forward. They will bless them, they will reveal certain things to them. Sometimes it could be a secret, sometimes it could be a will, sometimes it could be a disclosure of certain information. So, child of God, I believe that these seven last sayings of Jesus Christ, you and I can obtain insights, inspirations and instructions that are applicable to our day-to-day working out our faith. The seven last sayings of Jesus Christ refer to the final statement made by Jesus in his crucifixion. These sayings are found all over the Gospels in the New Testament and we are going to examine them one by one. The first saying or statement made by Jesus Christ, verse. Saying or statement made by Jesus Christ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. We can find a scriptural reference for this statement in Luke 23, verse 34. Let me read that Jesus said Father, forgive them, for they do not know what you're doing, and they divided up his clots by casting lots. Wow, wow, wow. I'm so passionate about the word of God, like every word, every statement, every phrase. For me it's so intriguing, it's so deep. Just thinking about this verse, there's so much coming into my mind. Jesus Christ was still emphasizing, trying to teach us that when we are also carrying our own cross, we shouldn't put aside the title of God as a father, the title of God as a father. We shouldn't put aside our unique, intimate, family-oriented relationship with God, because God is a father. When Jesus was on the cross, in this statement he said Father, you can imagine a dying man? God is about to abandon Jesus. Jesus was not upset at God because, don't forget in the scripture, when Jesus was about to get to the cross, he was in the garden of Gethsemane and he was saying, praying to God, that, father, god, this cup is too much. But you know what? Not my will, but let your will be done, wow. So Jesus knew what he was about to face and and he was asking and pleading to his father not to allow this cup to be full. He was asking and pleading to his father not to allow him to take the cross on our behalf, but he decided to say no, god, if it's up to me, humanly speaking, I don't want to go through this, but I'm here for this purpose. Let your path, it will be done. Jesus did an old God in a grudging way. Jesus was not upset at God. Jesus was not disappointed in God, because he has always been with God, the father. He wasn't upset going to the cross.
Speaker 1:How can you and I bring this to our human relationship, especially our walk with God? When we are in difficult situations, we tend to forget God. We tend not to call on the names of God. We tend to describe God as God. You're evil. Why are you allowing this to happen to me, god? You're not a father, because if you're a father, you won't allow this to happen to me. If you're a father, you protect me. If you're a father, you won't allow this to happen to me. If you're a father, you protect me. If you're a father, you come through for me. If you're a father, you intervene for me. Myself, I'm included. I make that stupid excuses.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I accuse God falsely, especially when I am trying to carry my own cross, in my own little way, but not so with Jesus Christ. So what can we learn from this? Is that, while we're carrying our own cross, just like our Savior, carrying the cross of the sinfulness of humanity, he still acknowledges, he still appreciates, he still honors, he still gives God what is due to God. That God, you are still my father. I am still in a loving relationship with you, no matter what is happening with me. Powerful, just this statement itself. There's so much depth to it, but because of time, I would just have to move on.
Speaker 1:He says, father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Oh, my God, jesus was asking God to forgive those who were persecuting him. Jesus was asking his father not to hold it into an account against those who were crucifying him. Jesus was interceding. Can you imagine? Jesus was pleading to God, the father, not to hold it against those who were crucifying him. Wow, I have never seen this type of love. That is why Jesus said in the gospel that there's no greater love than this for a man to lay down his life.
Speaker 1:He is laying down his life for those persecuting him. He is laying down his life for those cursing him. He is laying down his life for those persecuting him. He is laying down his life for those cursing him. He is laying down his life for those abusing him. He is laying down his life for those that have stripped him naked. He is laying down his life for those that are mocking him. He is laying down his life for those who slapped him.
Speaker 1:All of these things happened to Jesus. They slapped him, they stripped him naked, they mocked him, they cursed at him. All of these things happened to Jesus. They slapped him, they stripped him naked, they mocked him, they cursed at him. They believed to him, but he was saying they hurt him, they nailed him. He was saying Father, god, I still see you as my father. I'm not going to get upset at you, but also this wicked humanity, these people that have come to die for Look what you're doing to me. But you know what, lord, I am not going to hold it against you. I don't want any visions. I just want you to forgive them.
