Seven Statements From a Suffering Savior
During our Lord’s personal ministry He chose several places from which He did His preaching and teaching – we will call them pulpits.
a. On one occasion He choose a crowed street in Jericho as His pulpit (Lk. 19) Zaccheus.
b. …Bow of a ship (Mt. 13).
c. The greatest sermon ever preached on a mountainside (Mt. 5-7).
d. Many times used the temple.
e. But the last sermon He preached before He died was from the pulpit of the cross.
We are all familiar what took place that day (scourging, cross-carrying, nailing).
f. While on that cross, seven statements were made by a suffering Savior.
g. In the 4,000 years of Bible history the dying words of only 4 men are recorded.
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Jacob, the first Israelite.Ø
Moses, the first lawgiver.Ø
Stephen, the first martyr.Ø
And the dying words of our Lord, the first born of the grave, who will live on and on.As we consider these 7 statements from a suffering Savior, look past me, this pulpit, this assembly and think about this.
h. There has never been a pulpit like the pulpit of the cross (see it).
i. There has never been an audience like that assembled at Calvary (see them, hear them).
j. There has never been a preacher like the dying Christ (listen to His dying words).
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Lk. 23:34).
A. The first statement spoken by our Lord was about His enemies.
B. It is to be expected that when one is dying that he will have something to say.
1. Even men sentenced to be executed today are generally asked if they have any last words.
2. Many men plead their innocence, regret, and vengeance.
3. But our Lord spoke words of mercy – "Father, forgive…"
C. Who?
1. Jews
2. Romans
3. Pilate
D. When was that prayer answered?
1. Not while He was on the cross. But on the day of Pentecost when Peter’s sermon was interrupted by, "What shall we do?"
2. Then the wrong was realized and the offer of pardon extended.
E. But there was someone else He prayed for that day; "Father, forgive Jim…"
1. You see you and I had a part.
2. He died for our sins.
3. If those people had to repent and be baptized to be forgiven, then we must do the same.
"Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Lk. 23:43).
F. The second statement spoken by our Lord was to a thief.
G. When Jesus was on the cross even those dying with Him abused him, but one relented and begged the Lord to remember him. – "Today shalt…"
H. People today often ask; "Can’t I be saved like the thief?"
1. Do you want to be on a cross, turn to the Lord and beg?
2. "Oh, that’s not what I mean." I know what you mean; can you be saved without being baptized?
3. Perhaps, you need to read Heb. 9:16-17
a. The thief was saved under the old covenant.
b. We live under a new covenant that requires baptism.
c. George Washington didn’t pay income taxes. Suppose I tried to get around it by saying he didn’t. It wouldn’t work because he lived before the law requiring such was enacted.
I. We live under a law that requires baptism for salvation.
"Woman, behold thy son;" "Behold thy mother" (Jn. 19:26-27).
J. The first statement spoken by our Lord was to His enemies, the second to a sinner, and the third to a saint – His mother (not the Catholic view).
K. A number of things must have flooded Mary’s mind as she observed her son on the cross (imagine).
1. Gabriel, pregnancy, no room, fleeing to Egypt, growing up, ministry, rejection.
2. Surely Mary’s heart broke; first to kiss His forehead, now crowned with thorns; first to take His hand as He reached for her, now covered in blood; the first to see His feet take those first steps, but now nailed to a cross.
3. Here we see the constancy of a mother’s love. His disciples deserted Him, His friends forsook Him, His nation rejected Him, His enemies cry out for His blood, but His mother stood there at the foot of the cross beholding her son, her baby.
L. But when Jesus looked at her, He said, "Woman, behold…"
1. The Lord was not telling her to look at Him, but to look at John who from that day forward would be her son.
2. John was to behold his new mother and from that day forward care for her.
M. Why did He do this?
1. Joseph dead? Even in His agony remembered His mother.
2. Perhaps, another reason? We notice in addressing her, that He called her not "mother" but "woman."
a. In fact nowhere in the gospels does He call her "mother."
b. Maybe He was thinking about the fact that the cross was coming.
c. Maybe, He knew that down through the centuries there would be a false religion.
d. Maybe, when He gave her to John He was saying from this time forward He was no longer anyone’s son but instead the world’s Savior.
e. Mary is no longer the mother now, she is the believer and her son has become her Savior.
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" (Mt. 27:46)?
N. This fourth statement came about the 9th hour or 3:00 in the afternoon.
O. Many unusual events happen on that day.
1. Earthquake, dead arising, veil ripped, darkness fell on the earth.
2. But the sun didn’t cease; on this day it hid itself in shame.
P. God had actually forsaken His Son (imagine).
1. He had always been the object of His Father’s affection; His Father had always been there.
2. There is no sadder word than the word, "forsaken." (Some here may have been forsaken by friends, wife or husband, little child, but oh to be forsaken by God!)
Q. It should have been me crying this out.
1. But Jesus became sin for us and those sins actually separated God and His Son.
2. II Cor. 5:21
"I thirst" (Jn. 19:28).
R. Jesus who created everything (rain, rivers, lakes, dew) thirsted!
S. "I thirst" was His humanity speaking and it reveals Christ as one of us. Just like us.
1. Heb. 2:9-10, 14, 16-18
2. Heb. 4:14-16
T. He was both God and man. Now even on the cross we see these two sides.
1. On the divine side He promised to take the dying thief to paradise – and He had the power to do it.
2. On the human side He suffered such great agony that He cried out, "I thirst."
"It is finished" (Jn. 19:30).
U. There are three words here in the English, but in the Greek there is only one.
1. In that one word is wrapped up the whole gospel of Christ. In that one word we find the entire basis for our salvation, …we find the hope pf eternal life.
2. Yes, when Jesus said, "It is finished." He meant that He had done everything necessary to save you and me.
V. It was not a cry of agony but a cry of triumph!
"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Lk. 23:46).
W. Even in death, Christ "committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (I Pet. 2:23).
X. He could have said what Paul did in II Tim. 4:6-8.
Y. I don’t know when I will die, but no greater joy…
Z. Can you commend your soul to God?
1. Hear His words, listen to Him suffer (repeat points).
Lam. 1:12
Story of the preacher who went to see a man.
a. I want to talk to you about your soul.
b. I’m too busy.
c. Whispered in his ear, "What if I had been death?’
If death came for you tonight, would you be ready?
Jim Pharr
Lenoir, NC