Hello List Members, Family, Friends, (and others not generally on my list or blog,)
Below is my Good Friday message. I have written several Resurrection Day (Easter), Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other special days’ writings, but I wanted to give this one a go. No politics today and I don’t plan on doing anything on any of the other lists I run or am on.
Godspeed,
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
Seven Last Sayings of Jesus on the Cross
Good Friday
Gill Rapoza
April 2, 2010
These are the last seven sayings of Jesus while He was on the cross for you and for me. I have added the simplest of personal commentaries. No great scholarly work on my part. I did not go to a Bible college or seminary, but I believe Scripture was intended to be understood in simple terms almost always.
1. Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
How many of us know the full consequences of each or any of our sins? Jesus was willing to forgive, but we must first throw ourselves down and ask for the mercies and forgiveness Jesus was cursed for.
2. Luke 23:43
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The thief on the cross next to Jesus admitted his own sins, and admitted he deserved to die. He simply turned to Jesus and asked Him to remember unworthy man in the Kingdom belonging to Jesus. Jesus granted him the forgiveness and mercy he sought.
3. John 19:26-27
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Even as New Creatures in Christ, AKA Born Again Believers, we still have duties to care for one another. Not the government, not any agency, but it is a personal command, different for one or another. John treated the widow woman (Jesus’ mom), who was seeing her son dying, with compassion, like that of his own mother.
4. Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
God the Father turned His back on Jesus the Son. This had never happened in time or eternity. The reason God would turn away from any of us is due to the smallest of sin. Jesus became that sin for me, and for you. Only one very foolish would remain forsaken when the free gift of eternity was paid for right then and there.
5. John 19:28
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
Jesus in His very human and suffering state was thirsty. Jesus went through three quick illegal trials, a severe beating and torture. He carried the large instrument of death on His shoulders up the hill to His own death. It hurt greatly, and He was thirsty. He carried heavy wood up the hill, and then carried the sins of the world on His whole body and Person. No body fed Him. He remained thirsty until He died.
6. John 19:30
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
The Roman soldiers mocked Him, and gave Him a distilled drink of sour wine, perhaps with crude narcotic so the soldiers did not have to hear His anguish. It was not because the soldiers of “Pax Romana” had any pity. There were no more needed sacrifices for the Jews, which were temporal at best. It was finished because the real thing was here. Jesus was that sacrifice. No more need for the Temple. No more waiting for the coming Messiah. He was there in person. All that was written and said before was finished. Jesus was before them and most missed it. It was finished!
7. Luke 23:46
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
There was nothing left to do, so Jesus made the final commitment and gave up the last breath of His life to the Father. Complete trust and faith that the Father would honor the final sacrifice, and no more needed to be done. The Father would do as Jesus trusted and raise Him up again on that third day. We get to expect the same thing when we fully trust and commit to God. Jesus made the sacrifice, and we plead the Blood of Jesus and on God’s mercy. As an old preacher friend of mine use to say, “It’s a done deal.” And it was, and it is.
Sunday will be my Resurrection Day follow up, and I don’t plan that it will be long. As great a sacrifice as it was for Jesus to go to the cross for us, it would not be complete at all without His return to life, The Resurrection.
Godspeed,
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
Notes:
All of the Bible quotes English were from the New King James Version
“Scripture taken from the New King James Version. – Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
As always, if you have comments, questions, and even complaints, send them my way. I will answer what I can when I can.
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