Many people only read one account of the crucifixion. However, there are four different views of this one event.
If you combine all of the four accounts, you'll find that while Christ was hanging on the cross naked and in pain that He spoke six times. During His life, everything He did was for others- this didn't stop just because He was dying.
If you combine all of the four accounts, you'll find that while Christ was hanging on the cross naked and in pain that He spoke six times. During His life, everything He did was for others- this didn't stop just because He was dying.
His first words while hanging on the cross was for the Lord God Almighty to forgive those who were murdering Him.
Luke 23:34- Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
They had beaten and tortured Him unjustly. They had nailed an innocent man onto a cross and then mocked Him. Still, Christ asked His Father to forgive them.
His next set of words was confirmation of forgiveness for one of the malefactors hanging there with Him.
Luke 23:43- And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
He knew why He had come to earth- for this very purpose! To pay the required price for Sin. In His agony, He pushed up on those nails that were going through His ankles, took a deep breath, and then told the dying thief that was asking for Christ to remember Him that He would be taken to Paradise when he died instead of Hell where he deserved to go!
He had no more time to get baptized. He had no more time to do good works. The time for sacrifice was long past. He was hopeless as far as the world was concerned. There would be no redemption available to him now.
Can you imagine the relief that flooded through that man's heart? Forgiveness from the Son of God when humanity would grant none!
Throughout the next two thousand years many would fall at the foot of the cross and find the same compassionate forgiveness that this malefactor found. The dying thief rejoiced to see the fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away!
Jesus now makes certain that His duty as the eldest son is covered. He makes certain that His earthly mother would be taken care of.
John 19:26-27- When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Christ knew what the duties of man were. As the firstborn, it would be His responsibility to take care of His mother when Joseph died. He turned to the disciple on whom He knew He could depend and passed His duty to John the Beloved.
He made certain that every part of the Scripture that prophesied about His death was accomplished.
John 29:28- After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
You can look all through the Old Testament and not find anything that references Christ being thirsty. He had been offered vinegar earlier on a sponge and had refused it. So, why would He now accept the vinegar? Because it was on hyssop.
Hebrews 9:19, 20, 22-For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Not only was blood required for sin to have forgiveness,but there was protocol that also needed followed. There were other items that needed to be present when the offering was made.
Leviticus 14:4-8- Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
Leprosy is a figure of sin- a living death sentence. Christ was the perfect High Priest that offered His own life as the Lamb of God. He had been wrapped in a scarlet robe. He had been crucified on a cross that I believe was made of cedar. And, now there was the hyssop- the last item needed to be presented with His sinless blood.
As the spear pierced His side, out came the running water mingled with the precious blood that purchased our Salvation.
With all of the pieces present, it was time for the wrath of God to be poured out on Him for the payment of sin.
Matthew 27:46- 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?
This was the moment that Christ feared when He sweat great drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Isaiah 53:4-6,10-11- Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
The last words out of His mouth were "It is finished". There is no more that must be accomplished. Justice has been satisfied. Judgment has been paid. Mercy can now be found because the transaction has been completed.
John 19:30- When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
The satisfaction of divine justice was finished. When you trust in Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, you can be certain that Jesus Paid It All- you don't have to pay an ounce of blood, you don't have to spend a moment in hell, you are completely forgiven.
Acts 2:21- And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 4:12- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Colossians 1:14- In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Romans 10:9- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Ephesians 2:8- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Titus 3:5- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