Speaker 1:And we can also bring this to our contemporary time that, even though you and I, we steal, we lie, we go about our lives in the wrong way, god, jesus is still interceding on our behalf, telling God the Father, forgive Rahim, forgive you that are watching, forgive my son, forgive my daughter, forgive this child of watching. Forgive my son, forgive my daughter, forgive this child of God. Why? For they do not know what they are doing. Yes, the people involved, all the parties involved, from the chief priest, the multitude, the thieves on the cross, the Roman soldiers, pilate, all of these people. Jesus was saying to God the Father Lord, forgive, forgive them, for they don't know what you're doing. Jesus is pleading, interceding on their behalf to God the Father, saying forgive them, for they do not know what you're doing. They don't know what you're doing. They're just partakers in fulfilling scripture, in fulfilling prophecy, in fulfilling the salvation of all mankind, including themselves.
Speaker 1:So now let's go to the second statement that Jesus made on his crucifixion. Truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise. So that is coming from luke, chapter 23, verse 43. I want you and I to go there and try to understand the context of this statement. I will start reading from from verse 39.
Speaker 1:Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying if you are the christ, save yourself. Wow, just like everybody was mocking jesus christ, everybody was against jesus christ. Even people who are convicted guilty. They have something to say against jesus christ, an innocent man. He was saying jesus, if you are the Christ, save yourself and us. What a very disrespectful statement to Jesus Christ. Belittle Jesus Christ, trying to put Jesus Christ to test. Well, thank God, there was one of them who answered back, who said in verse 40, but the other answering rebuked him, saying do you not even fear God? Saying you are under the same condemnation and we, indeed, justly, will receive the due reward for our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said to Jesus Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And then Jesus said to him as surely I say to you today, you'll be with me in paradise.
Speaker 1:You see, the two teeth on the cross, to my understanding, resemble believers and unbelievers. What do I mean by that? Believers and unbelievers? What do I mean by that? The first thief that was so rude to Jesus Christ resembles unbelievers who disrespect, disregard and they have no fear of God and they are sinners and they are guilty and they are wrongdoers and they are wicked, they are unrighteous and they are speaking ill against an innocent man and holy man and no fear of God. And the second thief on the cross resembles believers, former sinners, who acknowledges that he himself is a sinner. He deserved to be punished, he deserved to receive the due reward for his own deed, but not so with Jesus. He was able to speak well of Jesus. He was able to speak the truth concerning Jesus Christ, because Jesus was completely innocent.
Speaker 1:The second thief on the cross resembles us as believers who choose to believe Jesus Christ Because we have acknowledged that we are sinners, that we are in need of a savior. That is why Jesus was able to respond to him. Before Jesus responded to him, he said Jesus, please remember me when you come into your kingdom. Wow, wow, remember me, show mercy, extend your grace to me. I deserve to be punished. I am a criminal, I am a sinner, but not you. But I also see you as a savior. I also see you as God. I also see you as the son of God who has the right, the authority, the power to forgive sins, who has the right, the authority to give people access to the kingdom of God. The second thief requesting to Jesus for Jesus to remember him in his kingdom, to come and look at that response from Jesus. Truly, I say to you. Today you will be with me in paradise.
Speaker 1:The second thief on the cross put his faith in Jesus Christ because he had the right attitude. He was very honest with himself. He realizes that himself is a sinner in need of a savior. So those that are watching saying that you know what. I don't need Jesus, I can save myself. You are lying. You're not truthful to yourself. You're not truthful to yourself. You're not honest with yourself because you do lie. There's none who's righteous. Just humble yourself to God and say God, I have sinned against you. God, I am lost. God, I am dark. God, I am filthy. God, I am wrong, but remember me, save me, extend your grace to me, believe in me. Jesus will not deny when you put your faith in him, amen. So Jesus promised the second thief on the cross that truly I say to you wow, jesus, making an affirming, confirming assurance, saying that I have the authority to give you access to my kingdom and today you will be with me in paradise. Wow, wow. Today you will be with me in my kingdom. Today you will be in heaven, not in hell.
Speaker 1:The difference between the two thieves is all about attitude and faith in Jesus Christ. The first thief didn't care, accusing Jesus Christ trying to save himself, whereas the second thief acknowledged that he's a sinner in need of a savior and he requested that Jesus Christ should remember him. Savior. And he and he requested that jesus christ should remember him. And jesus replied what a wonderful promise that today you are going to be with me in paradise. What a powerful testimony. Anybody, anybody, can have the same access into the kingdom of god when you are honest with yourself, when you are in a desperate need. Because the bible says if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. But when we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness by the precious blood of Jesus. This is powerful. I'm so blessed.
