Seven Words From The Cross-1

SEVEN WORDS From The CROSS-I—

(1)Lk. 23:34; (2)Luke 23:43(:32-43); (3)Jn. 19:26-27;

(4)Mat. 27:45(:45-46); Mk. 15:33-34; (5)Jn. 19:28-29; (6)Jn. 19:30;

(7)Lk. 23:44(:44-46); Mat. 27:50; Mk. 15:36-38; Jn. 19:30.

Jesus’ 7 Words From the Cross:

(1)“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”—Luke 23:34

(2)“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:43(:32-43)

(3)“Woman, behold your son!” & “Behold your mother!”—Jn. 19:26-27

(4)“My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”—Mat. 27:45(:45-46); Mk. 15:33-34

(5)“I thirst”—Jn. 19:28-29

(6)“It is finished”—Jn. 19:30

(7)“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”— Lk. 23:44(:44-46); Mat. 27:50; Mk. 15:36-38; Jn. 19:30

Need:

To recognize & prioritize those matters that are of great significance to Jesus.

Jesus voiced seven concerns, as He hung on the cross,

At the juncture of life & death, matters of greatest significance become prioritized.

What matters did Jesus prioritize as He hung on The Cross?

Seven Words From The Cross.

*And...Any matter of significance to Jesus, is also of vital significance for His people!

1—“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(Lk. 23:34)

Explanation:(Lk. 23:34)

Lk.23:33—“And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, & the criminals, one on the right hand & the other on the left.”

Lk. 23:34—“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments & cast lots.”

Lk. 23:34a—“Then Jesus said, “Father,...”

Jesus approaches God, His “Father” with a ‘demand’(Imperative mood). The imperative is NOT an ‘invitation’, but IS a demand.

All things must come thru the will of Jesus’ heavenly(& only) “Father.”

•Keep in mind that ‘God’s’ very nature & essence consists in a Trinity or Tri-unity.

•The Trinity of God is revealed to us in the separate persons of the “Father”, the Son, & the Holy Spirit.

•Each of the three ‘persons’ of the Godhead, is distinctly recognizable....

•And each of the three persons of the Godhead carries a different ‘role’ within the Godhead.

•Yet the collective ‘roles’ of God, are inseparably cohesive to the essence, character, & the sovereign designs & purpose of the Godhead....Existing inseparably together as ‘God.’

Lk. 23:34a—“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,...”

Jesus demands that His “Father” extend His perfect, flawless, unrestrained “forgiveness” toward certain people(“them”).

•Jesus acts upon the importance of extending God’s perfect grace to certain others.

“Forgive”—afihmi—Lit = ‘to send off/away’—2Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Sing.—1) To send away—1a) To bid going away or depart—1a1) Of a husband divorcing his wife, 1b) To send forth, yield up, to expire, 1c) To let go, let alone, let be—1c1) To disregard, 1c2) To leave, not to discuss now(a topic), 1c21) of teachers, writers & speakers, 1c3) To omit, neglect, 1d) To let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit, 1e) To give up, keep no longer; 2) To permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person; 3) To leave, go way from one—3a) In order to go to another place, 3b) To depart from any one, 3c) To depart from one & leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned, 3d) To desert wrongfully, 3e) To go away leaving something behind, 3f) To leave one by not taking him as a companion, 3g) To leave on dying, leave behind one, 3h) To leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining, 3i) Abandon, leave destitute. Strong—To send forth, in various applications.?From—apo—“Off,” i.e. Away(from something near), in various senses(of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative); a primary particle.—&—ihmi—To send; an intensive form of eimi, to go.

There is always an aspect of “forgiveness” that is granted, regardless of the response of the person that’s forgiven.

Because you CANNOT FORCE that person or persons who are in need of “forgiveness”, to accept or to see eye-to-eye with you, in their & your circumstance.

•Yet the “forgiveness” that is freely granted by you is ever available to the other person(s).

Your “forgiveness” of another person(s) ‘EXPECTS’ a ‘proper’ response, but does NOT ‘REQUIRE’ it. And that lack of requirement places a proper & God-ordered responsibility upon the person or persons who are “forgiven.”

In matters of salvation, the ultimate & officiating Judge(God) must receive some acceptable form of actual appreciation & compliance for the “forgiveness” of sin(s) received.

•God cannot & will not house & feed ‘the dog that bites His hand’!

?Who is the “them” that Jesus seeks “forgiveness” for?

•The identity of “them” is:

(1) THE SOLDIERS who were ordered to crucify Jesus.?•The ones who literally drove the nails into Jesus’ hands & feet, & who hoisted Him into the air attached to the Cross. They also verbally mocked Jesus, & offered Him sour wine to drink(:36-37).

(2) THE JEWS WHO HAD REJECTED HIM, & for whom He had come to offer the kingdom of God.