Seven Statements from the Cross

1. Forgiveness

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do… Luke 23:34 

2. Hope

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43 

3. Compassion

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26

4. Abandonment

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mat 27:46 

5. Suffering

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. John 19:28 

6. Completion

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30 

7. Satisfaction

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46 

As you reflect on these verses remember Jesus did this for YOU.

Praise Him for His sacrifice.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Lying to achieve a goal

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. Luke 23:2

The people had nothing to “get” Jesus on so they resorted to lying. Exodus 20:16 tells us, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

There is never a time to lie! Let’s look at some of the key points in the verse:

·        “Perverting” (Greek 1294) to distort i.e. misinterpret or corrupt

Was Jesus distorting or corrupting the nation? Absolutely not

·        “Forbidding to give tribute”

Matthew 17:27 tells of a time when Jesus paid the tribute (tax)

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Not only did Jesus pay the tax but he did it to not offend anyone.

·        “saying he himself is a king”

There are 17 verses in the King James Version with the words, “King of the Jews”, not one of them is Jesus talking. Each time the phrase was used it was used by others.

False accusations are the way of the world. The next time you want to tell “a little white lie” remember the following verses:

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. Proverbs 14:5

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Colossians 3:9

Have a blessed day,
Donna

The Final Hours

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.  36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,  37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.  44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  45  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke 23:33-47

Imagine walking through the city carrying a cross, not just carrying a cross but carrying a cross after being beaten and ridiculed. Jesus endured all this for you and me.

Finally they arrived at Calvary, the place of skulls. Adam Clarke says, “probably so called from the many skulls of these who had suffered crucifixion and other capital punishments scattered up and down in the place.” It was at this place that they crucified Jesus with two criminals.

As He was hanging on the cross, suffering for your sins and mine, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The people standing around had never heard the likes of this, someone talking to God while hanging on the cross. Some considered everything that was going on, and pondered what it meant. Others were sneering and taunting, “He saved others, let him save himself.” Not realizing He was doing this for them.

One of the criminals joined in with the shouting and allegations. The second one rebuked him saying, "we are being punished for our crimes but this Man did nothing wrong." Then he asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered with “To day you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus simply and completely forgave him for his sin.

Then absolute darkness covered the whole earth. It was total darkness in the middle of the day. The people stood there in fear, they had never seen such a thing before, or since, what happened, it is only noon time. At the end of the three hours Jesus cried, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” and he died. As the centurion said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)

Jesus died for your sins and mine. The burden of our sins killed him. Imagine what a burden it was, my sins alone would have killed this sinless Man, but the sins of the world! He did this because He loved us so much and did not want us to spend eternity in hell. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive you for your sins, do it today.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Seven Statements from the Cross

1. Forgiveness
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do… Luke 23:34

2. Hope
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43

3. Compassion
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26

4. Abandonment
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46

5. Suffering
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. John 19:28

6. Completion
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30

7. Satisfaction
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46

As you reflect on these verses remember Jesus did this for YOU.
Praise Him for His sacrifice.

Have a blessed day,

Donna

The Final Hours

Luke 23:33-47
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

Imagine walking through the city carrying a cross, not just carrying a cross but carrying a cross after being beaten and ridiculed. Jesus endured all this for you and me.

Finally they arrived at Calvary, the place of skulls. Adam Clarke says, “probably so called from the many skulls of these who had suffered crucifixion and other capital punishments scattered up and down in the place.” It was at this place that they crucified Jesus with two criminals.

As He was hanging on the cross, suffering for your sins and mine, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The people standing around had never heard the likes of this, someone talking to God while hanging on the cross. Some considered everything that was going on, and pondered what it meant. Others were sneering and taunting, “He saved others, let him save himself.” Not realizing He was doing this for them.

One of the criminals joined in with the shouting and allegations. The second one rebuked him saying we are being punished for our crimes but this Man did nothing wrong. Then he asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus answered with “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus simply and completely forgave him for his sin.

Then absolute darkness covered the whole earth. It was total darkness in the middle of the day. The people stood there in fear, they had never seen such a thing before, or since, what happened, it is only noon time. At the end of the three hours Jesus cried, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” and he died. As the centurion said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39)

Jesus died for your sins and mine. The burden of our sins killed him. Imagine what a burden it was, my sins alone would have killed this sinless Man, but the sins of the world! He did this because He loved us so much and did not want us to spend eternity in hell. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, do it today.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna