Hello and welcome back to Cultivating Growth. We want to thank everyone for joining us this week. We're beginning a new topic for the month. We're gonna be talking about the seven statements that Jesus makes while on the cross, and we're gonna look at. Each of the four gospels and how they record the statements that Jesus makes.

And we're gonna talk about the meaning behind each of those over the next few weeks. So with that, let's get right to it.

Well, John, you made mention that this month we're gonna spend some time talking about the statements that Jesus makes from the cross. You made mention already that there are. Really seven statements that are made, and I think in a lot of ways that can be categorized kind of as five outright statements.

And he's kind of involved in two conversations. Yeah. Uh, that kind of, uh, you know, come to be, we're gonna do our, our best. I. Within some parameters to go in some sort of order. It, it is difficult to put a exact chronological order 'cause you need all four gospels to, to find these seven statements. But you do have a pretty good idea about some of the statements that are made at the beginning of this time of the cross and certainly, uh, the statements that are made at the very end mm-hmm.

Of his cross. And I thought it would be good for us to kind of start with, you know, kind of maybe, you know, the reason why. A study like this is important. There's a reality. All the things that Jesus said throughout his whole life is important. Mm-hmm. From the time of the very beginning, towards the beginning of the Book of Luke at 12 years old, when his very first words are uttered about being about his father's business and, and throughout the New Testament, everything that Jesus says.

Is important, but not everything he says is, is in the same context. Mm-hmm. There's different things happening and different things going on, and we often make mention, I think of, you know, passages like Jesus's time with the disciples in John 13 through 17 of, there's a lot of significant teaching that is made during that.

During that time, but the point is also made and rightly so, that all of that kind of happens at once and he is literally hours away from being arrested. And so we will make the point that, that this is the last time he'll be in a, a situation like this before his death. Mm-hmm. And so there's a lot of things that need to be said, but when we come to the cross.

It's important to realize, and not just the words that he uses, but the context of what's happening. Mm-hmm. Even physically happening now, he's already been up all night. He's been, uh, you know, kind of drugged from place to place in his kind of mock trials, if you will. He's been beaten already nearly to death before.

Being placed on the cross. And certainly, I don't wanna get into the, the gruesome details of the cross, but as violent as the cross was, the design was suffocation. Mm-hmm. Not bleeding out or mm-hmm. You know, anything like that. It, it is suffocation that you just simply cannot take any more breaths because in order to breathe, you kind of have to pull yourself up to get a breath, and you're pulling on your arms and your feet, which would be nailed or tied, you know, sometimes to the cross.

And sometimes it would take days. Now we know it didn't take that for for Jesus. And so when you begin to think about it in those terms, not just pulling himself up to breathe, but pulling himself up to speak. Mm-hmm. And he chooses to do so seven different occasions. And for me it makes those seven things really, really important.

Study. Yeah. It's different when you think about. Every breath mattered in this situation. Yeah, that's right. And he used that time to say some very important things. And you're right. You know, he had gotten to the point where over the past several hours leading up to this, I. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

I mean, he was just at the very end. There was nothing left. I mean, they, they had beaten him brutally and not to mention, as you said, I mean, he had been up all night the night before praying. I. He had been dealing with the, the pain of watching his disciples leave him when he gets arrested and he's been dealing with the agony of being falsely accused and all of these things that went along with leading up to this point.

He was physically unable to even carry his own cross. That's right. Yeah. To where he was needing to be. Yeah. So that's, I mean, another, another example of just how, how beaten down physically, mentally, emotionally he was. And then to get to the cross and to have these statements recorded for us. And I think it's really interesting that each of the gospel writers kind of record some different things that he says, which would make sense when we think about where they would've been.

Obviously Luke specifically is getting accounts from those who would've been present. To witness Jesus' death. And, and so we get to see from different perspectives, different things that people heard, and obviously different things that the Holy Spirit wanted recorded for us. Uh, and and so we're gonna look at two of those today from Luke's account, specifically in Luke chapter 23 in, in chapter 23, verse 34, and then verse 43.

