The Gospel of John – Jesus’ Last Hour – Final Words from the Cross – The Simple Promise of Salvation (Part 3)

We are now at Golgotha, the place of the skulls, the hill upon which Jesus was crucified.  Consistent with His ministry and instructions, Jesus’ final words were words revealing the word of redemption, and of comfort and instruction and faith.

Father forgive them. They don’t know what they do.”

Reference: Luke 23:34

What it means: Soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross and then gambled over His garments. People yelled and leaders scoffed. Still, Jesus looked on the people with compassion. Billy Graham observed, “72,000 angels pulled their swords, ready to come rescue Him. [But] Jesus said, ‘No. I’m doing it because I love them.’”

Why it matters: God’s original plan in the Garden of Eden didn’t require a rescue. “But we deliberately rebelled against God,” Graham said. “And God would not be God. He wouldn’t be just and righteous and holy if He came along and patted us on the back and said, ‘You’re forgiven.’ We had to die for our own sins or somebody who was qualified had to die for us. That person that was qualified was Jesus Christ, and He volunteered to do it. He died in our place.”

Consistent with Him who was both fully man and fully God, Peter wrote:

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  ²² “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^[a]  23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[b] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25.

Bringing together multiple prophecies of the prophets, combined with the facts and historical events of the cross, Jesus was the eternal example of God’s love and forgiveness to a people in rebellion and condemned without the atoning work of God in Christ.  What an incredible event, and one that I hope marks this week with gratitude and motivation for you in the life events.