THE LAST THING JESUS SAID ON THE CROSS
Text: Lk 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.
Introduction:
1. You are not really prepared to live unless you are prepared to die.
2. Death is going to come… Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
3. Only God knows the hour..
4. The Seventh saying from the Cross tells us about death and how Christ died. Lk 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.
5. Four key statements I want to make.
I. He Died Actually II. He Died Confidently.
III. He Died Willingly. IV. He Died Victoriously.
I) HE DIED ACTUALLY.
A) HIS DEATH WAS NOT AN ILLUSION.
1) The Lord Jesus Christ Had A Real Body.
(a) He experienced all the sinless infirmities of human nature.
(b) Suffered more than any man suffered
2) Jesus knew what it was to grow up.
(a) To eat like anyone else.
(b) To drink like anyone else.
(c) To sleep like anyone else.
(d) To grow weary like anyone else.
B) THE OFFICIALS CHECKED CAREFULLY TO BE SURE THAT JESUS HAD DIED.
1) Soldiers who came to look at the bodies found Jesus had died. Jn 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
2) To obtain custody of the body for burial
(a) Joseph & Nichodemus check with Pilate
(b) Pilate marveled Jesus was so soon dead
C) HE DID NOT SWOON ON THE CROSS.
1) Many Liberal Theologians believe this..
2) They think a cool tomb revived Him.
3) The Lord Jesus DIED ACTUALLY…
D) THE WORD "DEATH" IS APPLIED TO BELIEVERS INFREQUENTLY.
1) 1 Thes 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died & rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him
2) Jesus Died it wasn’t sleep It Was DEATH
3) Christ confronted last enemy - DEATH.
(a) He faced its Sorrow
(b) He faced its Pain
(c) He faced its Agony.
(d) And Finally He ACTUALLY DIED.
II) HE ALSO DIED CONFIDENT Not Only Died Actually - But Also Confident. Father, into thy hands I Commend My Spirit
A) LOOK AT THE FATHERS PRESENCE.
1) He died confident because He was in the Fathers Presence.
2) On the Cross Jesus said "FATHER" two times He only said "MY GOD" Once.
(a) First words FATHER FORGIVE THEM
(b) Middle Cross saying MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME
(c) Seventh Saying "FATHER INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT."
3) At the beginning - In the middle - At the end Jesus prayed…
4) Father was often on our Lord's lips…
(a) At 12 years old "I MUST BE UP AND ABOUT MY FATHERS BUSINESS."
(b) Sermon On The Mount Jesus Used The Word "FATHER" more than 15 times.
(c) In the upper room discourse He spoke of "FATHER" Many Times.
(d) He Died Confidently knowing He had the Fathers Presence.
B) LOOK AT THE FATHERS PROMISE.
1) Jesus quoted part of Psalm 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
(a) O.T. Promise Jesus applied to Himself
(b) He added the word "FATHER."
(c) Left out words about being redeemed.
2) All 3 of Christ prayers are Scriptural.
(a) "Father Forgive Them" Was Fulfilled Isa 53:12 He hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
(b) "MY GOD, MY GOD." Fulfilled Psalm 22
(c) "Father Into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit Fulfilled in Psalm 31:5
3) If you live by God's word - You CAN die by it
(a) Died Confidently in Fathers Presence.
(b) Died Confidently in Fathers Promise.
C) THE FATHERS PROTECTION. INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT
1) He Told the Disciples. I'm Going To Be Delivered Into The Hands Of Sinners
2) The Hands Of Sinners…
(a) Beat Him.
(b) Stripped Him..
(c) Put A Crown Of Thorns On His Head.
(d) Nailed Him To A Cross.
3) At The Conclusion Of His Work, Jesus Is No Longer In The Hands Of Sinners.
4) He Is In The Hands Of God…
(a) Psa 31:8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy:
(b) Psa 31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, & from them that persecute me
( I. He Died Actually. )
( II. He Died Confident. )
III) HE DIED WILLINGLY.
A) IN ONE SENSE OUR LORD WAS KILLED
1) Peter Said in Acts Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel & foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
B) ANOTHER SENSE HE WAS NOT KILLED
1) He Died Willingly.
2) Jn 10:17-18 I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
C) NOTHING EVER DIED WILLINGLY AS A SACRIFICE
1) Not A Lamb - Not A Dove - Not Anything
2) But JESUS DIED WILLINGLY.
D) JESUS BEFORE LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE.
1) Forgave enemies Father Forgive Them
2) Gave Salvation To A Dying Thief..
3) Cared For His Mother…
4) Finished The Work God Gave Him To Do.
E) SOME THINGS YOU AND I OUGHT TO DO
1) Forgive Our Enemies.
2) Come To Death Having Shared Salvation
3) Be Faithful Caring For Those In Need.
4) Surrender To God's Will
( I. He Died Actually. )
( II. He Died Confidently. )
( III. He Died Willingly. )
IV) FINALLY HE DIED VICTORIOUSLY. “Father Into Thy Hands I Commenr My Spirit”
A) JESUS ACCOMPLISHED GOD'S WORK.
B) VEIL OF TEMPLE TORE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM
1) God opened the way into Holy of Holies.
2) The Graves were opened.
3) The Saints were resurrected.
4) Jesus Proved Himself Victorious…Over Sin - Death - Over The Power Of Satan.
C) AN EARTHQUAKE SHOOK…
1) Like the earthquake at Mount Sinai At The Giving Of The Law.
2) Did Not Announce The Terror Of The Law
3) It Made A Greater Announcement.
D) JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR SINNERS.
1) He Died Actually.
2) He Died Willingly.
3) He Died Victoriously
4) He didn’t die for His own sin…
5) He died for the sins of the whole world.
(a) Someday you to will die.
(b) People die the way the live…
(c) Don’t trample with eternity.
E) YOU TOO CAN DIE CONFIDENT.
1) With assurance that you are going to The Fathers House.
2) With the promise of God's Word.
(a) Promises to give you GRACE.
(b) Promises To Give You STRENGTH.
(c) Promises To Give You COMFORT.
3) You Can Die In The Safest Place In the Universe. - In The Hand Of God.
4) Jn 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: