Resurrection. Easter is the time when we reflect and celebrate the faith fulfilled and the promise of new life that we were given with Jesus’ death and resurrection. The biggest feast in the Christian faith is often when we think of the cross the most. It signifies the ability of all people, Jew and Gentile, to access the Father in a personal relationship and encounter the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. In the church today, we see the Glory fall and we cry out for revival – a revival that would have never been possible without the cross.
We were given the greatest of all gifts, but the question is: do we really understand and know the true significance of that moment? We think about the story and know the elements, and know that we have salvation because of Jesus. But is the cross in your rearview or is it at the forefront of your daily life?
Have you thought about how the events of the crucifixion have impacted your life? How the cross still resonates with what we go through today? Jesus made seven statements on the cross, and they each impact us and relate to our salvation today.
7 Things Jesus Said on the Cross
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Jesus came to earth to bestow forgiveness upon us. He came to bear our sins and to save the very people who nailed Him to the cross. It is fitting, therefore, that the first statement that Jesus made on the cross was that of forgiveness.
Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Without Jesus, we would not be able to see our salvation. His life was spent so we could be with our Heavenly Father. In the conversion of the thief beside Him, we can see our own salvation as well.
Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother!
In His life, Jesus followed the law. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). In the Jewish culture the mother was to be entrusted to the eldest son, and He was sure to have His mother cared for. The law was something to follow and fulfill, not to be broken. We are judged by following the law of our conscience, or the law of our Lord.
Why Have You Forsaken Me?
On the cross, Jesus cried out, “with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”. This referenced Psalm 22, which prophesied what would happen to Him. “Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced [3] my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Jesus was fulfilling the words of the prophets and was experiencing the separation we deserved as He took on our sins.
I thirst.
The fifth statement from Jesus was “I Thirst”. In John, we read that he was given a soaked sponge of sour wine to drink. This fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 69 “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”.
It is finished.
Jesus’ final words of “It Is Finished” has so many important layers. It signifies the end of His suffering, the defeat of the enemy, and the end of His ministry and reason for being on earth. It is also the moment that the old covenant came to an end and the people were free from sacrifices as He was the final sacrifice.
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
Jesus’ final words before dying were a final Jewish Prayer. His final breath released His spirit willingly as it could not be taken from Him.
Easter is a time we reflect on the Resurrection, but that isn’t the only time we can see the significance in it. In the 7 things Jesus said on the cross, we see that He paid the ultimate price for our sins and failures. Through this sacrifice, He secured our salvation, and this is something that we should reflect on daily.
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