A Short
Passover/Easter Meditation
Just as at
Yet the 4 Gospels together
present a flawless tapestry of witness to the glory of Jesus Christ,
each
writer like a string player in quartet contributing a sweet theme to
the whole.
Here are the seven priceless
jewels which fell from the Messiah’s lips as he died. How important His
last
words are, simple, terse, but each extraordinarily profound.
1.
“Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do” Luke 23.34
Words
spoken in the fire of suffering
often unmask our inner thoughts. Here in the white hot furnace of
agony,
Christ’s reveal His kindness and goodness. Meekness is often mistaken
for
weakness, but which saint or prophet ever showed strength like this?
Even at
the execution of violent hatred, with nails driven into his limbs, not
afterwards or on reflection, even then, Jesus shows unique dignity by
praying
for mercy for His haters.
This
first word like a headline exhibits
the character of the cross – a priestly work, intercession for the
undeserving
and the hateful, mercy for God’s bitterest enemies.
2.
“Woman, behold thy
son!”....,“Behold thy mother!” John 19.25-6
How
horribly real now were old Simeon’s words about the infant to Mary, ‘a
sword
will pierce your own soul’ (Lk.2.35). With
what
tenderness Jesus entrusts His dear mother, not to His still unbelieving
brothers (Jn.7.5, Ps.69.8), but to His beloved disciple, whom He knew
would
best pour consolation and kindness into her wounded heart.
3.
“Verily I say to you,
To day you shall be with me in paradise”.
Luke 23.43
One
guilty thief knew he thoroughly deserved death, but what amazing
insight
changed him from just another scoffer to a loyal subject of the
Crucified, as
he intensely watched Jesus’ extraordinary behaviour. How much more
surprised he
is to hear an immediate, emphatic declaration of pardon and of glory -
verily
is ‘Amen’ in the original. Here is the Gospel’s full glory- free mercy
and
grace even to a vile sinner who repents.
4.
“My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me?” Matt. 27.46, Mark 15.34
Three facts emphasise the importance of this climactic
cry: it is the only saying quoted by both Matthew and Mark, it is the
only one
to occur in more than one in Gospel, it only is given in Jesus’ heart
language,
Aramaic, then translated.
What is the meaning
of this mysterious wail? Even the Omniscient Son
cries, ‘Why?’
Here is the heart of
the cross – sinless Jesus made sin for sinners that
they might be made sinless in Him. The cross is a substitution of
forsaken
sin-bearer for His people, the true Scapegoat, the innocent Passover
Lamb slain
for redemption from our sin’s cursedness.
King David wrote 1000
years before, seeing the scene by the Spirit of
prophecy, Psalm 22.1.
5.
“I thirst” John 19.28
Fully
man, fully God, Jesus began His ministry with intense hunger and ended
with
intense thirst. He has tasted all our
woes and frailties to the dregs!
6.
“It is finished!” John 19.30
Hear
His final triumph cry, given in a loud voice. His work is perfect and
all our
spiritual barrenness and famine
is met in Christ and Him alone. Now,
as one holy prophet saw 700 years before, He will see the fruit of the
travail
of His soul and be satisfied (Isaiah 53.11).
7.
“Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit”. Luke 23.46
Face to face with the
last enemy, death, Jesus ‘deposits’ His life and
spirit in the Father’s hands with peace. No terror of judgement
or of Hell for Him, for sin has no foothold
for
accusation at all in Him.
Who else is worthy to hold the
keys of death
and Hell?
Seek the Messiah and find peace with God in His wounds, by the free
gift of His life.
Ministry of God's Word
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