Jesus; Creator, Savior, Lord and King #71 Jesus Words From the Cross

 

JCSLK 71 Jesus Words From the Cross

Luke 23:33-47

Seven Statements of The Savior

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. - Luke 23:34

Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. - Luke 23:43

Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother! - John 19:26–27

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? -Mark 15:34

I thirst - John 19:28

It is finished - John 19:30

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit - Luke 23:46

The Path To the Cross

In only a week’s time the final elements of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind has been played out. On the first day of the week, Jesus entered Jerusalem amidst the cries of “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

He once again claimed the Temple as His Father’s House and drove out the money changers.

He teaches the people and debates with the Pharisees and scribes. So thoroughly does He defeat the Pharisees that by the middle of the week they no longer will debate Him. Now they can only plot how to kill Him without starting a riot among the people in Jerusalem for the Passover.

From the Upper Room to Gethsemane (6PM – 12AM)

Jesus secretly celebrates the Passover and institutes a new memorial. Now instead of looking back to their deliverance by the blood of a lamb upon the doorpost of their home, the saved will look back at the blood of the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

Then in the upper room, Jesus teaches some of the most important lessons for the apostles and for us as New Covenant believers.

Jesus and the apostles leave the upper room as Jesus continues to teach. The discourse ends at an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus prays three times struggling with the coming agony of the cross and separation from His Father. The spiritual struggle so great that the Bible says His sweat dropped as if it were an open wound.

From Gethsemane to Arrest (12 AM – 3 AM)

Around 1 AM, Judas, knowing that Jesus often went to the Garden to pray, arrives with soldiers from the Temple. He has arranged a sign so the soldiers would know who Jesus was. As Jesus is still speaking to the other apostles, Judas walks up to His master and betrays Him with a kiss of greeting on each cheek.

Around 1:00 AM, while Jesus was still speaking with his disciples after his third prayer, the betrayal unfolded. Judas, one of the twelve disciples, approached the garden leading a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders.

Jesus, "knowing all that was to happen to him," steps forward and asks the soldiers,  "Whom do you seek?" they answer, "Jesus of Nazareth," When he tells them, "I am he", that response both identifying Jesus and claiming equaulity with the Father, the soldier fall back whether in fear of a prophet with a prophets power, or at just the sound of Jesus saying “I AM” as He had said to Moses at the burning bush.

Jesus gives himself into the hands of the soldiers and is arrested. Simon Peter then draws his sword and strikes Malchus, the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus stops the violence and tells Peter, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword." Jesus then miraculously healed the servant's ear.

As Jesus is led away, His disciples, abandon him and flee into the night.

The Illegal Trials Before the Sanhedrin Begin (3 AM – 6 AM)

Jesus is brought before Annas and Caiaphas. Caiaphas is the current High priest appointed by Rome and Annas is his father-in-law, the real power behind the Sanhedrin.

After Annas finishes questioning Jesus, He is sent bound to Caiaphas, here the members of the Sanhedrin were waiting to try Jesus. This court was illegal for many reasons, the most obvious is that it is held in secret in the dark.

Outside in the courtyard John and Peter wait. It may well be that John was the only apostle that didn’t run and followed Jesus to the place of trail. Peter comes later and John asks the servant keeping the door to let him in as well. As he warms himself by the fire, he is accused of being one of Jesus disciples. Three times he denies it and as dawn drew near the Cock crows and Peter remembers his oath to Jesus. As Jesus is led away from the trial, His eyes look into Peter’s and Peter remembers his oath and flees in bitter tears of shame.

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod (6 AM – 8 AM)

By dawn on Friday morning, the religious authorities had completed their illegitimate trials and now they must seek Roman approval for execution. They go to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to issue the death sentence.

Pilate then questions Jesus around 6 AM, The Jewish leaders who just broke the law with an illegal trail now refuse to enter the Praetorium to avoid becoming unclean before Passover. Pilate, they insist, must came outside to hear what charges they were bringing against Jesus. In order to secure a death sentence the accusation was shifted from Jewish blasphemy to Roman sedition against Caesar.

