|
|
Sermon #168[1] Luke Sermons
Title: “Then said Jesus…” Text: Luke 23:1-34 Subject: Our Savior’s Last Words Introduction:
How I pray that the Lord God will be pleased to grant me grace that I may live with the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ever before my mind, with the scenes of my Savior’s redemptive work and glory constantly upon my heart, and the redemption he accomplished for me by his substitutionary death ever flooding my ransomed soul. This great mercy I seek for myself and for you. Tonight, I want us to go back to Mt. Calvary. May God the Holy Spirit inscribe the things we see and hear here upon our hearts for the glory of his own great name, for Christ’s sake. – What a scene of infamy we have before us! – What a scene of grace! – What a scene of the revelation of the glory of God!
We will begin at verse 1 and move quickly down to verse 34, were you will find the title of my message — “The Said Jesus…”
(Luke 23:1-12) “And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. (2) And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. (3) And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. (4) Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. (5) And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. (6) When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. (7) And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. (8) And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. (9) Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. (10) And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. (11) And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. (12) And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.”
Our Lord’s Humiliation
The Lord Jesus was hurriedly brought before Pilate, where the Jews slanderously accused him. But Pilate saw their accusations for what they were, nothing but the rantings of envious religionists. Once he found out the Lord Jesus was a Galilean, he tried to rid himself of the matter and sent him to Herod.
When Herod could not persuade the Son of God to dance before him, he mocked him shamefully and sent him back to Pilate. And that day, those two political jackals became friends. And Pilate, willing to please the Jews, “delivered Jesus to their will” to be crucified. Pilate, Herod, the high priest, the Jewish mob, and the soldiers were but contemptible little imps, unworthy of further mention. There is but one thing worthy of notice in these verses, one thing they were written to reveal, and that is the greatness of our Lord’s humiliation for us.
What base contempt and mockery our God and Savior endured in the house of the high priest, and at the palaces of Pilate and Herod! Truly, “he humbled himself!” He emptied himself of all the dignity and honor that rightly belongs to him, that he might redeem and save sinners who deserve to be forever mocked in the fires of hell and held in contempt by him (2 Cor. 8:9).
(2 Corinthians 8:9) “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
(Luke 23:13-25) “And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (14) Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: (15) No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. (16) I will therefore chastise him, and release him. (17) (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) (18) And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (19) (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) (20) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. (21) But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. (22) And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. (23) And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. (24) And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. (25) And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”
Depravity and Substitution
Again, for now, let me pass over everything else written here to call your attention to just two things. First, we have before us a terrible, graphic display of the utter depravity of our race and the vile hatred of the human heart for the God of Glory!
Yet, there is something glorious here. We read in verse 17 — “For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.” By the arrangement of divine providence there was a custom and a man in the scene before us gave opportunity for our Lord to display everything he had come to accomplish. When Barabbas was released and the Lord Jesus died in his place, it is as though the Savior had said, “See this! This is why I came to this hour, to die the just for the unjust in the place of guilty sinners as their Substitute, that they might go free!”
(Luke 23:26-31) “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (27) And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. (28) But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (29) For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. (30) Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. (31) For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”
Weep Not
Luke is the only Gospel writer who recorded these things. It is not surprising to see these women weeping. It is shocking that those few women were the only ones who wept, as they beheld the Lamb of God surrounded by hell-hounds craving his blood! Yet, when the Savior saw their tears and heard their cries, he said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.”
(Luke 23:32-33) “And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. (33) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”
Three Malefactors
It is not by accident that Luke wrote, “And there were also two other malefactors (two other violators of the law), led with him to be put to death.” The obvious indication is that our blessed Redeemer was one of three malefactors. — “He was reckoned among the transgressors” (Luke 22:37). — “He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many” (Isa. 53:12. — “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors” (Matt. 15:28). Being our Surety and Representative, he stood before the offended law and justice of God as the greatest of all malefactors!
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Seven Statements
The Lord willing, we will look at this passage in Luke 23 in more detail on another occasion. I have been very brief in doing so tonight because I want to send you home with the final words of our dying Redeemer on your heart.
As he hung upon the cursed tree, bearing our sin, suffering all the horrible fury of the wrath of God for us, when he was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, the Lord Jesus made seven distinct statements which should ever be held in fond memory in our hearts. May God the Holy Spirit give us ears to hear and hearts to understand them.
There have been mountains of words and thousands of sermons preached from these seven sayings of Christ from the cross. I cannot add anything to what has already been spoken and written by faithful men. But I do hope that God the Holy Spirit will enable me to give you a glimpse of what I see in them. The only fear I have in preaching this message is the tendency to reduce these tremendous themes to mere homiletical points of dry doctrine and lifeless theology. May God forbid that from being the case!
These are the very words spoken by our great God and Savior in his humiliation, spoken as he engaged the forces of hell and endured the indescribable wrath of God in the place of sinners.
The horrid load of all my guilt Was on my Savior laid; When He who did and knew no sin For sinners sin was made.
Enduring all God’s wrath in death, My Savior prayed for me; In love He took my place and died Upon the cursed the tree.
Oh love amazing! Love beyond The reach of mortal tongue; This love shall be the subject of My everlasting song.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme And shall be till I die!
Proposition: In these seven words from the cross I see the glorious Person, work, and offices of our Lord Jesus Christ beautifully demonstrated.
A Word of Forgiveness
The first of those seven statements is found in Luke 23:34.
(Luke 23:34) “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
Here I see Christ our Mediator, our High Priest and Advocate pleading for the forgiveness of guilty sinners. Here is the Son of God suffering by the hands of wicked men, suffering with wicked men, suffering as a wicked man, and yet praying for the men who made him suffer. — “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men,” and that Mediator is “the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
Who meets all these qualifications? Only the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, give thanks to God for him! Thank God for Christ, our great Mediator!