And Jesus has two things to say, and we're gonna talk about both of these today, and I think they fit very well together because of kind of the theme that we see in each of them. Uh, in Luke 23, verse 34, Jesus says very plainly, father, forgive them for they do not know what they do. And He's speaking as he's looking out on those who are literally in the moment, putting him to death.

Those who have falsely accused him, lied about him, beaten him. A father forgive them for they know not what they do. And then the next statement that we're gonna talk about today is the one that he utters to the thief that is being crucified next to him as the thief recognizes that he's in the same situation that Jesus is in.

And so while the other thief is mocking him, as is everyone else around the, the one thief next to Jesus recognizes that no, we're, we're in the same situation. And he says that this man has done nothing wrong in verse 41 and then says to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Verse 43.

Jesus said to him, assuredly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise. And so these are the two statements that we're gonna talk about, uh, today. And again, I think they tie well together because both of them center around the idea and the concept of forgiveness. Yeah, there's no question about that.

We, we made mention, uh, you know, kind of at the outset that you, you can't, I don't think you could put a strict chronology of, of the statements that are made, but you, you do get a good idea from the kind of the very beginning. And certainly at the very end, and Luke certainly paints the picture here that this statement is very, very early on.

Mm-hmm. Uh, with Jesus being on the cross. Mm-hmm. If not the very first thing that happens. Yeah. I mean, Luke moves directly from it. You read verse 34, but I mean, verse 33 is they come to the place called Calvary, but there they crucified them and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.

Verse 34, then Jesus said, mm-hmm. Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do. And so I, I think plainly this is something that's happening very early, if not the very first thing. Yeah. That said, and I think when we begin to, to consider that it, it is striking that, that Jesus' thoughts and his minds continue.

To be on others. Now you're, you're, we're going to see in several of these statements, very other focused, even the second one that we'll spend time talking about, but there'll be others as well where he's not considering himself even going through what we've already talked about. And the, in just the injustice of it, I mean, he was not defending himself.

He was not, uh, crying out of how unfair, you know, that he has been treated. And, you know, none of those things. He simply. Takes it. Mm-hmm. Because he knows how important it is, but he is thinking of others. And you know, what's striking to me is. There, there were not thousands of people at the face of the cross begging Jesus for their forgi, you know, for his forgiveness.

I mean, they, there, there were not hordes of people there saying, you know, oh, if we would've thought this through, or Please, please, you know, forgive us, you know, none of that was going on. The only people there at the cross are throwing insults at him and spitting on him and mocking him, and he looks out and he is thinking forgiveness and, and what.

Is powerful. I is there. They, they don't understand. They, they just simply don't understand and I, I think today, I. Well, we struggle with forgiveness in a lot of ways, and even in moments of that, they don't understand. We struggle with forgiveness. But yet here, Jesus, at the very outset of being on the cross, he is thinking forgiveness.

And now that goes to his love. Mm-hmm. And it goes to his care and it goes to his concern. Not just for some of people, but for all of the people. One of the things that really struck me as I was looking at this is. How under control Jesus was in this moment and to think about all that he had been through and everything that he had suffered up to this point, the pain that he was experiencing in all of this, and yet he is totally collected and under control thinking clearly.

Throughout all of this so much that in that moment he's able to say, please forgive these people for what they're doing. He, he's able to think so clearly in the moment, and I think we can trace that back to the fact that what had he just spent all of his time doing the night before. He'd spent his time in prayer.

Mm-hmm. Whereas the disciples that he took with them, uh, they spent their time sleeping. And so when the crisis hits, they disperse and run away. And Jesus remains collected and clear thinking throughout the whole thing. And you're right, he, he's thinking about other people. And that's who Jesus was, is and will always be.

