THE SEVENFOLD MINISTRIES OF THE CROSS
Introduction:
We traditionally meditate the seven last words of Jesus from the cross on every Good Friday. This Friday is not the dark day of the history of humanity but the day of redemption, day of victory, day of hope to the lost humanity.
It is an attempt to interpret and apply the seven sentences of Jesus Christ from the Cross with Ministries of the Church from the sevenfold ministries of the Holy Spirit. The church involved in the ministry of forgiveness to all, Evangelising even the dying, ministry of caring the aged, widows, fatherless and orphans, ministry of consolation to grieving people, ministry of feeding the needy for food, water and other basic needs with social concerns, faithful to the given task till the end even through sufferings, and ministry of sacrifice, and giving up all that we own for the benefits of the society and the future generations.
The Gospel writer Luke records three, Mathew and Mark only one and John records two.
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34
“Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43
“Woman, behold thy Son.” — John 19:26
“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” — Mark 15:34
“I thirst.” — John 19:28
“It is finished.” — John 19:30
“Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” — Luke 23:46
Meditating on these seven words reminds of the world scenario today, people who suffer injustice, thirst and isolation, and death. These sayings are words of Forgiveness, Salvation, Relationship, Abandonment, Distress, Triumph and reunion.
The seven fold ministries of the Holy Spirit are He Teaches (John 14:26), He convicts (John 16:8-11), He guides (John 16:11), He intercedes (Romans 8:26-27), He empowers (Acts 1:8), He bears witness (John 15:26), and He quickens (John 6:63). These are reflected on the sentences Jesus made from the Cross.
Jesus was tortured, ridiculed, and betrayed by the Jews. Jesus hung, stripped of his garments, on the cross between two criminals. The seven last phrases are the outcome of the six hours of hanging on the cross.
The seven words are categorised as the first three were said for others, fourth to God and the last three were for himself. There are three prayers, two hopes, one longing and one victorious tone.
“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” — LUKE 23:34:
The forgiveness is an outcome of Love. The Love is the overall expression of the Cross of Christ. His unmeasurable love is understood with an act of demonstration and prayer for forgiveness. He was the first person on the earth to forgive his enemies, compassionate with his forsaken friends and ungrateful beneficiaries.
We may try to cover up, forgive, not to expose if something is done by our own beloved children, spouse, friends and relatives. But we will expose to the world the sins of the enemies to spoil their name.
Love covers all sins (Proverbs 17:9 “Whoever covers offences seeks love...” Proverbs 10:12 “… love covers all offences.” James 5:20 “Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (ESV).)
“TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.” — LUKE 23:43.
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Or “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” This verse is understood in two ways: “Truly I tell you today, Or Truly I tell you, today…” based on the interpretation the soul enters directly to the Paradise or waits till the resurrection day. Our concern is not whether the soul will enter into heaven at the end of the judgement or right after the death but leading the dying soul to Christ.
But our concentration here is that evangelism can be done even at the death bed to a dying person. Jesus was bleeding and dying yet he assured that the robber would enter into heaven. It conveys that at any stage of life anyone can receive salvation. It highlights the transformative power of repentance and belief, even in the final moments of life.
"Paradise" refers to the dwelling place of the righteous in the afterlife, often understood in Christian theology as a state of bliss, communion with God, and eternal happiness.
“WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON. JOHN, BEHOLD THY MOTHER” — JOHN 19:26.
Jesus Christ forms a new entity of caring and loving community. According to the age and gender each one has to play the role of a brother, sister, father and mother, son, and daughter. The houses can be turned into hostels, if love is absent. A hostel can be turned into a house if love is present.
Today, the world has everything, this generation is lacking nothing to take care of the parents but for the caring love and interest. The Mutual responsibility lies in the church.
Jesus symbolically establishes a familial bond between his followers, emphasising the importance of community and care for one another within the body of believers.
“MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?” — MARK 15:34.
Jesus had previously declared that “Father has not left me alone” (John 8:29). David sang, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken” (Psalm 37:25).
Being forsaken is a horrific experience, but to be forsaken by God would be the worst! Sin causes suffering, and emotional trauma for distance from God. In the darkest hours of his suffering, Jesus cried out by remembering the opening words of Psalm 22. This is the only time Jesus not addressing God as his Father.
Prophet says “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Father would not intervene to ease anything associated with the penalty of sin.
Have you ever felt alone, forsaken? Christ knows that feeling. He felt forsaken, He would not forsake God. There was no accusing God, no questioning God’s love, no doubting His promises. It was, “a cry of distress, not of distrust.” This forsaken feeling was short lived in Christ.
“I THIRST.” — JOHN 19:28.
This again demonstrates His physical suffering (Hebrews 2:17-18), and He knows our pain from starvation and thirst. Jesus had the physical body’s limitations, exhaustion, pain, hunger, need, and thirst. He knows we have physical needs. The wilderness community had this issue of thirsty very often during their journey. The rock which moved with the Israelites were stricken by the rods of a grey Moses and Aaron. Today our rods of rebellion sticks him. David had this experience of thirsty. He longed to drink the water from the well of Zion.
“IT IS FINISHED.” — JOHN 19:30.
He was only minutes away from completing His ultimate work in the flesh—offering Himself as our atoning sacrifice, His beaten body and shed blood paying for our sins. Jesus had never wavered from His destiny as the slain Lamb of God (Revelation 13:8). “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). His final act of obedience was complete. Jesus was consistent in his message and mission up until his very last breath. The word Jesus used is “Tetelestai” (“it is finished” or “completed”, a bill has been paid in full.
“FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT.” — LUKE 23:46.
Here Jesus closes with the words of Psalm 31:5. Jesus entered death in the same way he lived each day of his life, offering up his life as the perfect sacrifice and placing himself in God's hands. They demonstrate his unwavering commitment to his Father’s will and his complete fulfilment of the prophecies found in the scriptures. Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures through life and death.
Conclusion: The Cross of Christ discloses the nature, extent and the depth of Sin. Sin alienated us from God and Others according to Genesis 3 & Rev. 2:12-16. Today Cross reminds us about the Redeeming love of God (Romans 5:12-17), Saving Grace of God (Romans.5:6-11), divine forgiveness (Ephesians.1:3-10) expression of the justice of God (Romans.2:4) and reconciliation of God and man (2 Corinthians.5:11-21). Cross is the only ground on which God forgives a sinner who has no other way to escape from the punishment (Romans 5:12).
Let’s Struve to bring glory and honour to God. Let’s try to apply these principles in our daily life situations. Amen.
Today we have seven preachers to exhort us through meditations. Each one is given 10 minutes to reflect on.
