THE LAST SEVEN SAYINGS OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS

PROCLAMATION

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”  Luke 23:43

“Woman, here is your son … Here is your mother.”  John 19:26-27

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Matthew 27:46

“I thirst.”  John 19:28

“It is finished.”  John 19:30

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”  Luke 23:46

EXPLANATION

After He had been beaten, scourged, and mocked, Jesus, The Christ, was nailed to a cross in a place called Golgotha.  While on the cross, He prayed to His Heavenly Father and asked Him to “forgive them.”  Then He briefly ignored His suffering to offer salvation to one of the criminals who was being crucified on a cross beside Him.  He also took the time to provide for the care of His earthly mother.  He suffered physically and mentally and cried out in a loud voice while He was on the cross.  When He had finished all that He had to do, He gave up His spirit and died.

APPLICATION

Jesus, The Christ, was chastised, beaten, bruised, scourged, wiped, wounded, and crucified for our sins, transgressions, and iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)  We are all included in the people that He prayed for His Heavenly Father to forgive them while He was on the cross.  We all made it necessary for Him to pay the price for our sins, and to take our place and suffer the punishment which we deserved.  He was considerate and concerned for others even while He was suffering.  He who was without sin, took on the sins of the world, and paid the price for our sins, past, present and future. (John 1:29)  He was not killed.  He suffered and willingly gave up His life for us.  We should remember that, and how He suffered, especially when we take communion.  The good news is that this is not how the story ends.  Three days later He conquered death and rose from the dead.