Communion: Jesus’ words from the cross
This week I re-read over the crucifixion of Christ in my Bible. One thing that really stood out for me was the way Jesus died and how He remained focussed on those around Him and what He came for even during this horrifc event.
I thought I would share these words of Christ from the Cross before
communion today.
1. The first words that are recorded from Jesus
on the cross show that even in this situation of great agony He is
prepared to forgive His accusers, His torturers, His enemies, as He
cries out, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are
doing."
2. He turns to one of the thieves or criminals
surrounding Him on the two crosses on either side of Him, who has cried
out for remembrance when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus replies,
"Truly, today you will be with me in paradise." As soon as they both
die, they can enjoy the presence of God the Father in eternal bliss.
3. Jesus turns to his mother and to the beloved disciple, the
apostle John, and says, "Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your
mother" Even on the cross He has not forgotten those closest to Him.
4. Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?"
Jesus felt some awareness of now being separated from His heavenly
Father. The closeness and intimacy that He had enjoyed throughout His
life was broken.
5. He cries out, "I thirst." And yet He refuses
to drink what was either a painkiller or a poison, anything that would
relieve His suffering or speed up the process of His death. And so His
statement, "I thirst," is probably not merely a statement of human
anguish but also one of spiritual anguish following His acknowledgment
of separation from God.
6. He says, "It is finished" — certainly
referring to His life, but again perhaps we are meant to see the whole
plan of salvation has now been accomplished.
7. He cries out,
"Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit."
So to summarise this
event - Jesus asked for God to forgive the people who crucified Him, He
offered salvation to one of the thieves, He asked John to care for His
mother, He felt the separation from God for the first time and said He
thirsted for God, He said the work of salvation is done, and then last
but not least, He committed His Spirit to God.
Right until the
end Jesus was focussed on us and those around Him. The only detour in
His Words were to say that He was feeling the pain of being separated
from His Father.
Let us pray.
By Dave Quinn
Founder of PASSIONAustralia.org
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