The very purpose of Jesus being born was fulfilled on Easter weekend two thousand years ago. It is the message that we observe every week at the communion table, the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is shown in biblical baptism it was announced at the birth of Jesus.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Luk 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
From day one Jesus had his eyes on the cross of Calvary
You can tell a lot about a man by the words that come out of his mouth. Jesus said its not what goes into the mouth but what comes out that defiles the man
The Bible says in Luke 6:45, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh
Today I would like to look at the words that Jesus spoke from the last the last few hours of his life.
Not only did Jesus come to die on the cross, but the life that he lived he lived to be an example for you and I so that we might know how to live and conduct ourselves in this world
Jesus told his disciples during the last supper he said as I have done unto you you do to one another.
As we look at the seven sayings from the cross today to see Easter through the eyes of Jesus we should also learn several spiritual truths to help us in this life today.
The scene was horrible that day, the blood the agony the crowd the nails the crown of thorns, we can’t even begin to imagine everything that took place.
Father forgive them
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus was not two-faced. I like to be around people who are genuine, even I don’t agree with them as long as they are the same wherever there at that’s the type of person you can get to know. There are some folk that act all different on Sunday they try to be someone they’re not. Jesus was who he said he was. When he preached to the disciples and told them to turn the other cheek, when they hit him he turned the other cheek
When he preached forgiveness he forgave
When he preached love he loved
When he preached compassion he healed the sick
This cry from the cross is the very heart of God
Without Gods forgiveness none of us would be able to go to heaven
Because Christ forgave we should also
I know that you can probably think of a list of people that have hurt you and said terrible things about you but we must practice forgiveness because we are forgiven
A story is told of a thief who robbed John Wesley. While the thief walked away, Wesley shouted, "If you should someday come to your senses and know what you have done is wrong, turn to God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Life is too short to hold a grouge against someone
If we would forgive like Jesus did we would live happier more fulfilled lives. It is human nature to hold unforgivenees and seek revenge, I know people today who don’t go to church because someone said something wrong to them 5 years ago.
Our seeking revenge or holding unforgiveness here on the earth is a lack of faith in God who is the supreme judge and one day will sort it all out.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
After the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss. After a brief silence, Lee said, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it." It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root and poison the rest of our life.
Easter is about Forgiveness Gods forgiveness to man and our forgiveness to one another
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
This statement made to the dying thief shows that Jesus was a man of mission.
When most people would have been thinking about their own pain and suffering Jesus was concerned about saving this mans soul.
Jesus mission in life was to seek and to save the lost
Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus kept his focus on this mission even in his last hours here on the earth
It is easy for us at times to lose sight of our mission, or purpose we need to be steadfast just like Jesus
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
This was the very purpose that Jesus had come for
Easter is all about the salvation of the lost
Easter is about us being persistent in our faith. It’s not time to quit
An elderly lady was once asked by a young man who had grown weary in the fight, whether he ought to give up the struggle. "I am beaten every time," he said dolefully. "I feel I must give up." "Did you ever notice," she replied, smiling into the troubled face before her, "that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same old spot where they had been fishing all night and had caught nothing?"
Behold your Son
Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
This statement shows the compassion that Jesus had, not only for his mother but for John
At a time when most would be more concerned about themesevles Jesus was concerened about his mother and John
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
John was the young tender disciple
Easter is about compassion, it was Gods compassion for mankind that sent Jesus
Easter is about us becoming people of compassion for the lost world a family like John and Mary became at the cross
My God My God why have you forsaken me
Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
This is that moment where Jesus took our sins upon himself
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus had been in complete communion with the father since the beginning.
This is the only time that he ever felt separation from God the Father
I remember one time that terrible feeling in a large crowd I thought that I lost one of our children we became sepeprated.
Jesus felt that times 6 billion
Easter is about communion with God
As Jesus and the father were one we should be one with God through jesus and be one with each other.
By allowing himself for that moment to become separated from God he brought you and and I back to God the Father
While Jesus was on the cross the Bible says that the veil in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
I Thirst
Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst
This is statement from the cross stands out from the others. It deals with the human need of Jesus for water
He has been scrouaged and working to survive on the cross under the hot sun all day and his body is dehydrated, he needed some water in order to make his last few remarks from the cross.
Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
This statement tells us that even though Jesus was the very son of God, he was also the son of man
He was 100 percent God
And 100 percent man
He felt the physical pain of the cross just as you and I would have.
He took the wrath of God upon himself so that we wouldn’t have to
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
It is important to know that we have a God who is touched by our feelings and knows what we are going through. A God to whom we can relate
This statement from the cross shows the human side of Christ so that we might see the Holiness of God.
This statement shows the humility of Christ Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The one who changed water into wine at the wedding feast, The one who told the woman at the well I have water once you drink from you shall never thirst again, the one who created the oceans and seas and all the universe humbled himself to ask a man, part of his creation for a drink.
Easter is about humility, God humbled himself to become a man and die and Christ humbled himself at the cross
We should because of Easter humble ourselves in the presence of God and never be too proud to ask for help when we need it 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
It is finished
Finishing! This is one of the hardest things for man to do. Man is a great starter, we are quick to embark upon things that need to be done but lack the strength many times to carry it through. Man though his intentions are true and sincere lacks the ability to finish what he starts. Max Lucado states that, “Our Human tendency is to quit too soon our human tendency is to stop before we get too the finish-line. Our inability to finish what we start is seen in the smallest of things like: a partly mowed lawn, a half read book, a letter begun but never completed, an abandoned diet a car up on blocks or it show up in the most painful of areas: like an abandoned child, a cold faith, a job hopper, a wrecked marriage and unevangelized world.”
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
They gave him some vinegar in response to his request for a drink. Afterwards he said It is finished.
This is not a shout of defeat, it’s a shout of victory, a shout of Trimuph.
These words specify not the end of Jesus’ life, but the completion of His task. The verb tense is perfect. “It is finished!” The purpose of His hour has been completed, and the consequences of His work are enduring.”
Max Lucado writes, “The history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The message of God to man was finished. The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished. The task of selecting and training ambassadors was finished. The job was finished. The song had been sung. The blood had been poured. The sacrifice had been made. The sting of death had been removed. It was over.”
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Easter is about the work being finished so that you and I now have the strength to finish
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
The plan of Salvation is finished
Satan Is Finished
Self is finished, we are now saved by grace and grace alone
Father, into your hands I commit my
