Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Scratching the Surface
of
The Seven Last Words of Jesus
I’ve often repeated, “What’s deep in the well
comes up in the bucket.”
That’s especially true for folks knocking on
heaven’s door.
People tend to say what they really mean when
they don’t have much time left to say it.
It’s very, very, very sad for people who do
not believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Their last words are often filled with
inconsolable fear about what happens the first nano-second after the last
breath.
While I would never judge anyone’s eternity –
only God knows that – some folks look and talk and act so desperately to hang
onto this life that it can make one wonder if they really believe in
heaven/paradise; causing me to well up with tears of pity for anyone who faces
the inevitable like Elizabeth I: “All of my possessions for one more moment of
time.”
Conversely, people who believe in Jesus as
Lord and Savior face eternity unafraid; bringing President Andrew Jackson’s
last words to mind: “Please don’t cry for me or yourselves, dear children, for
we will all meet in heaven.”
My next-to-favorite last words come from my
grandfather Hayden Phillips who died on May 18, 1984.
Just a few days before he passed on from here
to eternity, he called from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s General Hospital to
say he was going home to Jesus; and I said as a young pastor in Kansas City at
the time, “Grandpa, I’m going to fly out to be with you, talk about some old
times, and pray with you.” Calmly with a
chuckle that helped me to remember his smile, he said firmly yet gently,
“That’s not necessary. When I die, you
will come and preside at the service; and then I’ll see you later.”
My favorite last words are the seven last
words of Jesus from the cross; because what Jesus said about who He is and what
He has done for us caused my grandfather’s strong calm sanity at the end of his
life as preface to something with Someone much, much, much more heavenly.
According to Holy Scripture, these are the
seven last words of Jesus:
1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do” (Luke 23:34). This is
among the most unpredictably astounding things that Jesus ever said. He is asking Father God not to hold the
torturous and murderous sins of everyone culpable for His passion and death
against them; but rather to forgive them as ignorant. How often we have heard, “Ignorance is no
excuse.” One of our Lord’s last words
disagrees with that sentiment. There is
no way on earth for us to understand such forgiveness. All we can do is praise and thank Him for
“love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”
2. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be
with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus
said that to a criminal dying next to Him who was saved for paradise, as Jesus
described heaven, at the last minute.
Yes, foxhole religion is real. We
are saved by grace through faith in Jesus no matter who, what, where, when, or
why; even if that faith is expressed just before the last exhale. While waiting that long forfeits the “good”
of participating in life created by Him as “good,” the pure and perfect place
of personal peace where there is no more crying or pain or tears anymore is
forever and ever and ever for anyone who places trust and confidence in Jesus
even if it’s with only one tick left on the clock.
3. “Woman, behold your son!…Behold your
mother!” (John 19:26-27). Even while He
was suffering so horrifically, Jesus remained concerned for the comfort, care,
safety, security, and welfare of His family.
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote extensively, Jesus was truly, truly, truly the
“man for others.” Of course,
He embraced the predestination of His crucifixion and death as the inexplicable
cost of our eternal salvation enabling our confident living from now until
then.
4. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken
Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Rather
than questioning God or suggesting the Father had abandoned the Son, Jesus was
quoting Psalm 22. The psalm is about
moving through suffering to triumph. The
psalm acknowledges existential pain then praises God for eternal security. Jesus was expressing confidence in His
movement from the moment of crucifixion and death to resurrection and
reign. By quoting this psalm, Jesus
acknowledged His suffering for us as preface to glorious victory for/with us.
5. “I thirst” (John 19:28). Again, Jesus suffered; yet the bigger meaning
is the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies in Psalms 22:15 and 69:21 in concert
with Isaiah 53. Just as Jesus predicted
His passion, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and reign in great detail as
evidenced throughout the New Testament, every Messianic prophecy of the Old
Testament is fulfilled in Him beginning with His incarnation as Emmanuel.
6. “Father, into Your hands I commit My
spirit!” (Luke 23:46). Akin to the trust
and confidence of Psalms 46, 62, and so many others, Jesus, as reflected
throughout His life and ministry, is the perfect enfleshment of strong calm
sanity. His total dependence upon Father
God as incarnate Son is the perfect illustration of Matthew 5:3.
7. “It is finished” (John 19:30). The deal has been sealed by Jesus. The price has been paid and the glory is
hours away! God’s plan of salvation has
been completed by Jesus. I think of the
missionary who was asked, “What must I do to be saved?’ Answer: “Too late! Jesus has already done it for us!” No more nor no less than Jesus is needed for
wholeness, happiness, joy, safety, and eternal security. Saved by grace through faith in Him, we live
confidently until moving with Him from here to eternity.
Our Lord’s seven last words have often been
described by seven summary words: (1) Forgiveness; (2) Salvation; (3)
Relationship; (4) Abandonment; (5) Distress; (6) Reunion; and (7) Triumph.
In short, Jesus saves!
Sooner or later for everyone without
exception, last words are uttered.
Having loved people enough to tell them about
Jesus and what He has done for us by grace through faith, I’m expecting mine
will be, “Thank You, Jesus!”
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Blessings and Love!
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Salt! Shine! Leavenate!
Look up! Stand up! Speak up! Act up for Jesus!
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2 comments:
Once again, your timing could not have been better nor your words more needed.
Jesus Died so I could live. One Great person called Jesus Took my Sin. So I could Ask forgiveness of my own sins. What a man died to save the whole world. A lot of people don`t care. Some day Jesus will take us Home. Thank you Lord.
Good writing Pastor Walton
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