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REFLECTION

The seven words of Jesus on the Cross are the final words uttered by Jesus on the Cross during His dying moment. These words were captured by synoptic Gospels.

REFLECTION.

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Forgiveness is one of the most challenging instructions in Jesus’ teachings. How do you forgive someone who has deliberately hurt you? Jesus teaches us that “when you stand praying if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25) Again, forgiveness must be found in the expression of love for our enemies, Jesus teaches us to “… love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45) Forgiveness is at the centre of Jesus’ mission and teaching. Our salvation and faith are incomplete without the forgiveness of God. Similarly, our relationship with others and our reconciliation with our fellow human beings are incomplete without forgiveness. How can we forgive and who is our perfect example to follow in becoming believers who can forgive, thereby fulfilling the will of God? Jesus is our perfect example of forgiveness. He demonstrated the greatest example and act of forgiveness when He said on the cross “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Dear friend, Jesus forgave his enemies while he was still in pain and dying on the cross. Most of us think that we are required to forgive those who have wronged or hurt us only at a time when we are no longer in pain or at a time when we are a bit relieved. Jesus demonstrated to us that even in our pain or agony those who have wronged us deserve our forgiveness. It is indeed difficult to sometimes forgive those who have hurt you but you must remember that Jesus has taught us to say “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Forgiveness is about doing the will of God and not our will. Easter reminds us of Jesus’ act of forgiveness that saved the world. This love which is manifested in the act of forgiveness must compel us to pray “Forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12). Easter offers us another opportunity to forgive and reconcile with those who have wronged us or hurt us in the past and present. Jesus is asking you to forgive them “for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Truly, those who do not know Jesus will be under the bondage of sin or evil. We are to consider them as ignorant and lost because they do know the truth. Jesus reminds us that “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32). Those who deliberately plot evil against us or seek to do us harm are not disciples of Christ but enemies of the truth and are certainly in the bondage of sin. To wish them destruction will constitute double agony, therefore, Jesus teaches us to forgive them.

Forgiveness does not mean that the offender has repented. It means you no longer have any grudge or resentment against the offender while asking God to heal you emotionally and to grant you grace and peace to do His will even in your pain or agony. We are greatly encouraged by Paul’s admonishment to the Romans, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit heal us and strengthen us to forgive anyone who has wronged us or caused us unbearable pain. May the Holy Spirit empower us to seek forgiveness and reconciliation wherever we find ourselves as believers so that our discipleship will be impactful and pleasing to God. Amen

2. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

In the dying moment of the robbers who were crucified on the cross together with Jesus, one produced the fruit of repentance and asked for mercy. Consequently, He was assured salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43. Jesus proved on the cross that God does not delight in the death of the wicked or sinners “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” (Ezekiel 33:11). This is a confirmation that salvation is for the repentant person. Truly, Jesus “…came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). It is for this reason, He commissioned us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20) Easter is about preaching the Good News to the world so that the lost and the perishing can turn to Jesus and be assured of His salvation. We are not to condemn anyone or give up on anyone. Paul wrote that ” I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:22-23). Like the criminal on the cross, there are many lost souls out there who yearn for an opportunity to repent and be saved. We must be ready to embrace and guide them to live the transformed life. We are greatly encouraged by the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 that God is merciful and will always welcome us home, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17) Paul who used to persecute Christians later confirmed the fact that Christ is merciful to the repentant sinner when he wrote that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16) Like the criminal who prayed for mercy on the cross, we also have an opportunity to repent, ask forgiveness, have faith in Jesus and be saved. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) For those of us who have repented and continue to seek for His mercy, Jesus has assured us that “…today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, grant us a repentant heart so that we may receive the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus and be partakers in His paradise.

3. “Woman, here is your son,” (John 19:26)

Jesus’ crucifixion was an agonising moment for his mother. His mother was with him every step of the way to the cross. She felt lonely and traumatised. Jesus ensured that the mother was comforted and taken care of in His absence. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27) Jesus even in His most challenging moments teaches us the importance of family. Jesus did not neglect his mother but made provision for her safety. Our parents and for that matter, the family is a gift from God to humanity. The family is the basic unit of emotional, physical and financial support. Just as Jesus tasked the disciple with the responsibility of taking care of His mother, we are also to remember and take care of our parents and family, not only in times of abundance but also in times of agony and challenges. Easter is another opportunity for us to reconnect with family. Children must check up on their parents even as parents also do the same for their children. In the Twenty-first century, rural-urban migration coupled with the demands of work has made it difficult for aged parents to receive the needed emotional support and attention from their children. Some children do well to send remittances but hardly do they make time to be physically present with their parents or even call them often on the phone. We have become so busy with the demands of work and other social responsibilities to the extent that our parents and loved ones are neglected. Jesus, while suffering on the cross and at the point of death still remembered the mother and made provision for her. How often do we care for our aged parents or relatives? How often do we make time in our challenges or busy schedules to demonstrate our love and care for them? Family is important and must be given the necessary attention. Let us remember our parents and honour them while they are still alive. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12) We are again admonished in Proverbs 23:22 to “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Moses reminds us about the seriousness of neglecting one’s parent when he wrote that “Cursed is anyone who dishonours their father or mother.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (Deuteronomy 27:16). Let us take advantage of Easter to reconnect and reconcile with our parents and other family members, for it please the Lord. Jesus is our perfect example in showing love and care for family.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, help us to follow your perfect example of familial love and care. May our faith be made complete through the care we give to our parents and for that matter the family we belong to even in our challenging moments.

4. “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Mark 15:34)

Have you ever felt lonely and helpless, especially, during a period of agony and grief? Jesus experienced loneliness on the cross. Through Jesus’ loneliness and rejection on the cross, we truly come to understand His sacrifice, in that, God sacrificed Him as ransom so that we shall be saved from sin and condemnation. In the process, Jesus felt separation from the Father and we became reconciled to Him. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Dear friend, there are times we feel lonely in life and have no one to turn to, especially in challenging times. We are greatly encouraged to turn to Jesus because He perfectly understands our situation and will give us eternal comfort and companionship. He experienced loneliness and rejection on the cross so that those who believe in Him will benefit from His peace and ever-sufficient presence. It is for this reason, Jesus assures us that “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) A believer who sometimes contemplates suicide must understand that he or she is not alone in his or her struggles. Jesus is always with us and has invited us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). Again, Jesus has made provision for us to feel secure and to be rest assured that we are not alone in our walk of faith. Jesus says, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17). Beloved in Lord, fear and disappointments may make you feel lonely and estranged from the Lord, but faith gives us the confidence that we are not alone and that Jesus is always with us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, in our challenging moment, may we be comforted through Your Word and Your Sacrifice on the Cross that you are with us to the end of the age. May we remain comforted through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and may we never give up but put our trust in you for our redemption. Amen.

5. “I am thirsty.” John 19:28

Jesus became physically thirsty so that Spiritually we may drink His living water. Without His sacrifice of being tortured and denied water, we will not be beneficiaries of His Living water. “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (John 7:37-38). Again, Jesus assure us when He said to the Samaritan women “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14). This water is still available to those who are still beyond the walls of salvation, let us drink the living water Jesus gives us free of charge through repentance and faith so that Spiritually we shall never be thirsty.

PRAYER

Thank You Jesus for offering yourself to become thirsty on the cross so that we will have access to Your Living water. May we continually be filled with your Living water and go out there to share it with those who are spiritually thirsty and dying. Amen.

6. “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Jesus has completed His sacrifice or atonement for our redemption hence “It is finished” (John 19:30). The hostility between humanity and God has ended, and humanity was reconciled to God through His suffering and death on the cross. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). If indeed Christ finished His work of salvation in us then we must end all quarrel, hostility, bitterness, anger, envy and all manner of fleshly desires and addictions. It is for, this reason, we are greatly admonished by Paul when he wrote, “…I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2). Beloved in the Lord because Jesus has fulfilled the requirement of our salvation on the cross, we are truly forgiven, revived and renewed. We must therefore say with Paul that “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20). In other words, we are no longer slaves to sin because through the Cross we have conquered sin and death and have become children of God. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:16-17)

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for finishing your work of salvation in us through the Cross. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to live a victorious life to the glory of your Holy Name.

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

Jesus died willingly and victoriously on the Cross so that we shall be saved. It is, for this reason, He said “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11). Jesus laid down His life on the Cross for the salvation of many who will repent and believe in Him. Because Jesus willingly and victoriously died on the Cross, we have triumphed over death. “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”… thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55,57). We now have the confidence and assurance of Eternal life as long as we live for Christ for the rest of our lives on earth, Paul assures us that “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) It was for this reason that the repentant criminal asked Jesus to remember him in His Kingdom and He assured him “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43).

The cross also reminds believers who suffer or are persecuted on account of Jesus that suffering and death are not the end of our spiritual and discipleship journey, for they are the doors to a greater reward. Jesus assures us that “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12). It is with this assurance “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59-60). Dear friend, Jesus’ victory on the Cross has made us fearless and confident of our salvation through suffering on His account. Paul was confident of His salvation and victory by following the example of Christ in suffering, therefore, He wrote to encourage young Timothy that “I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Jesus has given us the assurance that when we have faith in Him and follow Him all the days of our lives and have come to the end of our journey on earth we should also say with the hope of the resurrection that “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46. A Christian or a believer’s death is victorious because it ushers him or her into the hands of our Maker.

PRAYER (The Hymn “Take my life and let it be” Stanza 1)

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

Amen