The Bible records seven sayings, and they are all pointers to what Jesus intended to be and do here in this world. Volumes could be written about each saying, but here are some openings to get people thinking.
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
(Luke 23:34 ESV)
Forgiveness is not always easy. Sometimes the offence against us is so small that we are able to forgive and forget without trouble. However there are other times when we find it impossible to forget, and our best efforts not to count the offence against us seems an insurmountable mountain to climb. This can be helped when the offender shows repentance. But to wish good on those who do evil to us is not a natural reaction in us.
Here we see our perfect sinless Lord, who did nothing to harm anyone, in the process of being nailed to the cross. The soldiers at this moment are hammering the nails through the flesh into the wood. The cross is raised and as it sinks into its place with a flesh wrenching thud, the soldiers are playing a game of dice to decide who will get the cloak that Jesus wore. Yet what does he do? He prays that the God who holds their very breath in his hands will do them good – that he will not count this most heinous of crimes against the divine Son against them. This is the heart of the good news about Jesus. We all deserve to be eternally rejected by the One who we have rejected. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV)
Jo Brand seems to think it is clever and humorous to poke fun at Jesus by saying that she didn’t ask him to die for her. This is precisely the point. None of us would have asked him to do this, but even then he gives himself, the just for the unjust that we might be forgiven. What treachery would throw this sacrifice back in the face of such a Saviour?
Guilt is one of the great burdens of modern western society – the guilt which is hidden, suppressed, or denied. Divine forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts we could be given. This is what is on Jesus’ heart as he is nailed to the cross.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"
(John 19:26-27ESV)
The second of our Lord’s recorded sayings brings to mind his humanity. He was truly God, but he was also truly human. He had been nurtured on Mary’s knees. He knew personal affection, and knew that she had personal affection for him. She may have told him of the words which Simeon said to her when she, with Joseph, took him to the temple as a baby: a sword will pierce through your own soul also. (Luke 2:35 ESV) He could see the pain in her face. Although the sting of death would be taken away within a few days, after the resurrection, the pain of separation would remain with her. And in that hour of need he thinks of her, and provides for her.
In this he was also fulfilling the commandment "Honor your father and your mother, (Exodus 20:12 ESV) so that even now there was not an inkling of accusation against him. His life was truly blameless. So his fulfilling of the law for us is seen even now as he dies in agony. His righteousness as the Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19) who would be our perfect sacrifice was complete.
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:43
Crucifixion was designed to break the heart and spirit both of those who were executed, and those who witnessed the executions. Yet in these words we see no such broken spirit. Those who were prominent in the scene mocked Jesus – the soldiers, the high priests who were there to gloat, and even those who were being crucified with him. Mathew tells us that both began by mocking cynically. But one of the two had a change of heart. There was something about the innocent victim from Galilee which opened his eyes to see him not as a fool but as a king. The sorry plea comes from his lips: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:42 ESV)
The reply he gets is a threefold promise: (a) Paradise is the first element that grabs our attention. Could anything be further from the scene that is depicted here? The rubbish dump outside the walls of the city, the derision of the Roman soldiers, the cruel suffering of three men hanging on crosses, fighting for air, the flies gathering on the wounds under the hot sun, the mocking crowds, the unnatural darkness – these all provide a scene as far removed from Paradise as can be imagined. Yet this is the confident promise of the man with the broken body on the cross.
Death is not to be the final answer for those who trust in Him. There will be an end to pain and suffering. There will be an end to doubt and uncertainty. No more struggle, no more tears, nothing but eternal joy.
(b) Today is the second element. There was to be a direct and instant path from the cross to Paradise. There was not going to be a long sleep. Neither was there to be an intermediate state of limbo. There was to be no purgatory or long period of suffering. Christ will have taken all suffering away, and those who are in Christ will find themselves taken from their deathbed into glorious light.
(c) You will be with me. This is the crowning glory. This is what paradise is all about. Any paradise envisaged without the Lamb on the throne is not heaven. He who is King of Kings is also the light of the heavenly city (Revelation 21:23)
O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.
The King there in His beauty, without a veil is seen:
It were a well spent journey, though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.
The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.
(Anne Cousin)
Is Christ our greatest treasure? If not then we will not be happy in heaven – it will not be our destination. But if we have seen something of his beauty here as our glorious Saviour and Redeemer, then our joy will surpass anything we can imagine. When we die the next face we see will be the face of Jesus. This is the promise of the Son of God as he dies on the cross.
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