Sayings of Jesus from the Cross 1-3

As Josh explained earlier in the service, today we will be briefly studying the seven sayings, or seven things that Jesus spoke while he was dying on the cross for our sins.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t truly imagine the pain and suffering Jesus experienced on the cross. I can’t begin to imagine the physical pain of the cross, which came after he was scourged nearly to death. I can’t even comprehend the weight of all human sin, and God’s just wrath against it, that also weighed upon his strong shoulders.

Just thinking of all that makes me marvel that Jesus was able to say anything at all. And yet, when we hear Jesus’ sayings from the cross, we see his total humanity, his incredible forgiveness, his amazing grace, his perfect lovingkindness, his complete humility, his absolute divinity, and his utter trust.

Come, let us behold the man upon a cross, and hear him speak to us today.

When Jesus quoted Psalm 22’s words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” we understand that in that very moment, all our sins, the full weight of God’s righteous wrath against our sin, was placed upon him. In this moment, in his total humanity, the Father, abandoned the Son to his tormentors, out of necessity to save you, to save me.

And yet, out of the depths of this incredible agony, in the midst of bearing the full weight of sin, Jesus looked at his tormentors, those who refused to see him for who he truly is, who responded to his call to repentance by killing him, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Let’s be honest, our natural human inclination, whenever we are wronged is to lash out in anger, hurt, and pain. Not so with Jesus. He did what he came to do: he incredibly forgave them their sin and pleaded their case, our case before the Father.

Two men were crucified alongside Jesus. Both were taunting and insulting him. But then a change came over one of them. He realised that Jesus was totally innocent, and that he himself was totally guilty. He realised that Jesus was there on the cross, bearing God’s curse for him and for the other criminal, so that, though guilty, they would be set free, forgiven. Upon seeing and recognising who Jesus is, he tried to convince the other criminal to stop insulting Jesus and see him for who he was. Turning to Jesus he professed his faith in Jesus’ ability to forgive his sin. Without hesitation, with amazing grace, Jesus pronounced, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Come, see Jesus on the cross. See him hanging there. It was your sin, it was my sin that put him there. He was forsaken so that we can be forgiven. He has forgiven you. He offers this promise to all who believe in him and confess him as their saviour: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Amen.