Jesus is sent to Herod and mocked

Upon learning that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate tries to give the affair to Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee, in Jerusalem for Passover. When Jesus will not answer Herod, his soldiers mock Jesus. They dressed him in purple kingly garment and ridicule Him.

Sent back to Pilate, Pilate again declares, "I find no fault in the man." In an attempt to resolve the situation, Pilate tries to use a  Passover custom that allowed for the release of a prisoner. He offers a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, who was a notorious prisoner probably involved in real insurrection and murder. The chief priests stir up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas. Pilate asks what to do with Jesus, the crowd shouts out, "Crucify him!"

Pilate then symbolically washes his hands before the crowd, declaring, "I am innocent of this man's blood."

The Road to Golgotha (8 AM – 9 AM)

Once the verdict for death was given, the brutal, savage preparation for crucifixion began. Jesus is scourged with the a multi headed whip. Usually the whip strands were embedded with lead weights, bits of broken bone and even glass in order to rip and tear the flesh into shreds.

After the scourging, the soldiers again dressed Jesus in a purple robe and this time they weave a crown from sharp, long desert thorns, they press it violently onto his head, piercing down to the bone. They mock him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" then strike him over and over.

Pilate brings Jesus before the crowd and calls out, "Behold the man!" See the punishment He has been given, but the chief priests and officers will be satisfied by nothing less than death and they shout, "Crucify him!"

Simon of Cyrene helps carry the cross

About 8:30 in the morning, Jesus is made to carry his cross to the place of crucifixion a distance close to a mile away. He has been so weakened by no sleep, the beatings and the loss of blood, that he cannot carry the cross and the Roman soldiers seized Simon of Cyrene, a Jewish passerby coming in from the country, and make him carry the cross to Calvary.

Jesus arrives at Golgotha

This procession of pain reaches Golgotha, an Aramaic word that means "Place of a Skull" In Latin the word is Calvary. A large crowd follows the procession, including women who mourned and lamented for Jesus.

Text: Luke 23:33-47 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.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
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. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

The Crucifixion and Death (9 AM – 3 PM)

At 9 AM, the "third hour" since sunrise at 6AM, the formal execution of Jesus begins. Jesus would suffer on the cross for the next six hours.

Jesus is nailed to the cross

The soldiers place Jesus on the horizontal beam that would form the cross when attached to the vertical beam. They drive nails, that we would call spikes, through his wrists and feet. Jesus is raised up on the cross and above his head, they affix an inscription reading "The King of the Jews"  in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

First Words From the Cross

As the soldiers divide his garments among themselves and cast lots for his seamless outer robe, fulfilling the prophecy from Psalm 22. Jesus utters the first words from the cross. Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The first words from the lips of Jesus as he suffers in abject agony upon the cross are words of forgiveness.

Are these words for the Roman soldier who beat and mocked him and are now gambling over his garments? Is it for the Jewish people who have rejected him. Is it for all mankind? Is it for you and I?

Since Jesus by the plan of redemption, shed his blood for the sin of man, this provisional forgiveness is for all. Jesus death made provision for our forgiveness but it can only be applied to us personally when I accept the gift of salvation, repent of my sin and put my faith in Jesus, the One who died for me.

The crucifixion is probably near one of the main road leading into the city. Many can see the savior suffering and they mock Him and in derision they challenge him, "If you are the Son of God, save yourself!" He saved others but He cannot even save himself.

Second Words From the Cross

As Jesus hangs upon the cross, the crowd mocking Him other voices are heard. On either side of Jesus’ cross there are two others, with a criminal hanging on each one. Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Jesus first words asked the Father to forgive all, His second words grant that forgiveness to one dying beside Him. This unknown thief demonstrates to us the way of salvation. He sees Jesus dying not for himself but innocently because of other. He recognizes who Jesus is, the Messiah, the Savior. Perhaps he has heard the words of forgiveness Jesus has just uttered. He admits his sin and then with nothing to offer in exchange for salvation. He calls out in faith to Jesus. “Remember me.” Jesus then grants what is His and only His to give, salvation. “This day you will be with me in Paradise.”

The thief looked to Jesus, He believed in Jesus. He confessed to Jesus and He was forgiven and saved by Jesus. That is salvation by grace through faith and it has not nor ever will be changed or added to. It’s Jesus, only Jesus.

