Crumbs61

 

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 61

From the Cross

Good Friday ‘23

I do not know what order the sayings from the cross came. I see them into three groups. 1.The cries of relationship. Here is a man seeing to His relationships before He dies. 2. Cries of anguish. 3. Cries of Victory.

1.The cries of relationship.Luke 23:34 New International Version  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

He who taught us to pray for those who ill treat us practices what He preaches.23:43 New International Version  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Here at the cross hope cuts into the saddest of times Such is the nature of the Messiah. As He brings hope in the middle of hopelessness.

John 19:26 New International Version When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”

We discover two attitudes of Christ, His attitude to the bereft and His attitude to family obligations. He loves and He cares.

2. Cries of anguish.Mark 15:34 New International Version And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

The price and pain of our salvation are beyond our understanding.

John 19:28 New International Version  Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

This is the cry of a desperate man. Here we see the deep humanity of the Messiah.

3. Cries of Victory.Luke 23:46 New International Version Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

This might have been a prayer prayed by Jewish children before they went to sleep. No pain remains. The Saviour does what we must all do. He commits Himself to God.

John 19:30New International Version When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Now no pain remains. His sacrifice, which is our salvation, is complete.

(N.B. In the above, the text in the upright “ Arial” font is Holy Scripture.)