last words...part two.

On Tuesday, I read three places in Scripture that had some of Jesus’ last words.  In each of those instances, he focused on the needs of others.  Today, some of the words he uttered in his last days show his vulnerable side.  It is evidence as him being fully human, fully God. 

Mark 15:34 records Jesus saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  For Jesus’ perfect sacrifice to be complete, God had to abandon the Son.  These words remind us that of the agony that Christ faced on the cross because of the wrath he had to face to take our sins upon him.  This is sacrifice…Jesus died for our sake, not his.  Because he faced that abandonment, we will never have to.  He is with us until the very end of the age!

John 19:28 says “I thirst.” 

These words of Jesus remind us that again he had a human side.  He did all the things that we had to do…including drink water.  Though he was the Living Water, he still felt everyting that came at him that week.  Whips, nails, and the weight of the cross.  He even felt thirst.

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  Luke 23:46

Jesus is completely surrendering to God.  He realizes that the ultimate sacrifice must be done and commits to God’s will.  He knew that God’s plan is perfect in every way.  So, he surrendered his will completely to God.

“It is Finished” John 19:30

In these words, Jesus spoke into every believers’ heart past, present, and future.  He simply said, “It is Finished”.  These must have been powerful words because at that same time, the mighty temple curtain, which separated God from man was torn in two.  This curtain was more like a barrier than what we think of as a curtain.  It was thick.  But, when Christ uttered these words, salvation was spoken into the hearts of all those that believe that Christ died and rose.  Jesus conquered death…the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God is complete.  Salvation has come to all who believe.

Here is our lesson for today:  Christ came and suffered a grueling death.  God took the form of one man, lived a sinless life, and bore the sins of all who believe triumphing over sin and Satan.  Are you praising God this Easter season for the salvation that Jesus brought?  We should have such an immense gratitude that worship is a natural flowing from our heart.