Seven words Jesus spoke on the cross「聖書」ことばの力

The power of words

Jesus was crucified at 9 am and died at 3 pm. He was crucified for 6 hours. I would like to take a look at the seven words that Jesus spoke on the cross in the Bible.

“Christ on the Cross”, a masterpiece of Giotto di Bondone, the greatest master of Italian painting in the 14th century

1. Forgiveness

” Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing ” (Luke 23:34).　

Looking at the Bible, we can see that two criminals were crucified to the right and left with Jesus in the middle (Luke 23: 32, 33). The people on the road, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders were also mocking Jesus, at first these two robbers were also mocking Jesus (Luke 23:39). However, despite being in an extreme state, Jesus prayed for his enemies by saying, “Please forgive them,” full of love and mercy, rather than words of curse, resentment, or hatred.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, ” Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute” (Matthew 5:44). The crowd must have thought that it was impossible. .. But Jesus did what he said by himself in extreme conditions. Through teaching and personality, deeds, Jesus proved himself to be the Savior.

One criminal who heard this word of “forgiveness” and prayer was moved and changed his mind. He noticed his true form and the true form of Jesus, and his eyes were opened. Say to another criminal who continued to curse Jesus. ” Are you not afraid of God? It is natural because we are rewarded for what we have done, but he is not doing anything wrong.” (Luke 23: 40,41) He confessed his innocence and evaluated Jesus correctly.

But the other criminal remained the same until the end. Despite being close to Jesus and hearing Jesus’ prayers and words, the results were completely different. A person who is guilty cannot forgive their sins. Only innocent person can forgive their sins. This criminal received forgiveness of sins through Jesus, the only one who did not sin.

2. Salvation

” You are in paradise with me today. ” (Luke 23:43)　　

The criminal who received the forgiveness of sin said to Jesus. ” Jesus, remember me when you enter the kingdom. ” (Luke 23:42) Jesus said to it. ” Truly, I tell you. ” (Verse 43) It means that this is a clear guarantee, that it will happen for sure. ” You are in paradise with me today. “

Heaven is a holy country. We cannot enter if we are guilty. For example, let’s say we commit three sins a day (very underestimated). It is 1,095 times 365 days a year. If we have 80 years of life, we will be guilty of 87,600 times. We human beings who are guilty of so many sins are so unclean that no one can enter heaven. If we are not caught by the police, we may not be called a sinner in Japan. However, since human beings were created by God, they must obey God’s law. God’s law is the Bible. None of us humans can reach the standards of God. Because God is holy, the standards are high, people are unclean, and the heart is wicked.

Heaven is the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God. So we need a passport. A passport is a must for traveling abroad to enter another country. We don’t have to forget everything else or nothing else, all we need is our passport to enter the country. However, no matter what else we have, we cannot enter the country without our passport. No matter how much we tell customs about our achievements or claim that we are eligible to enter the country, we cannot enter without a passport.

Please note that the passport must be issued by the country. The counterfeit passports we create (good deeds, religion, philosophy, morals, honor, status, educational background, titles, property, etc.) are of no use at that time. Similarly, we will be asked by an angel at heavenly customs. “Show me your passport.” The Bible teaches that the passport to heaven is Jesus Christ. Jesus said. ” I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can go to the Father without me ” (John 14: 6).

The criminal on this cross received forgiveness of sins before God. He died on the cross after this, so he had no chance of doing good deeds as a sinner. However, he was acquitted before God by Jesus and was able to enter heaven as a holy person. He was saved by the grace of God. Of course, he had to be rewarded for being guilty as a sinner on this earth.

3. love

” Look, woman, your son. ” (John 19:26) ” Look, your mother. ” (John 19:27)

Mary saw her son Jesus crucified and her heart was pierced with a sword. This was the fulfillment of the prophecy that Simeon spoke (Luke 2:35). Jesus entrusts Mary to his beloved disciple John, thinking of his mother after his death. Jesus said to his mother Mary, “You will lose your son, but John will be your son instead of me.” John took over his mother Mary after Jesus died on the cross (John 19:27) . We see here the love of Jesus for his mother Mary.

