The 7 Greatest Statements of Grace to the World
In this study through the gospel of John, we now come to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. After this mockery of a trial shrouded in the darkness of night, Jesus must carry His cross to the top of the hill. His body wrenching in pain from the beatings, blood dripping from His back and His brow; a stander by was asked to help Him to carry the cross. An inscription was placed at the foot of His Cross written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin that read: JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. His hands were nailed to the cross beams of the cross and His feet to a small piece of wood. The cross was raised and then dropped three feet into the ground with a thunderous bang—ripping at the blood drenched hands and feet. The pain so excruciating that it was nearly impossible to breath. Speech was nearly impossible; yet, from that cross Jesus spoke 7 of the Greatest Statements of Grace ever spoken to the World. I want us to take a moment to look at these 7 statements and ponder on what they mean to you and to me.
Picture used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright.
1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). These were the first words that came from the lips of Jesus as they placed Him on that cross. Did he mean that they were ignorant of their cruelty or that they were ignorant to their hanging an innocent man? No, but they were ignorant of the enormity of the sin within their own hearts. Yet, while the pain was so great; Jesus made intercession for the sinner. He made intercession for you and for me as well. On that cross He made intercession for every man, woman, and child; yet, not all would accept that gift of forgiveness. Some would mock at it. Some would say they don’t need it. Some would deny the very existence of God. Yet, Jesus whispered this prayer so that all who would accept this gift of forgiveness; are forgiven. “He poured out His soul unto death: He was numbered among the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
2. “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus was hanging between two thieves. One mocked him. Yet, the other thief very simply did three things which were his prayer of repentance. He confessed his own sinful state, he acknowledged that Jesus was the innocent son of God, and he asked Jesus to remember him. There was no time for him to do anything to earn his salvation—he is like all of us. We cannot earn our salvation. The only way to be saved is to do just this—confess our sinful state, recognize that God’s only Son died to pay the penalty for that sin, and ask Him to “remember me”. All we can do is this and His reply—is yes.
3. “Woman behold thy son! …Behold thy mother! (John 19:26-27). In the midst of all the pain and suffering on the cross, Jesus looked down and saw his mother there. He knew her agony as she stood beneath that cross and wanted to ascertain she was cared for so He asks John to be her care giver and her comforter. As we have noted before, Jesus referred to His mother as “woman.” Her salvation was being purchased on that cross the same as any other person. Ahh, but the compassion, the love that Jesus had to reach out with such tenderness of care at that moment. He looks down upon you and I with that same tenderness of care. When we are broken hearted, in pain, consumed by our grief; He is there to comfort us.
4. “My God, my God—why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) Nothing could fully prepare Jesus for this agony. Never had He been separated spiritually from the Father and the Holy Spirit—they were one. Suddenly as He bore the sin of all mankind; darkness covered the earth for 3 hours that dreadful day as God’s full wrath and fury against sin was poured out upon His Son. With that, Jesus bore the unthinkable—He was taken to that place of spiritual death that mankind is in. No physical pain was as great as this pain that He bore. His cry was one of unbearable agony; yet, He did not cry for it to end. He did not cry out to “forget it all.” He did not call down a legend of angels to destroy mankind. He moaned with the agony; but, He bore it all the same so that you and I might have the gift of salvation ordered. He suffered spiritual death, that we who accept this gift might be made spiritually alive
5. “I Thirst” (John 19:28). Imagine this, the fountain of living water with thirst. His soul was parched, all the flowing fountains of water within Him had dried when the Holy Spirit and God the Father had turned their back. Oh, yes; this thirst was that of dehydration and showed the full humanity of Jesus sufferings on the cross. Yes, this fulfilled the scripture in psalms concerning his thirst; but, I think this thirst was much deeper. As Jesus had spoken to the woman at the well concerning living water; this thirst was so much greater as He thirsted for the living water that He had with the Father.
6. “It is Finished” (John 19:30). The work of atonement was done. The work of redemption was done. There is nothing my feeble hands can do that would add one iota to the finished work. All I can do is to come to Jesus with empty hands lifted in love, praise and devotion for all that He did for me.
7. “Father, unto your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). He had paid the price, He bore our sins, and now He places Himself into the Father’s hands. It will be the Father’s power that will raise Him from the grave. It will be the Father’s power because Jesus had on the cross surrendered all power and authority to the Father, so that we might be offered adoption into God’s family and so we might become children of God-“joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17)
No greater words of grace could have ever been spoken than those spoken by Jesus from the Cross.
The song I chose for you today is At the Cross (Love Ran Red)
Picture used by permission of the artist Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright. For information concerning copies go to: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/forgive-them-ronald-barba.html
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.