Thoughts from our
“Seven Last Sayings of Christ”
Candle Lighting Service
A note to those who were not able to attend the service: We have a special cross that has been made and mounted with seven candle holders. We begin the darkened service by lighting each one of the seven candles on the cross. This illustrates the scene of Christmas for us when the light of the world entered into our darkened world. As we go thru each one of the seven sayings of Christ, we extinguish one candle at a time to indicate the life’s blood flowing from Christ as he hung on the Cross. Devotional thoughts are given for each saying, and a special song is sung to add to the atmosphere of the thought. When the last candle is blown out, I ask those who are in the service to meditate on how the disciples must have felt as they stood in hiding in the darkness without their shepherd for the next three days and nights. The service is concluded by having someone with a lit candle reenter into the blackness of the auditorium and relighting the cross with their candle. All of the people have been given a candle prior to the beginning of the service. It is now time to portray the Day of Pentecost. We begin lighting one another’s candle. An appropriate song is sung by all to commemorate the joyous Easter occasion felt by all!
Introduction: The Cross of Calvary is the most fruitful tree that ever was! All nine fruits of the Spirit were demonstrated by Christ as he hung there on the Tree. As we look upon the Cross, we will not only meditate on seven sayings spoken by Christ, but we will also ponder on the fruits of the Spirit revealed to us as he hung on the tree.
(Gal 5:22,23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34
Meditation: Here we see Jesus in his role as the intercessor of all humanity. His very purpose of coming to this earth was to redeem mankind from the curse of the law. Man’s greatest need was “forgiveness of sin.”
Jesus had told his disciples to love those that would persecute you… to turn the other cheek… to pray for those who despitefully use you. Here we see Christ exemplifying his teachings on the Mount.
The Bible says that “God is Love.” When the nails pieced the hands of Christ, love poured forth.
Christ said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” All sin is done in ignorance. Mankind is blinded by the lies of the god of this world. Only God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were fully aware of what was taking place on the cross. All others that stood in the midst, stood alongside in ignorance.
The fruit of the Spirit demonstrated in these words: Love.
“Woman, behold thy son… behold thy mother”
John 19: 26, 27
Meditation: Note that the first of the sayings of Christ from the Cross all were directed at “others.” Before Christ considered his own suffering, he looked upon the sufferings of others. In this text, he directed his compassion towards his Mother.
Jesus was now the “Son of God.” His purpose was to “take away the sins of the world.” Therefore, when Christ spoke to his mother, he did not refer to her as “Mother,” rather, “Woman.” Christ was positioned as the Son of God to be her Savior.
Our faith in Christ makes us one family. Although Mary was not the Mother of John the beloved, and John was not the earthly son of Mary, our faith in Christ unites us into one family.
Just a few days earlier, John had aspired to be at the right hand of Christ when he would be coming into his kingdom. Before that event could ever unfold, he was called upon to be at the right hand of the mother of Christ. We are reminded by Christ, that “whatsoever you to do for the least of the brethren, ye have done it as unto me.”
Christ was a loyal loving Son. Mary had already witnessed the death of her husband, now it would be the death of her eldest son. Christ would make provision for her. The Church needs to step forward and help those who are within its membership and need special attention and love. God has called upon all of us to become a family, to provide for one another.
The fruits of the Spirit demonstrated to us by Christ in this saying: Gentleness, and Goodness.
“Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43
Meditation: Christ still is hanging in the middle. The two thieves represent all of humanity. People must decide on Christ. One day, Christ will divide people to the right and to the left. Those who have received him will be on the right hand side, and those who have rejected him will be on the left hand side. On which side will you be?
Note that both thieves had prayed. I think perhaps that all men have cried out to God at one time or another. But there is a difference between the prayer of repentance and the prayer for comfort. One thief prayed, “Remove me from the Cross.” The repentant thief prayed, “Lord, remember me in your kingdom.”
Something changed the heart of the dying repentant thief. At first both thieves were mocking on Christ. Both thieves had witnessed the same events. Both thieves were approximately the same distance from the crucified Christ, but only one repented.
Perhaps the repentant thief was touched by the prayer of Christ, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Perhaps it was the fact that he knew that his death was imminent.
Perhaps it was that he finally realized that the world was wrong about Christ, and that the world had no love for him, and that the no one and nothing in the world was trying to save him, nor could save him.
Perhaps it was that he saw the Mother of Christ at his feet, and John the beloved there too, and thought to himself, I have no one.