He's always thinking about other people. I mean, that's what his entire life has been about. His entire mission and purpose to coming to this Earth was about when we were reading this, it made me think of what Paul writes in Romans chapter five, as he talks about Christ dying and, and the fact that he died for us when we were without strength.

He died for us when we were sinners. He died for us when we were enemies of his, and that's what he's seen when he looks down from the cross. He has seen sinners and he has seen enemies of his, and yet he still expressed love for them, concern for them, a desire for them to find forgiveness, even as he was taking some of his last breaths.

And it just speaks to the, the immense love that Jesus has for mankind. A love that is. Almost impossible for us to fully grasp and understand because any of us in that situation would be struggling to think of anyone other than ourselves in that moment. And yet Jesus is fully focused on others. It, it is his desire to be forgiving that that is his desire, is his desire is under desire to be vindicated or his desire to be right.

Or his desire to be treated fairly. His desire was love. His desire is forgiveness. And I think that shows itself again in that the next statement that Luke provides to us, he's already told us in verse 33, and the other gospel writers help us as well, that when Jesus was crucified, he was not there by himself.

There were two others that were crucified robbers. We learned. Uh, in other places, and they seemingly have gone through the process of this was a fair deal. Mm-hmm. They, they were, they were found guilty and they were subject to this punishment. And, you know, these two robbers, the two criminals that are there, it seems as if one kind of gets in with the, the mob of mocking and, and getting onto Jesus.

But it seems that there is another one who is thinking much clearer and is perspective. Certainly is very, very different. And uh, and so he says, you know, in verses 40 and 41 and 42, kind of seemingly talking to the other criminal about that, listen, we. We deserve what we're getting. But, but this man, he, he isn't, he isn't deserving of what's happening.

And then he seems to showcase some understanding of who Jesus is. Yeah. Uh, because he, he says in verse 42, uh, to Jesus Lord. That's certainly an indicator of, of some understanding of who Jesus is. Remember me when you come into your kingdom and then you have this statement from Jesus. Assuredly I say to you today, he will be with me in paradise.

And I, I think what this does is it, it is now showcasing in real time, Jesus' love for sure, but his desire for forgiveness. Mm-hmm. Because that is in essence exactly what's happening here, is he is giving forgiveness, uh, in real time. As he has done, let's not start to jump in and say, man, Jesus is way outta line here.

He's done this already. Oh yeah. I mean, Luke, chapter five, he is forgiving sins and people go crazy. And they're like, who can forgive sins, but God and Yeah. That's, that's, that's exactly right. And he now in real time shows that love and his desire to forgive. And I think maybe to add on to that, his power to offer salvation.

Hmm. I think that's, that's a key to this as well, is the power. To extend salvation to mankind is found only in Jesus. He is the one who has the power to do that. He has the power to save and, and that, that is crucial for us, even, you know, 2000 years removed from this situation to recognize the fact that the power to save lies with Jesus and Jesus alone.

I can't save myself. You can't save me. No one else. Nothing else can save me except Jesus Christ, and he is the one we all have to turn to this man on the cross. Again, to your point, how he knew that, how he had come to know Jesus, I don't know, but he clearly recognized Jesus and and had heard him teach or knew something about him enough to say, if I have any hope in this moment, it resides with this man.

Right. And so he reached out to him and, and Jesus exercised his power to extend salvation to him, and it's a beautiful picture and one that all of us can experience in our lives today. Jesus holds the power to save if we want the salvation and the forgiveness. From our sins, then we must turn to him because he's the only one that can do that.

Yeah, and let's close with this idea, maybe one more application point to that I is that I, if we're striving to be more Christ-like, and that's what being a Christian is all about, we need to operate certainly with the love that Jesus. Is showcasing here on the cross, but also with his desire to forgive, having a desire to forgive and, and that is sometimes difficult, but that's the way Christ operated.

So let's close with this thought. Ephesians chapter four at verse 32. The Apostle Paul will make this point be kind to one another, tender hearted. Forgiving one another just as God and cries also forgave you.

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