Sermon #14621 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: Our Savior’s Last Words
Text: Romans 15:4 (Luke 23:34)
Reading: Matthew 27:27-56
Subject: The Message of Our Lord’s Seven Sayings
Date: Sunday Morning – July 1, 2001
Tape # W-50a
Introduction:
Romans 10:13-17 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
2. "THAT WE THROUGH PATIENCE" -- The Word of God was written to teach us patience.Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
I have not yet found a more needful or a more difficult thing to learn and acquire than patience. But we must learn to "wait on the Lord" for...Note: This business of preaching the gospel, this thing called the church and kingdom of God is not a business. We do not make things happen. We wait for things to happen. We wait for God to do his work. We sow the seed and wait. We cast our bread upon the waters and wait. We pray and wait. "He that believeth shall not make haste" (Isa. 28:16).
3. "AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES" -- This blessed Book was written for our comfort. The children’s Bread is the Bible. This is the Source of all comfort for the believing heart. All the doctrines, promises, and revelations of this Book are written to minister comfort to our hearts in this world. Our great and glorious God, our heavenly Father delights in comforting his children. That is why he sent his Spirit into our hearts. He is our Comforter. This Book is his Word of Comfort.John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Hebrews 13:5-6 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
It is my responsibility as a gospel preacher to minister comfort to God’s elect.Isaiah 40:1-2 - "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. (2) Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins."
When your heart is heavy and your soul is troubled, do not neglect your God-given Source of comfort.
What is the basis of this hope? How can sinful men and women like us face the holy Lord God and eternity with confident hope? Our hope is Jesus Christ himself (1 Tim. 1:1). And our hope in Christ is based upon the Word of God.
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
This is the purpose of Holy Scripture. All that is written in the Book of God has been "written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." [Psalms 119:49-50] "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. [50] This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." [Psalms 119:74] "They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word." [Psalms 119:81] "My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word." [Psalms 119:114] "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." [Psalms 119:147] "I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word." In this Volume of Inspiration the Holy Spirit has taken very special care to record for us each of those things that were spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ, as he hung upon the cross suffering the wrath of God as our Substitute, to put away our sins. As you know, there were seven things spoken by our Redeemer from the cross.The horrid load of all my guilt
Was on my Savior laid;
When He who did and knew no sin
For sinners sin was made.
Enduring all God’s wrath in death,
My Savior prayed for me;
In love He took my place and died
Upon the cursed the tree.
Oh love amazing! Love beyond
The reach of mortal tongue;
This love shall be the subject of
My everlasting song.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die!
Proposition: In these seven words from the cross I see the glorious Person, work, and offices of our Lord Jesus Christ beautifully demonstrated.
I. The first word from the cross is found in Luke 23:34. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Here I see CHRIST OUR MEDIATOR.Illustration: Peter - "I have prayed for thee!"
1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
II. The second word is found in Luke 23:43. "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Here I see CHRIST OUR KING."Come, humble sinner, in whose breast
A thousand thoughts revolve,
Come with your guilt and fear oppressed,
And make this last resolve
‘I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin
Hath like a mountain rose;
I know His courts I’ll enter in,
Whatever may oppose.
Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne,
And there my guilt confess;
I’ll tell Him I’m a wretch undone,
Without His sovereign grace.
I’ll to the gracious King approach,
Whose scepter pardon gives;
Perhaps He may command my touch,
And then the suppliant lives!
Perhaps He will admit my plea,
Perhaps will hear my prayer;
But if I perish, I will pray,
And perish only there.
I can but perish if I go,
I am resolved to try;
For if I stay away, I know,
I must forever die.
But, if I die with mercy sought,
When I the King have tried,
This were to die (Delightful thought!)
As sinner never died.’"
Edmund Jones
1 Peter 3:22 "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."
John 5:20-21 "For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. (21) For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will."
John 17:2 "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."
III. The third word spoken by our Lord as he hung upon the cross is found in John 19:26-27. "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." Here I see CHRIST OUR REPRESENTATIVE AND EXAMPLE.Even in the agonies of death, under the penalty of sin, enduring the wrath of God, fulfilling the everlasting covenant, accomplishing eternal redemption for us, and satisfying the divine justice, our Lord Jesus Christ did not neglect the responsibilities of manhood! Our Savior, as our Representative and Example, deliberately gave attention to his responsibilities as a man, even in the time of his dying agony. He fulfilled all righteousness! He did everything that it is right for a man to do.
Our Lord Jesus was "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law."