Perhaps he saw Pilate’s inscription over the head on Christ that read, “The King of the Jews.” Perhaps he suddenly believed that to be true, and therefore he cried, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Now note the response of Christ. What had the thief asked for? Let me paraphrase: “Lord, someday in the eons of time, when you are finally established on a throne in a yonder kingdom… I am sure that I will be in Hell, and I want you to have a passing thought about me. I do not want to be utterly forgotten.”
Now, consider the blessed promise of Christ to the repentant thief. “Today…” Not some where in the eons of eternity. “Shalt thou be with me…” Not me in Heaven and you in Hell. “In paradise…” Not only will I be sitting as a king and enjoying the desires of my heart, but you too will be seated with me on a throne enjoying the pleasures at the right hand of God! Wow… Amazing Grace!
The fruit of the spirit: Joy.
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”
Matthew 27:46
Meditation: The sin of the world was now placed upon Christ. Jesus had become “sin for us.” The Father was of too pure eyes to behold sin. He, and all of Heaven, had to look away.
Remember the story of Noah. After the flood, and when the earth had settled again, Noah planted a vineyard. He got drunk and was naked in his tent. His son, Ham, laughed and mocked his Father. Shem and Japheth, honored their father by walking backwards with a blanket to cover their Father’s nakedness. That is what God the Father was doing in this text. Our sins were being covered by the blood of Christ.
This cry from Christ from the cross exemplifies every lost man’s cry as he goes out into a Christless eternity. Those in Hell will be forsaken by God. That is what will make Hell Hell.
Note that Christ could not call upon God as “Father,” in the text. The lost man has no relationship to God. Christ had indeed become sin for us!
The fruit of the Spirit revealed in this saying: Longsuffering.
“I thirst”
Meditation: The first thing that the rich man in hell cried for was a drop of water to cool his tongue. Christ hung on that Christ. In the suffering of his humanity he cried “I thirst.”
There is a song that has been written that highlights the truth of this saying. The chorus of the song goes, “He said I thirst, yet he made the rivers, He said I thirst, yet he made the seas, I thirst, cried the king of all ages. In his great thirst, he brought waters to me.”
Not only did Christ cry, “I thirst,” because he was thirsty. The context of the verse implies that he said the words because he wanted to be sure to fulfill the scriptures! It had been written that he would be given gall and vinegar to drink. Jesus was in total control. He knew the purpose his death. By fulfilling all of the scriptures about him, above his desire for water, Christ had a desire to please his Father.
The fruit of the Spirit revealed in this saying: Temperance.
John 19:28
“It is finished”
Meditation: Christ had now fulfilled all that he came to this earth to do. His mission to world was complete. Mankind now had a Savior. Jesus had removed the curse of law by taking the penalty of the curse for us on the cross.
“It is finished,” could also be rendered, “Devil, you are finished!” It is true that Satan had bruised the heel of Christ, but, by means of the cross, Christ had stepped on the head the snake!
“It is finished,” could also be rendered, “Paid in full.” Jesus stood at the courts of heaven and declared that mankind’s atonement price of redemption was now paid in full.
“It is finished,” could also be rendered, “End of the Old, and the beginning of the New.” The chapter of sin and death was now over. It was now time for resurrection and life!
“It is finished,” could be rendered, “Our salvation is complete.” We are a full gospel Church! The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Our salvation is complete in Christ. We do not preach a half gospel. How sad it is to think that there are those who preach that mankind has to do something more to add to what Christ has already completed for us at the Cross!
“It is finished,” could also be rendered, “Good bye to this world, and hello to Heaven!
The fruit of the Spirit revealed to us in this saying: Meekness. (Christ had sacrificed himself to do his Father’s will.)
John 19:30
“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” Luke 23:46
Meditation:
One of two prayers will be prayed by everyone as they enter into the door of death. Either a person will be crying out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.” Or a person will have the promise of this blessed prayer, “Father, into thy hands I will commend my spirit.”
Christ had fulfilled the law. He had just cried loudly, “It is finished.” Now Christ was once again reunited with his Father. He could pray “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Note that Christ had nothing left to give. His body and his blood had been completely demised. The only thing that Christ had left to give his Father was his spirit. The older we get in this life, the less body I have to give to the Lord, but God still can have our spirit!
Note that following this saying, Christ bowed his head as he died. The Greek word for the bowing indicates that this was done in full control of Christ. It was not a head simply hanging limply to the side. Christ bowed his head in reverence and in worship to his Father, even unto death.
How did the Father respond? In that very moment, the Father took the spirit of Christ into paradise. The dying thief had already announced the coming arrival. Three days later, the spirit of Christ, in a resurrected body, would walk out of the tomb!
