The Seven Statements of Jesus on the Cross:
Final Prayer of a Faithful Servant
"Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'"
Luke 23:44-49
Interesting to Notice…
All Seven Statements on the Cross Fulfilled Prophecy (Direct or Indirect)
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Isaiah 53:2)
"Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Matthew 1:21)
"Woman, behold your son!" (Luke 2:35)
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1)
"I thirst!" (Psalm 69:21)
"It is finished!" (Psalm 22:31)
"Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" (Psalm 31:5)
Like the Seventh Day of Creation, the Seventh Statement on the Cross Announced Rest
What Do We Learn?
Jesus Remained in Control, Even in His Sufferings
· Jesus foretold that He would be delivered into the hands of men and killed. (Mk. 9:31)
· But Jesus’ capture was only possible because He allowed it to happen. (Jn. 10:17-18)
· Jesus proved remarkably helpful in His own arrest and condemnation.
(Jn. 18:4-12; Matt. 26:52-54, 62-66; 27:13-14)
· Jesus allowed men to sit in judgment of Him and declare, “Away with Him! Crucify Him!”
· One day Jesus will sit in judgment and say, “Depart from Me. I never knew you.”
· Jesus’ power over the moment is evident in that He delivered up His spirit at the end.
Jesus Illustrates Freedom from the Fear of Death
· Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan and death’s power. (1Jn. 3:8; 1Cor. 15:55-57)
· Jesus’ work on the cross ought to set us free from the fear of death. (Heb. 2:14-15)
· The peace we see in Jesus at death’s door can be ours as well. (2Ti. 4:8; Acts 7:59-60)
Man’s Spirit is His Greatest Possession
· Our inner man, the part that partakes of immortality, is far more important than the external man. (Jas. 2:26; Matt. 6:19-21)
· Most people make provisions for their belongings in the event of their death.
· The most important investments and preparations in life pertain to our soul.
Application: Have We Committed Ourselves to the Father?
· Jesus was fully committed to the Father’s will during His time on earth. (Jn. 5:19, 36; 8:28-29)
· Nowhere is this fact more evident than in Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross. (cf. Mt. 26:39, 42)
· Confidence at death is found through submission to the Father in life. (Php. 1:21; Ga. 2:20)
· Are we fully investing our lives in the things of God and His kingdom? (2Ti. 1:12; Ro. 12:1-2)
· The only true power for living is found by living in and working for Christ. (Jn. 15:5; Php. 4:13)
· To die the death of the righteous, we must live the life of the righteous. (cf. Num. 23:10)