On the Cross (Part 2)
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From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land.
INTRO—
INTRO—
Final Words…
“I desire to go to hell, and not to heaven. In the former place I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings, and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks, hermits, and apostles." — Niccoló Machiavelli [15/16th century Italian political philosopher]
“Swing low, sweet chariot.” — Harriet Tubman [Underground Railroad]
“Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.” — Todd Beamer [Flight 93 on 9/11]
“This is the end; for me, the beginning of life.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer [Lutheran theologian/pastor during Nazi Germany]
...some ‘last words’ are chilling; humorous; ironic; etc. …
As we look again to Jesus on the cross…at noon, darkness covers the land. The various gospel accounts emphasize that as the ‘ninth hour’ (3pm) approaches, Jesus speaks again from the cross—a series of statements which were his ‘final’ (though not finally final) words as he “gives his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10.45). [[The spotlight focuses in just a bit more than it had even with what we read last week.]]
Jesus’ final words include (involve; are…)…
“…MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” [MATTHEW 27.45-47; K = 46]
“…MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” [MATTHEW 27.45-47; K = 46]
Matthew 27:45 “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land.”
Also—Mark 15.33; Luke 23.44-45
[[Amos 8:9 “And in that day— this is the declaration of the Lord God— I will make the sun go down at noon; I will darken the land in the daytime.”]]
Matthew 27:46 “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?””
Matthew 27:47 “When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.”” [[Because of the unique situation of Elijah’s being taken and not dying, many Jews believed he could be of help to them…also, Elijah is promised before the coming of the Day of the Lord.]]
Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?” [[Michael Card’s wonderful song from “The Way of Wisdom”]]
This cry is one of unfathomable anguish. Never in all eternity prior, not in eternity subsequent to his death (or resurrection?) has/had this separation occurred. Consistent with the character of the Father, who could not look on sin…and the purpose of the Son, who became sin so that through faith in him we could become the righteousness of God (his holy people).
**Matthew 27.46 = A Word of Forsakenness**
“I’M THIRSTY.” [JOHN 19.28-29; K = 28]
“I’M THIRSTY.” [JOHN 19.28-29; K = 28]
John 19:28a, 29 “After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled…A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth.”
Psalm 69:21 “Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” [Other aspects of this Psalm have been applied to Jesus’ life and ministry.]
Psalm 22:15 “My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.”
John 19:28b “…he said, “I’m thirsty.””
An expected response of a person undergoing such an intensely physically traumatic event.
This cry is a natural cry of someone undergoing prolonged physical pain, etc….AND, was spoken of specifically related to the Messiah—hundreds of years prior to the cross.
**John 19.28 = A Word of Humanness [Humanity]**
[[Son of God AND Son of Man]]
“IT IS FINISHED!” [JOHN 19.30]
“IT IS FINISHED!” [JOHN 19.30]
John 19:30 “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.”
John—likely significantly impacted by Jesus’ statement—foreshadows it just a couple of verses prior…
John 19:28a “After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished …”
IT IS FINISHED — τετέλεσται
It is finished…not, I am finished!
Final…Fully…Completed. [[Once and for ALL; ]]
In this cry we hear Jesus’ assertion that he has completed the sacrifice…paid the price for sin! The perfect, final sacrificial lamb has done it—paid the price for OUR sin.
**John 19.30 = A Word of Completion**
“FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I ENTRUST MY SPIRIT!” [LUKE 23.44-46; K = 46]
“FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I ENTRUST MY SPIRIT!” [LUKE 23.44-46; K = 46]
Luke 23:44–45 “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle.” [[Resetting the scene.]]
“Because the sun’s light failed.”
Luke 23:46 “And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Saying this, he breathed his last.”
Psalm 31:5 “Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.”
In this cry we do not hear prophecy. This word is a righteous expression of trust in the one, true, living God—the very Father to whom Jesus had just cried out in abandoned anguish. [[How absolutely AMAZING is that? !!!]]
**Luke 23.46 = A Word of Surrender**
[[Surrender meaning—to give one’s self over to someone; to yield; to entrust]]
CONCL—
CONCL—
What was seen of Jesus while he was on the cross?
Luke 23:47–49 “When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!” All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests. But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”
[Matthew & Mark—the centurion said: “Truly this man was the Son of God!”]
INVITATION:
Salvation
Trusting [Continued…amid challenge, sorrow, etc.]
But all who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