Speaker 1:Let's move on to the third statement Woman, behold your son, behold your mother. Let's look at John, chapter 19, verse 26 to 27, to be able to understand the context in which this statement is made. All of the statements that I'm sharing with you guys today, all of them took place with Jesus on the cross at his crucifixion. A dying man speaking truth. A dying man speaking revelation. A dying man saving people. A dying man still having a sense of responsibility for his family, family duty, because he was the first son, the son of Mary. Let's read John, chapter 19, verse 26 to 27.
Speaker 1:When Jesus I'm going to go back to 25 now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother oh boy and his mother's sister, mary, the wife of Cleopas and Mary Magdalene. You see, mary has always been there for Jesus. He was at the conception of Jesus till the crucifixion of his son, jesus. Do you think Jesus will forget about Mary? Do you think Jesus, who neglect, will forget about his earthly, manly responsibility? Jesus is a kingdom man for you and I as men, to learn from. He was the son of God. He was also the son of man, the son of Mary. He acknowledged his earthly responsibility of his mother because Mary has always been there for him. Mary respected him. Mary honored the grace of God upon his life. Mary cherished the revelation, the dream, the encounter with the angel of the lord about who jesus christ is. From the conception of jesus, his son, till his crucifixion, she was still there. What a loyal and faithful mother. Do you think jesus in his right mind will forget his, his earthly mother? No, that is how this statement came about to show us that while jesus was on the cross, a dying man, and showing that his family is taken care of and showing that his assurance, this insurance for his family, while he's gone, he was still acting as the son of man, who has earthly responsibilities of his family that God has put him. He didn't want to leave Mary behind like that because Joseph, his adoptive earthly father, is gone and he is the elder brother, the first son. Wow, jesus, son of God, jesus, son of man, son of Mary. Look what it says. When Jesus therefore saw his mother and disciple, whom he loved, standing by, he said to his mother woman, behold your son, a dying man, appreciates relationships. Jesus, as an example, appreciates his relationship with his mother. He appreciated it to the point of taking accountability and responsibility for his mother, and he also entrusted the care of his mother to one of his close disciple, john the beloved.
Speaker 1:Let's move on to the, to the fourth statement. My god, my god, why have you forsaken me? This statement is powerful now. This statement is now between God and his father. The three statements that we have read so far the focus is about humans, it's about people, it's all about us. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my, what a selfless lamb, what a selfless sacrificial savior, what a selfless sacrificial Savior Dying on the cross. Jesus was still thinking about you and I, because there's no greater love for a man to lay down his life for another. And Jesus perfectly displayed such love for you and I. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what you're doing. It's all about you and I, truly I say to you today you will be with me in paradise. It's all about you and I, woman, be all, your son, son, be old, your mother. It's all about you and I, humanity, people. Jesus was all about in people's business, trying to save, trying to give life, and life in abundance.
Speaker 1:But now, when we look at the fourth statement, it's about jesus and his father, their relationship. My god, my god times. Why have you forsaken me? In the context, like I started off by saying in the first statement, father, jesus, still, oh, my God, father. But now in this statement, he's calling God. He's not calling God Father, he is calling God, god, god. Why have you forsaken me? Because a father cannot forsake his son, but god, as a judge, as a judge, had to forsake jesus, because jesus was being punished for our sins. Jesus was taking upon himself the sins of the world. So God had to abandon, turn aside. Look the other way. At this time, jesus was not able to see his father. At this time, jesus was not able to see his father. At this time, jesus viewed God as a judge, viewed God as a just judge, because he's carrying the sins of the world.
Speaker 1:Before we get there and explain more, let's understand the context in Matthew, chapter 27, verse 46, and the surrounding verses. Let me go there. Matri, chapter 27, verse 46. Look what it says in matri, chapter 27, verse 26.
