Famous Last Words:forgiveness Series

FAMOUS LAST WORDS: ETERNAL LOVE

This morning we come to the fourth of the seven statements Jesus made from the cross.

Over the past three weeks, we have listened as Jesus spoke His divine words from the cross.

We heard His words of forgiveness when He said, Father forgive them.

We heard His words of salvation when He said, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

We heard His words to His biological and eternal family when He said, “Behold your mother and behold your son.”

But today as we quietly and humbly stand before the cross, and listen to Jesus fourth statement; we will hear what I believe is by far the most profound and perhaps the most mysterious words found in the word of God. There seems to be no end to the power and meaning of these words. They are like a bottomless pit. The more you reach into it, the deeper you go.

For the world and the nonbeliever, these words appear to be haunting and mysterious. But for the believer, these words reveal the greatness of God’s love and mercy.

These words reveal the endless depth of God’s love for you.

These words reveal the holiness of God’s character and why God’s holiness matters

These words reveal the great cost and sacrifice that was paid for our salvation.

These words reveal the divine purpose God has for your life and for the whole world.

I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will hear these words and that these words will inspire you to open your heart to the great love that God has for you.

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." NKJV

THE DEFINING MOMENT OF THE CROSS

Of all that Jesus said from the cross and of all that happened at the cross, there is one moment that stands out above all the rest. I believe that Jesus fourth statement from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" reveals the most important, the most terrible, the most defining and perhaps the most sacred moment of all that happened at the cross. His haunting words reveal the one single moment that changed everything about history and eternity. This is the moment that blew wide open the doorway of eternity was for all who would believe in the eternal message of the cross.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the dividing line of eternity and history, but this fourth statement of Jesus from the cross reveals the single most defining moment of eternity.

It is the most significant and defining moment in history.

Historians may argue over certain points regarding historical events and political

Movements, but there is no other single moment in history that matches this moment.

This moment not only changed history, it forever changed eternity. It is this moment that not only fulfilled the purpose and plan of God for the cross, but this moment also set into motion the future purpose of God for eternity.

This is the moment Jesus saw in the garden when He called upon God the Father to let this cup to pass from Him, but He said, not My will but Your will be done.

Other than the resurrection, I believe this is the single most divine moment in history. Why?

This is that sacred moment when Jesus reached across the chasm of eternity and paid in full with His blood and sacrifice our eternal debt of sin. You may be thinking, I thought that happened at Jesus death. Jesus paid the price for our sins here at this moment and He sealed the deal with His death and resurrection.

Without this moment there is no salvation.

Without this moment, there is no forgiveness of sin.

This moment reveals the depth of love that Jesus Christ has for you

This moment reveals how far God is willing to go to reach you for His kingdom

But most importantly, this moment, revealed the divine purpose of God for you, and that purpose is for you to spend eternity in God’s glorious kingdom.

THE SETTING AT THE CROSS

In order to fully understand this moment and to capture its meaning and power for your life, you first have to see it in the full picture of the cross.