MERCIFUL COMPASSION: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34

This statement manifests the divine love extended toward those who clearly do not deserve forgiveness.  This love was extended to the world in general by the divine Godhead in the sending of the Son to pay the penalty of man’s sin.  There could be no clearer example than the moment that Jesus made this declaration related to those who were guilty of unjustly condemning Him and nailing Him to a shameful cross.

SAVING GRACE: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:43)

Jesus spoke these words to a justly condemned thief and murderer who had recognized his guilt and just condemnation, but who understood who Jesus was and placed his confidence in Jesus to fulfill all that He had promised to those who believe in Him.  There was no possibility of this man gaining any merit from his past life, and his present circumstances only allowed him to simply believe and receive the pardon and hope offered by Jesus Christ.

TENDER CARE: “When Jesus therefore saw his mother…he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27)

There could be not better example of the loving care of the loving Lord and caring Shepherd.  Mary had surrendered her body to give the miraculous birth of the incarnation and dedicated her entire life to serving and caring for Him.  Now in the moment of His suffering and soon departure, Jesus provides the physical care that Mary would need until her departure into eternity.

UNFATHOMABLE SEPARATION: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 14:34)

From the very beginning of the existence of this universe, there has never been such a dramatic and incomprehensible moment.  It is possible for us to understand such a declaration on the human side because, as sinners, we begin our existence separated from a relationship with God.  However, Jesus was not just a man, He was God.  He is the God-Man.  There are two unique facts that mark this moment.  First, Jesus as the perfect man with no sin had never been separated from a perfect relationship with God as all other men are from birth.  This declaration from that man proves that something extraordinary happened to cause that separation.  Secondly, Jesus the Son of God had never been separated from His relationship with the Father.  Their relationship was eternal and perfect.  Although there is no explanation as to how this happened, there is a perfect explanation as to why it happened.  For the penalty of man’s sin to be paid, there had to be a sinless man to become the substitute.  For that substitution to be infinitely available to all of humanity, an infinite person had to participate in the paying of the penalty.  Hence, the perfect sinless Man, Jesus, divinely connected by the eternal infinite Son of God because of the miraculous incarnate birth declared that He was suffering the just condemnation by an infinite separation from God the Father.

HUMAN SUFFERING: “I thirst.”  (John 19:28)

The fourth declaration by Jesus clearly demonstrated the spiritual and divine suffering of Jesus on the cross.  The fifth declaration demonstrated the reality of Jesus’ humanity.  All His life, Jesus proved over and over again that He was a man in every way other than being a sinner.  He was hungry, tired, sorrowful, joyful and touchable.  In these last moments of life, it was necessary to verify His qualification as the substitute by once again proving His humanity.  There have been those who have tried to deny that the Jesus who died on the cross was not a man, but an apparition of some spiritual being.  Because of all the torture that Jesus had suffered, it was only natural for His body would need physical refreshment.  Every brutal slap, every torturous stripe and every scorching moment under the hot sun produced the natural need to quench thirst.  Jesus was the perfect man who paid the price for man’s sin.

REDEMPTION: “It is finished.”  (John 19:30)

No more important words have ever been or ever will be uttered!  Contrary to what some people believe, Jesus was not declaring the end of His life.  He was referring to the end of the work for which He was incarnated.  He took upon Himself the form of a servant being fashioned as a man humbling Himself, and became obedient even unto death, the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7-8).  As a result of His sacrificial death, the punishment for sin was fully paid making sin and death conquered foes.  The resurrection three days after His death, gave proof to the finished work of redemption.  Because of that victory, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Because it is finished there is nothing more that can be done to redeem sinners.  Therefore, to attempt to add personal works, whether moral or religious, to help guarantee the redemption is to reject the perfect work that has already been accomplished.

CONFIDENT EXPECTATION: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”  (Luke 23:46)

With this declaration, Jesus was demonstrating a complete confidence that His work had been finished just as planned by the Triune God and a definite expectation of the results.  If the work of redemption had not been completed, the death of Jesus Christ would have been in vain.  As the omniscient Son of God, He knew that everything had been accomplished.  All that lacked was for Him to suffer the physical death associated with the judgment of sin.  By surrendering His spirit in physical death, there was nothing more to do.  Therefore, with full confidence He gave up His spirit to the Father.  It is important to remember an earlier declaration when He said that no man could take His life, but that He would lay it down (John 10:18).  By giving up His spirit to the Father, the final step of the redemptive plan was completed.  However, it is important to remember that Jesus not only spoke of laying down His life but said that He would take it up again.  When He commended His spirit to the Father, He did so knowing that in three days His spirit would return to the entombed body, and Jesus would rise from the dead.  The resurrection culminated not only the redemptive plan but the provided life of the new creature.  As Paul declared, He became the last Adam, the first fruits of the new and eternal life imparted to all who are in Jesus Christ by faith (1 Corinthians 15:20, 45).  In the same way that Jesus Christ commended His spirit expecting to be raised in resurrection power, those who are in Him can and should have the same confident expectation that the finished work of Jesus Christ guarantees the future resurrection.  Until that moment, the believer can commend his spirit to the Father with same confidence that Jesus Christ had.