The 7th Saying on the Cross
The last sermon on the Seven Sayings on the cross was given on Good Friday instead of the usual Sunday. It's kinda long so let's get going on it.
We started with Luke 23:46 "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spiriit; and having said this, he gave up the ghost."
Think about this. He's seconds away from death yet, he has enough strength to shout out his last words. He wants us to hear this. He wanted all those around him to hear this. Are we listening?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it."
We all go to God when we die. All of us. So I guess when it's said, all roads lead to God...well they do, but not the way that is normally thought. Some will go to his right hand and some to his left hand. Some will go onto glory and some will go to the Great White Throne Judgment. But, yes, all roads eventually lead to God regardless.
Isn't it interesting that Christ chose seven statements on the cross? Seven is well known to be the number of completion or perfection. Here's another interesting fact. He suffered six hours on the cross and rested on the seventh. Does this remind you of anything? Say creation? God created for six days and rested on the seventh. A coincidence? I don't think so.
We are going to look at the different angles to this last saying. We are going to see what this saying meant to Christ himself, to the believers and also to the unbelievers. Just like then, the unbelievers are still wagging their heads and taunting him even now.
Luke wrote here that he dismissed his spirit. This was a deliberate act; not accidental. He was not like us, struggling for his last breath on his deathbed. He was doing God's will right to the end.
He always did God's will even at the tender age of 12. The story we read about in Luke 2 recounts the time he's found in the temple by his worried parents only to hear him say "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
Are we doing God's will? Do we say we're too old? Too young? What is God's will for our lives?
Jesus said in John 6:38-40 "For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which sees the Son and believes on him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
God's will is Salvation for us, everlasting life for all that will believe on this side of eternity. For non-believers they go about their work, their own business, no room for God or his will. They have their own will, whatever that may be.
Ps 33:10-11 says: "The Lord brings the counsel of the heathen to nothing; he mkes the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."
Eventually God's counsel will stand, it will be His will, His way. The day will come.
What about the religious folks? Are they doing the will of the Father? Jesus said, "Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt 7:21
They say, yes to God's plan as they hear the sermons, they say yes, yes, then they walk out the door and do their own will, not God's will. These are those with empty words and hearts. Notice he uses the word "says." It's not about a said faith, but all about a faith of action. They may be religious but they are still lost.
He even gives us an example later basically saying the same thing via a parable. It went like this:
"But what do you think? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented and went. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go sir: and went not. Which of the two did the will of his father? They say to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Verily I say to you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Matt 21:28-31.
So what is God's will? We read at the end of Matthew it is to make disciples and teach. We read at the end of Mark it's to preach the gospel. What is that? It's the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We read at the end of Luke God's will is for us to preach repentance and forgiveness. Luke kind of adds a twist. It's ok for some to preach and maybe make a disciple or two but to preach repentence and forgiveness? Now that's hard. Nobody seems to want to hear that.
So this is the ending of the three gospels. So how are you doing? Is this the #1 primary focus in your life? In mine? For a Christian, it should be. It was for Christ. He kept the focus until the day he died. He did God's will right to the end.
More later.
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