The Cry That Saved The World

During the last hours Jesus spent nailed to the cross, He spoke seven times, and these memorable utterances from the Cross are known as "The seven Words". They were His last words. These seven brief utterances Jesus proclaimed were the most profound sermon that has ever been preached. These Seven Words are recorded in Mathew 27:45-50, Mark 15:33-37, Luke 23:34-46 & John 19:26-30.

FIRST WORD

1) Luke 23:34 "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing"

The whole saving act of crucifixion was in fact a symbol of divine forgiveness. (John 3:14-15). How do we react when we suffer due to someone torturing us? Will we able to forgive someone who caused us to face a huge loss? On the cross, our Lord taught us that forgiveness can be unilateral, and does not require the involvement of both parties. I can, and I must, forgive my offender even if they have not asked for my forgiveness. Stephen, under the rain of stones that was ending his life, was the first of Jesus' followers to follow his Lord and Master's example (Acts 7:60). We are also called to do likewise.

Our Lord taught us in Luke 6:27-28, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. Jesus not only taught us, but it was also proven through His life even until the end as well. When we say that we follow the Lord, we must also apply this principle in our life. When we forgive others, we are released from the pressure of grudge and come to the quietness of rest and comfort in our heart.

There can be cases where forgiving our offender becomes very difficult, we need to ask grace from our Lord to release that person from the animosity. Bible teaches us to forgive others as God has forgiven us (Matthew 6:12) and warns us that if we don’t forgive others we will not be forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 18:35).

SECOND WORD

Luke 23:43 “ I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise”

Jesus died in the company of two anonymous criminals. We don’t know much about them. One of them was mocking at the Lord but the other one rebuked him saying, they deserved the death penalty, but Jesus didn’t deserve the punishment. Then he cried out to the Lord, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus gave this man what he needed at that moment: hope, the hope that is born of salvation in Christ, and which would be for him a "great encouragement" in the seemingly endless hours of torture that would follow.

Jesus offered him salvation. Luke 23:43 “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise”. How was he qualified to receive this eternal gift? He was honest enough to acknowledge that he was guilty to be punished. He did not blame anyone. He didn’t blame his friends who influenced him badly, not his circumstances, he didn’t blame the judge for the death sentence, he didn’t blame anybody but blamed himself. He took one hundred percent blame on himself. Paradise is for such people. We see the worst criminal on earth walked hand in hand with the most holy man in the universe in paradise.

No matter how deep you have fallen, no matter what your background is, no matter how much you have rebelled with God so far, if you have a heart of repentance and willing to take one hundred percent blame on yourself for your failures- you can come to the feet of the Lord and ask for forgiveness. He will do it. None is beyond hope, if he or she is willing to acknowledge the fault before the Lord.

THIRD WORD

John 19:26-27 "When Jesus saw his mother there, he said to the disciple: Here is your mother. And from that time on, this disciple took her into his home”.

Jesus could not forget his mother at this time of lacerating pain; the heart of Mary was torn apart by the agony of her son; she was desolate in the face of such a tragic end to His life. What is more, Mary was almost certainly a widow by this stage, because of which she would have been destitute. But the Lord, the good Shepherd, did not neglect his duty to "honour his father and mother" (Matthew 19:19). We haven’t heard of Joseph since Jesus was about twelve years old (Luke 2:41-42). It appears that Joseph had died when Jesus was young. It was Jesus who had taken care of His mother and His siblings (Matthew 13:55-56/ Mark 6:3). Jesus worked as a carpenter until the age of thirty (Luke 3:23). He fulfilled His earthly responsibilities as a son and as a brother and had showed Himself to be an example for us.