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The last cry from the cross How deep the nails They sang Psalm 118:26-29 as Jesus entered Jerusalem that last week, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; you are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”By the end of the week, after his mock trial, the same people got up early in the morning gathered before Pilate screaming “crucify him” with the Pharisees. The day Jesus was born for was now upon Him. Certain gospels repeat words, or add more details to the event – each gospel has something said that no other gospel has. One must put them all together for the complete record of what took place.John lists 7 I am statements of Jesus in his gospel. There are 7 statements in the gospels that Jesus makes from the cross. No one Gospel has all the details of the crucifixion.Matt 27:40-41: “and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, Mark 15:31-39 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.” Matt 27:38-40 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." The very thing He came for they wanted him to neglect so he can prove to them who He is. But instead, His staying on the cross proved who He is; it was by His resurrection 3 days later. This is the same words Satan had as He came to Jesus in his weakest moment of his flesh. Matt 4:3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Luke 4:9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.” Satan knew who he he was contrary to the men who mocked him when he was first lifted up to be crucified.Certainly Satan wanted Jesus to die, just not the way he chose. Jesus’ 7 vocal statements while He suffered by crucifixion,Mark 15:27: Luke 23:33-36: “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, The First statement : speaking to the Father for all to hear -Luke 23:34: “Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots (this is only mentioned in Luke’s gospel).He did not ask the Father to forgive everyone, but those who did not know, those who took part of having him die intentionally. There were those that had planned his death for some time, he is not asking forgiveness for them, but for those who do not know what they are doing (Heb. 9:7). Second statement - Matt 27:44: “Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. Luke 23:39-43 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." One of the robbers has a change of mind as he sees Jesus in between him and his companion in crime. Luke 23:42-43: “Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus assured him eternal life, being with him in what the Jews understood as Paradise (which is different than heaven). This man repented while the other robber continued to mock and blasphemed by his “if” statement, saying what Satan and the mockers said “If You are the Christ, save Yourself.” This other robber realized he deserved his punishment. But at the end of his life he turns to trust the Lord by recognizing he has a kingdom, which meant the statement written over the head by Pilate was true, He is the king of the Jews, “the king of all kings” because He conquered death. Jesus promises him that where he is going he will accompany him; to paradise. All the Gospels mention him as king of the Jews (with the plague over his head). Matt. 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38: “in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Jn.18:33). John 19:19: “Pilate himself wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Pilate said he would wash his hands of this man's guilt yet he wrote the truth with his own hands that the Jews protested vehemently, that Jesus was King of the Jews. John 19:23-24: “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.” Third statement- Giving his mother away into his disciple John’s care: John 19:25-27: “ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son! "Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. John was the only disciple of the men who was at the crucifixion. He was the longest living apostle, living years after the others were killed. James and John are Jesus’ first cousins John is a believer who is not in his immediate family. Since no one at this time in Jesus family believed who he was he chose John to take care of his earthly mother. It is after the resurrection that Jude and James of Jesus’ immediate family become believers.Luke 23:44 “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two” This certainly is applied to what Jesus felt as He cried, Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with Thy waves (Psalms 88:6,7). 4th statement - crying out to God of forsaking him- Matt 27:45-47: “ Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!"His statement begins by My God why have you forsaken me then only silence until the very end. Ps.22 15 references the cross Jesus is the Son of David, it is his great, great grandfather that prophesied this. Jesus is halfway through his suffering, it is at this time the sins are put on him as the lamb, as the scapegoat. Jesus feels the separation in his humanity and soul of something he had enjoyed throughout eternity. Jesus had hung on the cross already 3 hours (since 9:00) this is high noon when the land is engulfed in darkness. This darkness lasted until the 9th hr. (3:00) Mk.15:33 & Mt.27:45 state the same thing. It is these last 3 hours that are the pivotal point of the gospel when God pours out his wrath on sin on His Son. Lk.23:44 darkness over the land; the whole inhabited world wherever man was. This is related to the plague of darkness that resulted in Israels Exodus from bondage. Throughout the Scriptures, darkness is often a sign of sin or divine judgment. Among the ten plagues upon Egypt was the plague of darkness. Exod 10:21-23 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt."So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” And, with the sins of the world placed on Jesus, the wrath of God was poured out upon Him in judgment, and this darkness was a visible evidence of this taking place. The light of the world had darkness encroach his soul as he paid the price, it was a darkness one could feel as the sun that gave light became dark, God the Father was showing them whom this man they crucified actually was; His only begotten son. Mark 15:35-36 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!"Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down." Those who watched were entertained and wanted to see God prove everything by the supernatural, they mistakenly thought he called for Elijah. They offer not water but wine to numb the pain Luke 23:36: “The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine” Matt 27:34: “they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. They gave him wine mingled with gall (Mk.15:23 mentions myrrh also) it was used as a pain reliever, Jesus refuses because he has to be in control of his faculties. Fifth statement –John 19:28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!”"I thirst!" Jesus is feeling the consequences of sin and separation as he spoke of the rich man in the story with Lazarus."The waters are come into My soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me. Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (Psalms 69:1-3; 20,21). Sixth statement- pronouncing when it is over- John 19:30: “ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”This is the second time it is offered and he now allows it to touch his mouth because His mission has been completed. This portion of the new covenant is paid in full “tetelestai,” as a sign agreement by his blood shed. He picks his time of death as he is now in complete control Seventh statement- . Luke 23:46-47: “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last. So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"Even the roman soldier guarding the crucifixion understood this to be something unique. Mark 15:37-39: “And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" Mark adds that the centurion also said he was the Son of God, not understanding the Hebrew perspective but his own. Matt 27:50-54: “ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" When he spoke why have you forsaken me it
was an agonizing statement, here Jesus sounds a victory cry, “it is finished.”
The debt for sin was taken care of by Him being the last sacrifice accepted by
the Father. His mission was done, “Into Your hands I commit My Spirit” and
breathed His last and died. We do know that whatever separation occurred by Him
becoming our sin substitute was fully restored before He died. He did not let
his life ebb away but took control by dismissing it at the proper moment. He
determined the exact moment to dismiss His own Spirit. No mere man can have
control of His own Spirit and determine the time of His own death by announcing
it like this, only God has this ability. In John 10:18: Jesus said “no one takes
my life from me, but I lay it down of myself.” I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My
Father." “The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom,” proving this was God doing it, and allowing a new assess into what separated man from the Holy place. He took away the first (covenant) to establish the second. The new covenant is eternal because of the one who established it by his blood, the eternal one. The law of Moses, the old covenant has come to an end. That may upset those who are inclined to be law keepers but that is the Holy Spirits teaching through the New Testament Bible. The new covenant is not something that is new and improved. It completely replaces the former with a new system. One must be part of the new covenant to have the promises of Jesus. Which is forgiveness, the presence of the Spirit indwelling them, the teacher of the Bible. God both phileo and agapao’s us (Jn.15:27; Jn.3:16; Rom.5:8). God demonstrated His love to all people in the most dramatic and definitive manner, by His only begotten son willingly dying for us in open shame among his own people. Heb. 12:2 “…for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” He rose from the tomb to make you alive now and forever more, as He is alive forever more (Rev.1:5;18). He is now at the right hand of the Father in heaven as the mediator of those who trusts in His work His last cry completes the 7 statements from the cross. Now there are 7 seals are coming to the world that has rejected Him.
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