Third Words From the Cross

In the midst of the pain, sorrow and suffering Jesus looks from the cross and sees not the soldiers gambling, the Pharisees mocking, nor the thief who He will take to Paradise, but He looks down upon Mary, the woman who bore him, fed him, raised him and loved him as only a mother can love a son. Only John records the next words of Jesus. For once again John was the only apostle who had not fled from His savior’s suffering. The apostles are missing but those women who cared for Jesus during His earthly ministry now refuse to leave Him. In John we read, John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

With these words Jesus shows the importance and responsibility of the family. God created the family. God the Father placed Jesus inside a chosen family and now Jesus chooses another son to take His place with Mary. In the upper room Jesus promised another comforter and now He gives His mother to the comfort of His closest disciple John.

What we see here is that even with the salvation of the world upon His shoulders, Jesus will not neglect his responsibility as the first born son toward his mother. Following Jesus never separates us from our family but instead intensifies our love, devotion and duty toward that God given family.

Three Miracles 1. 

Darkness covers the land

At noon, the "sixth hour," darkness falls across the land, and continues until 3 PM. This is a supernatural darkness, it is recorded in three of the Gospels. Along with the darkness there is an earthquake and the massive veil of the Temple is torn in two. The darkness symbolizes the darkness of sin being put upon the Savior of mankind. As darkness covered the earth, our sin covered Jesus. 

 Earthquake Opens the Graves

The earthquake opens graves of those who died looking forward in faith to the coming Messiah and they will be seen after Jesus resurrection in Jerusalem. They show the truth of the resurrection of all believers.

 The Veil Is Torn In Two

 The veil of Temple separated the Holy place from the most Holy place but now it is torn from top to bottom, as if God Himself and reached down and ripped away the separation of man from God.

Fourth Words From the Cross

Near the end of this darkness, Jesus cries out in spiritual agony even greater than the physical agony of the cross. He cries out, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

God the Father who cannot look upon sin, turned from His own Son who bore the sins of the world. Jesus was paying the price of redemption, paying the ransom for our sin. And His words are the reality of that terrible penalty being paid in full upon God the Father’s own Son.

2 Corinthians 5:21 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Fifth Words From the Cross.

John 19:28-29 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

Jesus to show that He truly was the promised Messiah asks for something to drink. The soldier carried with them a flask of sour wine vinegar and one takes sponge and soaks up the vinegar and puts it to the lips of Jesus.

Psalms 22:15-18 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Sixth Words From the Cross

After receiving the vinegar wine, Jesus finally declares, "It is finished." He has paid the price for sin in full. Nothing remains for the salvation of mankind. Jesus has paid the awful cost and now all the remains is the giving up up the spirit of life itself.

Seventh Words from the Cross.

Luke 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.

Around 3 PM, the "ninth hour" Jesus willingly breathed his last and with that exaltation of breath, He willing laid down His life. He had already said, John 10:18 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. No man taketh it from me.

It may have been at that exact moment, that the massive temple curtain in the Temple was torn in two. God’s forgiveness would never again be through faith in a coming sacrificial lamb but from now on it would be through the Lamb of God and His death upon the Cross of Calvary for my sin.

Conclusion

Now here we are almost exactly 2000 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. 2000 years seems a long, long time to us who are caught in the web of time, but 2000 years or 10,000 years is nothing when we are removed from time and enter into eternity.

The Cross upon which Jesus hung that day was the cross road of time itself. It was a cross road that brought salvation to mankind. It was a crossroad that marked the defeat of sin and death of Satan and his kingdom. It was a crossroad that changed the world. Today it is a crossroad where we must stand. A crossroad that point to the choice we must make, the direction we must turn. What road will we take, the road toward hell and destruction? Will be ignore the One upon the cross? Will we walk around the sacrifice for our sin given by God the father? Or will we fall on our knees at the cross, look upon the One who died in our place and then turn down the road to an eternity in Heaven with Jesus who loved us enough to suffer and die for us.

This morning I hope all of us will “Behold the Man,” hear the Lord’s provision, “Father Forgive them. And then call out, “Lord remember me.”