In John 19:16-19 we are told of the crucifixion of Jesus. All of the Gospels talk about His crucifixion because, frankly, it was the greatest event that ever took place except for the one that happened three days later when He was resurrected. He died, not really being executed because as God in the flesh, all He had to do was to call out and ten thousand angels would have come to His rescue. He wasn’t executed but He sacrificed Himself to pay the blood penalty for our sin, becoming the sacrifice to end all sacrifices as atonement for the sin of man.
During His six -hour ordeal Matthew, Luke and John record the seven remarkable things He said that impact every life ever lived on the face of this planet. It was only seven sentences but, in those hours, He preached the greatest sermon that could have ever been preached.
First, in Luke 23:34 He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Understand that they had first of all, falsely accused Him of blasphemy against God. How could God blaspheme against Himself. Yes, He was the Son but He was also God in the flesh (Matthew 9:23 tells us that He would be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.”). He was ridiculed before the Jewish leaders, blindfolded and struck by the men of King Herod, forced to wear a crown of thorns pushed down cruelly upon His head by the Roman soldiers, then beaten to a bloody pulp by the Romans, all before being condemned to crucifixion, the cruelest form of execution devised by man. He endured all of that somehow, a process that would have killed most men even before being nailed to a cross. Yet He summoned the strength and courage to ask His Father to forgive those killing Him because they had no idea what they were doing.
We may not want to admit it, but we were symbolically represented by those crucifying Christ. Many of those, just days before, praised and worshipped Him as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of the donkey, and now they cried with the crowd, “Crucify Him!” People are to easily influenced. Yet our Lord forgave us. Don’t take that lightly.
Then in Luke 23:43 He said to the thief on the other cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” He spoke these words to the repentant thief on the cross. There were two crucified with Him. On mocked Him along with the crowd, though I have no idea how he had the strength to do it. The other believed on Jesus. He told the mocking thief that they deserved their punishment but Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. Then he asked Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus forgave him right then and there because of his repentant heart. And Jesus still forgives those who repent. He died in our place you know. It was me; it was you; it was us who should have been up there on that cross. Like the confession of the repentant thief, we deserved it. He didn’t. Yet, when we ask Him, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom, He will reply to us, today you have been cleansed, you have been redeemed, you have been forgiven. When the time comes, we will be with Him in Paradise.
Next, in John 19:26-27 we see Mary, His mother, at the foot of the cross. Despite His suffering and agony, He took time to think of her and He looked at the disciple, John and said, “Woman, behold your son!” Then to John He said, “Behold your mother!” What was that about? His earthly father, Joseph was gone. He had died some years before. Nothing is said about it but we know from the Gospel narratives that, except for her children, she was alone. The other brothers of Jesus had not yet believed on Him, so He wanted her taken care of by someone in the way. John became known as “the one who Jesus loved.” He appointed him his mother’s caretaker and according to tradition, he stuck by her side as Jesus directed. As He did for His mother, He does for us. You are important to Him. He wants us taken care of in His kingdom. Believe it or not, He thinks of you.
In Matthew 27:46, in deep pain and agony, Jesus cried out, “’Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Those around Him misunderstood and thought He was crying out for Elijah. But He was speaking directly to God. He asked His Father, “Why have you forsaken Me? Why have you turned Your back on Me?” I believe that was the greatest pain Jesus felt. Don’t get me wrong; the physical pain would have been unbearable for most of us. But because He was suffering, not just at the hands of a Roman crucifixion, He was also paying the blood-sacrificial penalty required to pay for sin. God is perfect. God will look away from sin. He allowed His Son, Jesus Christ to take the blame for our sin and in that moment our sin – your sin – my sin, was pronounced upon Jesus and God looked away. How lonely was our Savior! “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” For you, for me, for us.
John 19:28 tells us that He said, “I thirst.” Of course He did. After all He had been through He had to be severely dehydrated. Is it possible that He was thirsting also for the presence of His Father? Could He have been suffering and thirsting for those who mocked around Him to see what He was doing? Is it possible that He thirsted for the fellowship of compassion? Today, He thirsts for us. He wants us to come to Him. Does He need us? Of course not. Is it that He can’t get along without us? Ridiculous. He is the Son of God and very God. He needs no one. But He desires us. He created us. He longs for His creation to love Him willingly. Do even realize that you too thirst? You also thirst for what a lost soul does not have – Fellowship with His Creator. Do you too thirst?
They soaked a sponge in some sour wine and used a hyssop branch to raise it to His mouth. After He sucked on it, He cried out (John 19:30), “It is finished!” He was close to death. Some thought He was saying that His life was over. But what was finished was so much more. It was the completion of the price for our sin. His blood spilled, His life given, His very soul poured out to pay for our gross, dirty sin, the payment was finally finished. The completion of the curse was finished (don’t get me wrong, it is still present today, but the possibility of the groaning of all creation to be free from the curse God was forced to put on it all because of man’s disobedience in Eden, was now possible and when the time comes will be reversed). It is finished for us. Praise the Lord – IT IS FINISHED!
Finally, Luke 23:46 says, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” After He said this, it continues, “He breathed His last.” He was the first to give His spirit to God. These seven sentences spoken by Jesus from the cross tells our entire human experience, from utter failure to the possibility of success and victory in the work of Jesus. His final seven sentences culminates in us being able to look to God and say in our final moments, “God, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” Because Jesus died, and rose again, we can be the fulfillment of this greatest of sermons. Are you ready? Have you believed? If not, you want to. I feel it. I know it in my spirit. Commit yourself to Him now. Repent and believe. Then when that final time comes you too can say, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” Amen.
— Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.