A. He fulfilled all righteousness as our legal Representative.Romans 5:19 "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
B. He fulfilled all righteousness as our Example of Righteousness. [John 13:13-15] "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." C. If you would learn how to live in this world for the glory of God, if you would learn how to serve your generation, if you would learn how to worship God, go to Calvary. – Behold the Lamb of God and learn…Martin Luther, after studying and meditating upon this text for hours, closed his Bible, slammed his fists down on his desk and cried, "God forsaken of God! My God, no man can understand that!"
I will not attempt to explain what no man can understand. But I rejoice in the fact of this our Substitute’s greatest sorrow. He was forsaken of God. That means all for whom he died shall never be forsaken of God! [Isaiah 53:9-11] "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. [11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." [John 3:14-16] "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." [Romans 5:6-8] "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. [8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." [2 Corinthians 5:20-21] "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." [1 Peter 2:24-25] "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." [1 Peter 3:18] "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" [1 John 4:9-10] "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." A. What an infinitely, horribly evil thing sin must be! B. How holy, just, righteous and good our God must be! C. O my soul, how great, how infinitely great is the love of God for me!C. Heart Thirst – The Lord of Glory was made to be sin, made to endure all the horror of God’s holy, unmitigated wrath, because he thirsted for the souls of men. He thirsted for his people! He thirsted to be thirsted after! When I hear the Master cry, "I thirst," I can almost hear his heart crying, "I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory."
VI. Stay here in John 19. Read verses 28-30 again. -- "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. [29] Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. [30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." Here, in this sixth word from the cross, as I hear the Immanuel cry, "It is finished," I see Christ our Surety.
"It is finished!" – What a blessed, triumphant word! Our blessed Savior was not crying a sigh of relief. He was not saying, "At last, it is over." Oh, no! Most men leave this word with things unfinished. -- So many plans unfinished! – So many hopes unfulfilled! – So many desires unsatisfied! – So many works incomplete! So many things they wanted to do, or see, or experience, unfinished! – No so with the Lord Jesus Christ, our great Surety! He accomplished everything he came here to do.
A. What did he come here to do?C. This is the cry of our great Surety to pour, needy sinners! -- "It is finished!"
"It is finished!" Sinners, hear it:
Hear the dying Savior’s cry;
"It is finished!" Angels Sing it,
Sing the praise of Christ on high.
"It is finished!" -- "It is finished!"
Tell it through the earth and sky!
Justice now demands salvation
For those souls whose wrath Christ bore;
And it smiles with approbation
On the ransomed evermore!
Grace and mercy, grace and mercy
Freely flow from boundless stores.
Hear the Son of God declare it,
All is done He came to do!
Needy sinners, Hear, believe it. –
Is not this good news to you? --
"It is finished!" "It is finished!"
All is done! Oh, yes, it’s true!
"It is finished!" All is over.
Jesus drank damnation dry!
Never can a ransomed sinner
God’s salvation be denied!
"It is finished!" "It is finished!"
Cries our Sur’ty now on High!
Who is he that shall condemn us?
Who shall charge us now with sin?
It is God who justified us
Christ, Who died, cries in our name, --
"It is finished!" "It is finished!"
Praised forever be His name!
VII. The Savior’s last word from the cross is found in Luke 23:46 -- "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." – Here I see Christ our Sabbath.
Once our great Redeemer had finished his work, he "cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Thus he entered into his rest and obtained eternal rest for us. [Hebrews 4:9-11] "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. [10] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." A. Our Savior died with the Word of God in his heart and on his lips (Ps. 31:5). [Psalms 31:1-5] "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. [2] Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. [3] For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. [4] Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. [5] Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth." B. Notice, here, our Savior who had cried, "My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me?" now calls his Father by that endearing name, "Father." The storm of God’s holy wrath beat fiercely upon his holy soul; but now the storm is nearly over. Only one thing is to be done. He must yet die; but here he seems to say to poor, needy sinners, "Look here. Look unto me. Behold, now reconciliation is made. Anger is turned away. Judgment is gone!" [Isaiah 12] "And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. [2] Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. [3] Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. [4] And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. [5] Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. [6] Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." C. Our blessed Savior committed his spirit into his Father’s hands, not Satan’s.Some vainly imagine that the Lord Jesus was now taken to hell to be tormented of the devil for three days. Not so (Heb. 9:12). He owed Satan nothing! Here he conquered the fiend of hell forever! He committed his spirit into his Father’s hands, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps.
[1 Peter 2:22-24] "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." C. At last, in sovereign majesty, "he gave up the ghost," he dismissed his spirit.