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Seven Words, pt 2

It was prophesied of the Messiah that he would be a suffering servant who would be "numbered with the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12).  Yet, in all of this, Isaiah prophesies that it was God's purposes that all of this occur.  That same verse in Isaiah makes it clear:  "for he bore the sin of many".
As Jesus hung upon the cross he spoke seven words/phrases...all of which revealed his character and his purposes.  We looked at the first three in yesterday's blog.  The final four were these:

The 4th words were from Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV) 
45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The saddest part of this whole crucifixion is this - Jesus' abandonment in this whole work by His Father...he was alone.  He had told his disciples that he didn't do anything unless the Father showed him what to do.  His closest relationship was not his disciples, it was His Father.  Yet here the Father "has to" turn his back...the work of the cross, as brutal as it is, must be done.

The 5th words were from John 19:28 (NIV) 
28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
While we recognize the deity of Jesus, and know that only someone perfect before God could be that "lamb that takes away the sins of the world", here we are reminded that Jesus suffered humanly too.

The 6th and 7th words were quickly to follow:  Luke 23:46 (NIV) 
46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
and, John 19:30 (NIV) 
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Which one of these was first is irrelevant.  It is the end...It is all over...and the Savior's work on the cross is done.

It is Good Friday...which when you think about it, doesn't seem very "good".  It is good for us at a terrible cost.  

Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NIV)
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We worship you Lord!

Peace

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