4. distress

” My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ” (Matthew 27:46)

At noon, the whole earth became dark and continued until 3:00 pm. We feel that God’s judgment occur. Around 3 pm, Jesus shouted, ” My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ” This is taken from David’s song in Psalm 22: 1. The suffering of the soul, the cry of suffering that has been cut off from God and completely separated from God.

Why did Jesus shout like this? Because Jesus was judged by God in place of the sins of mankind. Until now, Jesus was praying “Father”, but here he could not pray “Father”. At this time, Jesus was crucified as a sinner who was completely abandoned by God. He was crucified as a cursed person.

Since it is the sin of all mankind of all ages, how many felony Jesus was on the cross? Jesus was judged and abandoned by God. In a place where we were originally criminals and completely disconnected from God, Jesus shouted instead so that we would not have to make this cry. As it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:21. God has sinned for us the one who does not know sin (Jesus). That is because we are in this person (Jesus) and become the righteousness of God. 　Our position is exchanged by Jesus.

On the cross, both Jesus and God the Father were in pain and suffering. Jesus suffered from the pain and death of the cross and the loneliness abandoned by God and man. I think God the Father suffered a loss that could not be saved by judging, abandoning, and intervening in his son Jesus. How much was the suffering and pain of God the Father at this time? The suffering of losing a child will be unimaginable. But for the salvation of mankind, God did not intervene when he heard Jesus’ cry of sorrow. We can see God’s love here.

5. pain

” I am thirsty. ” (John 19:28)

“Why did you abandon me?” show the suffering of Jesus’ soul. On the other hand, “I am thirsty” represents the physical pain of Jesus. God is the one who can destroy both the soul and the body with Gehenna, because the pain of the law affects both the mind and the body.

Jesus took our place. Originally we can’t enter heaven because of our sins and are thirsty in hell (a pond of fire and sulfur) and we must say, “I’m thirsty. Give me water.” But Jesus said this word for us. So that we don’t have to experience.

6. victory

” It is finished. ” (John 19:30)

This is a cry of victory. The Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled and the debt of sin has been paid. Sin and punishment, curse and death, the power of the devil was shattered and destroyed. The work of salvation has been completed. “It is finished” means that the sin is over, the punishment for sin is over, the curse is over, and death is over! The devil was overthrown. We have been released. Salvation was completed and complete salvation was given.

Jesus’ earthly work and mission have been fully fulfilled. Religion and morality go from bottom to top and seek to be recognized by God. No matter how hard we try, we cannot reach God’s salvation. Because human being are imperfect. Therefore, Jesus, the God, came down from top to bottom. This is the Christmas message. Jesus, the God, came to this earth as a human baby (incarnation). Salvation is a one-sided grace by God. There is no achievement for us. The salvation is already complete. Just receiving the salvation offered like that robber were forgiven his sins and pave the way for heaven. We too can be overwhelming victors through Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:57).

7. Satisfaction

” Father, I put my spirit in your hands. ” (Luke 23:46)

No matter how painful or seemingly God was absent, Jesus absolutely trusted God the Father. It was also prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. ” Father, if you are willing , take this cup away from me, but may it be your will, not my wish. ” (Luke 22:42) 　Jesus did the will of God to the end. He entrusted everything to God, surrendered, and died (Luke 23:46).

God’s plan is big and deep. We tend to be short-sighted, and we immediate future fills our heads. But God has a long-term view of our lives. “Like the heavens are higher than the earth, my way is higher than your way, and my thoughts are higher than yours ” (Isaiah 55: 9). That’s right. “I believe in God that he works and benefits everything, and I am fortunate to have a life that is completely surrendered to God.” Such a person will be able to live his or her life in peace, not in anxiety, and will be able to live his or her life with peace of mind and satisfaction.

* Jesus was able to avoid the cross and escape from the cross, but he volunteered to hang it on the cross. It is to tear the body on the cross, shed blood, and achieve redemption (salvation) in place of the sins of mankind. We can see God’s love here.