Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. John 18: 36a, NKJV
Heavenly Father, please bless us as we look at some of the last words spoken by Jesus just before dying. May Your love touch our hearts, for Christ’s sake. Amen
Today we will begin to look at Jesus’ seven last statements. We will try to discover what these words may have meant to believers in a first-century Mediterranean world, and what they might be saying to us today. I am not sure about the sequence of these statements, but, thank God, the message is not dependent upon the sequence! We will be studying these statements in the following two days.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23: 34). When Jesus was teaching His disciples about forgiveness, He encouraged them to forgive; not seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18: 22). In other words, as often as is necessary. Do not waste your time keeping track of the many times you have been wronged – forgive! Jesus lived this principle to the fullest, in His own life. Perhaps in no other situation is this more clearly seen, than when He hung upon the cross. He had been lied on, humiliated, buffeted, spit upon, by the same people for which He was praying! He sincerely prayed that His Father would forgive them. He could do this because He had already forgiven them Himself! What a gracious Savior! Lord, may I be as willing to forgive others, as You, in your inexpressible love,and mercy, have forgiven me.
Forgiving is one of the most effective ways of freeing ourselves. If you find yourself stuck, unable to get ahead with your life, search within yourself, and see if there is someone you need to forgive. You may be that person. Many times we have wronged someone; we repented and received their forgiveness; and yet we find it hard to forgive ourselves. When Jesus forgives us, He sets us free to forgive ourselves, as well as others (John 8: 36).
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise‘ ” (Luke 23: 43). Jesus was crucified in the midst of two thieves. One of the thieves, under the influence of the Holy Spirit recognized Jesus as the Savior and referred to Him as “Lord,” asking the Savior to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Christ promised him that He would. Jesus did not promise the thief that on that very day he would be with Him in paradise, because Jesus did not go to paradise that very day (John 20: 17). When Jesus ascended to the Father I believe He remembered to tell Him about this repentant sinner, who called Him “Lord,” when everyone else was deriding Him. In that day when Jesus “make[s] up [H]is jewels” this thief will be among them (Malachi 3: 17; Romans 8: 1).
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken [M]e? When the Roman soldier pierced the Savior’s side, out of it flowed water and blood, signifying that it was not the injuries caused by the nails in His hand and feet that caused His death. He did not bleed to death; nor did He die from asphyxiation. When the Father hid His face from the Son, because of the sins of the world that rested upon Him, it broke His loving heart. Jesus suffered the second death for all humankind. The separation from the Father, is what broke the heart of the Savior. He submitted to it in order that none of us need ever, pass through that experience.
When you become depressed, and you feel that life has lost its meaning, and there seems to be no hope; just remember, Jesus walked that road before You, and He will meet you there, and take away your heavy burden.
Tomorrow we will continue with the last four words.