SF050 - THE WORDS OF CHRIST FROM THE CROSS (Luke 23 33-44)
Luke 23:33-44
Introduction
Not all seven sayings are recorded in one gospel, so we are not certain about the order.
The first three sayings were uttered between 9 a.m. – 12 noon. They referred to:
Forgiveness and fellowship (Luke 23:34)
Assurance for the future (Luke 23:43)
Responsibility for family (John 19:26, 27)
The fourth and fifth sayings were spoken in darkness (Matthew 27:45). They were:
The word of utter loneliness (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
The word of human exhaustion (John 19:28)
The last two sayings were uttered in the emergence of light. The conflict was over and the victory was won. They were:
The word of victory (John 19:30)
The word of rest (Luke 23:46)
1A. The Words of Intercession (Luke 23:34)
Sin made forgiveness necessary.
Isaiah 53:6 “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”
The cross made forgiveness a reality.
Hebrews 9:22 “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
2A. The Words of Salvation (Luke 23:42-43)
We see God’s providence in the presence of thieves
Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.”
We see God’s grace in the salvation of the thief.
We see God’s sovereignty in the selection of one thief.
We see God’s power in the transformation of the thief.
3A. The Words of Affection (John 19:26-27)
Jesus expresses His love for His mother.
Jesus expresses His confidence in John.
4A. The Words of Anguish (Matthew 27:46)
A long space of time intervened between the third and fourth sayings. Now darkness reigned on Calvary – three hours of silence and darkness. It is the climax of the sufferings of our Lord, the hour and power of darkness.
We really do not know what took place (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luk3 23:44). This was the fulfillment of Isaiah 63:3 “I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me.”
How dark these three hours were we may fairly gather from the awful cry that escaped from His lips at the end, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?”
Jesus experienced the reality of our sin.
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
Jesus bore the full penalty for our sin.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5A. The Words of Suffering (John 19:28)
His thirst fulfilled prophecy
Psalm 69:21 “They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
His thirst demonstrated His humanity
6A. The Words of Victory (John 19:30)
“tetelestai,” to bring to an end, to finish, paid in full
He fulfilled the purpose for His coming.
Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 18:11 “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
He became the propitiation for sin.
Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
1 John 2:2 “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”
1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
7A. The Words of Contentment (Luke 23:46)
Having fulfilled His divine purpose He passed into eternity with the Father.
Luke 23:33-44
Introduction
1A. The Words of ____________________ (Luke 23:34)
Sin made forgiveness __________________________. (Isaiah 53:6)
The cross made forgiveness a ___________________. (Hebrews 9:22)
2A. The Words of Salvation (Luke 23:42-43)
We see God’s providence in the presence of thieves (Isaiah 53:12)
We see God’s __________ in the salvation of the thief.
We see God’s sovereignty in the selection of one thief.
We see God’s ____________ in the transformation of the thief.
3A. The Words of Affection (John 19:26-27)
Jesus expresses His _______________ for His mother.
Jesus expresses His confidence in John.
4A. The Words of Anguish (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus experienced the _________________ of our sin. (Isaiah 59:2)
Jesus bore the ___________ penalty for our sin. (Romans 6:23)
5A. The Words of ____________________ (John 19:28)
His thirst fulfilled prophecy (Psalm 69:21)
His thirst demonstrated His _____________________
6A. The Words of ____________________ (John 19:30)
“tetelestai,” to bring to an end, to finish, paid in full
He fulfilled the __________________ for His coming. (Matthew 1:21; Matthew 18:11)
He became the propitiation for sin. (Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10)
7A. The Words of ____________________ (Luke 23:46)