Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] Seven Statements from the Cross

Amen!

On Fri Apr 22nd, 2011 7:15 AM CDT Michael J. Knight wrote:

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>Seven Statements from the Cross
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> [jesus on cross moving]
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>While hanging from a cross on Calvary's Hill, Jesus uttered seven
>powerful statements that reveal His heart and ministry to us. Each
>statement carries the weight of the Gospel in itself but together they
>provide a portrait of God's eternal plan of salvation through Jesus
>Christ. This portrait reminds us that nothing but the finished work of
>Jesus Christ will assure our eternal salvation. Take some time to
>meditate on these seven powerful statements.
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>Statement 1: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
>doing" (see Luke 23:34).
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>Jesus did not ask forgiveness for Himself - He didn't need to, He was
>sinless. Jesus did not ask for a quick, painless death - He knew His
>purpose for dying on the Cross. Jesus did not ask God for vengeance on
>the people who sentenced Him to death - instead He prayed on their
>behalf. Even in His suffering, Jesus was able to forgive His tormentors
>and care about their souls. If Jesus could forgive those who hurt Him,
>He can forgive us of our sins - and give us the strength to forgive
>others.
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>Statement 2: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
>paradise" (see Luke 23:39-43).
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>In one of His final interactions, Jesus extended eternal life. As he
>openly forgave others, Jesus sparked an internal transformation in the
>criminal next to Him. Our Savior did not allow His own suffering and
>torment to distract Him from the cries of faith from a repentant sinner.
>Just as He was not too preoccupied to minister to this criminal, He is
>never too busy for our concerns.
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>Statement 3: "He said to his mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' and
>to the disciple, 'Here is your mother'" (see John 19:26-27).
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>Jesus' first two statements clearly revealed His divinity - His power to
>forgive sin and to grant eternal salvation. His third statement reflects
>His humanity. As fully God and fully man, Jesus' concern for Mary was
>not just as a Savior, but as a son. His compassion for His earthly
>mother reminds us that Jesus also cares for our well-being and direction
>in life, even when we don't understand God's plans. And as Jesus asked
>John to care for Mary, He asks us to care for others on His behalf.
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>Statement 4: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (see Matthew
>27:45-50).
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>This prayer is the very heart and necessity of the Cross. It is the
>fulfillment of prophecy from Psalm 22. For the first time in eternity,
>the Son knew the wrath and the judgment of God. Our sins were poured out
>on Jesus and God could not look upon Him carrying our sins. This
>separation from the Father must have been even more agonizing than the
>physical torture, yet He suffered it for our sake.
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>Statement 5: "I thirst" (see John 19:28-29).
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>After enduring unthinkable stress, three days of imprisonment, trials,
>floggings, and crucifixion, the Son of God - who made the waters of the
>world - experienced extreme dehydration and thirst. In this statement
>Jesus fulfilled another prophecy (see Psalm 69:21). Still, there is a
>deeper meaning to His thirst. Psalm 42 says, "As the deer pants for
>streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for
>God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Jesus cried out
>with the psalmist; He was thirsting for the presence and fellowship of
>God the Father during their separation on the Cross.
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>Statement 6: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (see Luke
>23:44-49).
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>This cry was not the cry of defeat, but a cry of victory. It was not the
>cry of being conquered by death, but of conquering death. It was not a
>cry of a person who was a victim of circumstances, but One who is in
>control of His circumstances. As a commander who would dismiss his
>servant from his presence, Jesus dismissed His own spirit and went to be
>with God the Father as He spoke the words of Psalm 31:5. When the
>centurion at the cross witnessed Jesus' victorious cry, the officer
>recognized the difference between Jesus and every other dying man he had
>seen. It was in this moment that he said, "Surely this was a righteous
>man."
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>Statement 7: "It is finished" (see John 19:28-30).
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>How many times in the Gospel of John does Jesus talk about His hour? He
>would say, "My hour has not yet come," or "the hour is coming." It was
>as if Jesus was hearing the chimes of a clock that nobody else could
>hear. The life of the Lord Jesus Christ - the sum total of His ministry
>and mission - was leading to this one, final cry, "Tetelestai" or "It is
>finished." From His birth, through His boyhood, manhood, and public
>ministry, Jesus' focus was to finish the work His Father had given to
>Him - the work of redemption.
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>From the very beginning, Jesus' death and resurrection were God's plan
>for our redemption. If you have not experienced the finished work of the
>cross of Christ, you can today. Right now you can say, "It is finished.
>Lord God, I come to You. I surrender my life to You. I know that you
>have conquered sin and death and I accept your gift of eternal life."
>For believers, Christ's final cry should be a constant encouragement
>that we do not need to spin our wheels or worry about the future because
>His finished work secures our glorious and eternal destiny as a child of
>God.
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>Remember
>Only one life, will soon be past,
>Only what is done, for Christ will last.
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>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
>communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians
>13:14)
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>Love & Prayers,
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>Michael J. Knight.
>
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/
><http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/>
>
>What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
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