Speaker 1:Now, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land. In about the ninth hour, jesus cried out with a loud voice saying Hell, hell, lama, sabba tani. That is my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus cried out with a loud voice my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He didn't say God, god. Why have you forsaken me? He didn't say God, god, why have you forsaken me? No, he said my God, meaning that possessive pronoun my God, who I have a relationship with, my God, who I serve, my God, who I'm working for, my God, who I am here to, to represent. Why are you forsaking me at my dying stage in life. Why are you turning aside from me? Why are you abandoning me, my God? What a question. Why? And the reason is because of you and I. His Father, his God. Now, jesus sees his Father as the God of justice, my God, who judges sinners? And here I am taking the sins of the world upon my shoulder.
Speaker 1:God wasn't able to look at his son because of sin. God hates sin, god despises sin. Jesus is asking God why have you forsaken me? What a profound question. Why? And the answer is because of you, Because of me. That's why God forsook his one and only beloved and begotten son on the cross for you and I to die for our sin. Wow, you can imagine that painful experience between God, the Father, god, the Son. They have been together throughout eternity.
Speaker 1:But because of this one instance, this one act, this one epistence, this one event in human history, god forsook his son because of you and I. There's no greater love than this for God. The Bible says if God could not spare his own son, how much more could he not do for us? If God could not spare his own son, how much more could he not do for us if god could not spare his own son on the cross for you and I. What is it that god cannot do for you and I because of his love? Do you see the unconditional love of god? Do you see how deep, how great the love of god is? Because of time? Let's go to the next point.
Speaker 1:I thirst, I thirst. I find this very, very interesting. Go to the context in which this statement is made John, chapter 19, verse 28. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished Wow, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said I thirst. Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a hipso and put it in his mouth. Oh my God, jesus. And put it in his mouth. Oh my God, jesus received a sour wine. That's interesting. The Bible says that Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said I thirst, don't that? Jesus is the fountain of life?
Speaker 1:I think the physical jesus, humanity of jesus christ desires water. Jesus is thirsty. As a human being, he's thirsty from all tiredness. He was exhausted physically, mentally and, I believe, spiritually. When you're exhausted, what you really need at that time is something to quench your thirst. Jesus was exhausted with our sins, was exhausted physically with the pain. He was thirsty. We don't know what jesus christ was thirsty for, doesn't say, but it was thirsty, I thirst. Jesus is making a request to those who were beside him on the cross and he's saying I, I thirst. The humanness of Jesus Christ sought out for help. He reached out to somebody or somebody came to help him a bit to carry the cross. But he carried a full load of our sins on the cross all by himself. And we see an example here that the humanness of Jesusesus christ, the human, desire for water, thirst. So jesus said I thirst, requesting for someone to give him water. And they did, and they gave him a sour wine.
Speaker 1:The second to last statement is it is finished. What is it that is finished that Jesus is saying in this statement? It is finished. Wow, what a good news. The enmity between God and man no longer exists.
Speaker 1:Salvation, redemption, sanctification, justification, redemption, sanctification, justification. Jesus has accomplished the salvation, the justification of humanity on the cross. Jesus has paid the full price for humanity's sin on the cross. Jesus accomplished what God demanded from you and I. Jesus paid the penalty of our sins. Jesus took the punishment of our sins. Jesus was condemned on our behalf on the cross. Because of our sins, this is the accomplished work of Jesus on the cross. Because of our sins, this is the accomplished work of Jesus on the cross. So when we talk about the cross, we talk about the finished work of Jesus Christ Finished, Completed, accomplished, successful, satisfactory by God's standard. Now we have access and authority to come to God without any fear, with boldness and confidence and faith in Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, it's finished. God no longer holds our sins against us when we confess them, because the blood of Jesus covers us.
Speaker 1:Let's go to John, chapter 19, verse 30, to see where this is coming from. He said it is finished and, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. It is finished. And, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. It is finished. Jesus was sent to the world to die for us. Jesus was sent to the world to sacrifice his life for us. Jesus was sent to the world to save us. Jesus was sent to the world to secure our eternity in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was sent to the world for a mission, on a mission, and he accomplished that mission, that assignment, his earthly purpose for humanity, for the salvation of humanity on the cross, and Jesus completed it by saying it is finished. Us for humanity, for the salvation of humanity on the cross, and Jesus completed it by saying it is finished, it is accomplished, it is a done deal, no going back. Wow, our salvation is secured because of Jesus Christ, because of what he accomplished on the cross. And finally, the last statement is Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