(John 14:6) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
(Romans 8:34) “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
(Hebrews 7:25) “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Illustration: Peter - “I have prayed for thee!”
(1 John 2:1-2) “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
A Word of Assurance
The second word is found in Luke 23:43. The dying thief cried, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom!” — “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” — Here is a word of salvation and assurance, spoken to a believing sinner by Christ our Savior and King.
Even as he hung upon the cross, suffering untold agony under the wrath of God, Jesus Christ reigned as Lord and King over everything. Do not ever imagine that our Lord Jesus was in anyway the helpless victim of circumstances when he died at Calvary. Oh, no! Even in his death, he was the God of all circumstances and all events! · Here is the sovereign King, the Ruler of the Kingdom of God, saving whom he will (Rom. 9:15). · Here is the King of Grace opening the door which no mere man can ever open. · Here is the Prince of Peace, giving peace that no man can give. · Here is the King of Glory, promising mercy and eternal life that no man can merit.
Would you obtain mercy like this dying thief? If you would, come to the King, Christ Jesus. Acknowledge him as your Lord, and cry, “Remember me!”
“Come, humble sinner, in whose breast A thousand thoughts revolve, Come with your guilt and fear oppressed, And make this last resolve
‘I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin Hath like a mountain rose; I know His courts I’ll enter in, Whatever may oppose.
Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne, And there my guilt confess; I’ll tell Him I’m a wretch undone, Without His sovereign grace.
I’ll to the gracious King approach, Whose scepter pardon gives; Perhaps He may command my touch, And then the suppliant lives!
Perhaps He will admit my plea, Perhaps will hear my prayer; But if I perish, I will pray, And perish only there.
I can but perish if I go, I am resolved to try; For if I stay away, I know, I must forever die.
But, if I die with mercy sought, When I the King have tried, This were to die (Delightful thought!) As sinner never died.’” Edmund Jones
“Salvation is of the Lord!” Grace comes from the throne of grace; and the King who sits upon that throne is the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 3:22) “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
(John 5:20-21) “For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. (21) For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”
(John 17:2) “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”
A Word of Tender Care
The third word spoken by our Lord as he hung upon the cross is found in John 19:26-27. — “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” — Here I hear Christ our Representative and Example, speaking a word of tender care.
Even in the agonies of death, under the penalty of sin, enduring the wrath of God, fulfilling the everlasting covenant, accomplishing eternal redemption for us, and satisfying the divine justice, our Lord Jesus Christ did not neglect the responsibilities of manhood! Our Savior, as our Representative and Example, deliberately gave attention to his responsibilities as a man, even in the time of his dying agony. He fulfilled all righteousness! He did everything that it is right for a man to do. · He was circumcised. · He was subject unto his parents. · He was baptized. · He attended the synagogue. Our Lord Jesus was “made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.” And in his dying hour, our Redeemer tenderly cares for his mother.
He fulfilled all righteousness as our legal Representative.
(Romans 5:19) “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
He fulfilled all righteousness as our Example of Righteousness.
(John 13:13-15) “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
(1 Peter 2:21-24) “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
If we would learn how to live in this world for the glory of God, if we would learn how to serve our generation, if we would learn how to worship God, go to Calvary. – Behold the Lamb of God and learn…
Yet, there is more here than our Lord’s care for his mother. When our Savior said to Mary, “Woman, behold thy Son,” I cannot help thinking that he was saying, “Behold me now, and remember what I told you when I was just a boy, ‘I must be about my Father’s business.’ Behold me now, and remember the song you sang when I was still in your womb.” — (Luke 1:46-55).
(Luke 1:46-55) “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, (47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. (50) And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. (51) He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (52) He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. (53) He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. (54) He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; (55) As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”
A Word of Agony
The fourth word is found in Matthew 27:46. — “And about the ninth hour (at 3:00 in the afternoon, after three hours of great darkness) Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” — Here I see Christ our Substitute, crying out in agony of soul.
This is the only time recorded in Scripture that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to the Father as God. Here he takes the lowest place of humanity and cries out to his Father and our Father as a creature to be pitied by his Creator. In his great agony, this mighty Man who is God reverts to his childhood, speaking in his native Syrian tongue, not in the Hebrew of his fathers or in the Greek he acquired as he matured.
At the height of his obedience to the Father, the Lord of Glory, was forsaken by his Father, because we deserved to be forever forsaken of that God whom we have spent our lives forsaking!
He was forsaken of God because he was made sin for us! Reproach has now broken his heart! — “My God! my God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” This is a cry arising from depths of infinite anguish no human being can know. This cry no mortal mind can comprehend. This mystery no creature can fathom!
Martin Luther, after studying and meditating upon this text for hours, closed his Bible, slammed his fists down on his desk and cried, “God forsaken of God! My God, no man can understand that!”
I will not attempt to explain what no man can understand. But, with a happy broken heart, I rejoice in the fact of this our Substitute’s greatest sorrow. He was forsaken of God. That means this sinner, for whom he died, shall never be forsaken of God!
(Isaiah 53:9-11) “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
(John 3:14-16) “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(Romans 5:6-8) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
(2 Corinthians 5:20-21) “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
(1 Peter 2:24-25) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
(1 Peter 3:18) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
(1 John 4:9-10) “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
What an infinitely, horribly evil thing sin must be! — How holy, just, righteous and good our God must be! — O my soul, how great, how infinitely great is the love of God for me!
How anxious, willing, ready the holy Lord God is to save poor sinners! – “He delighteth in mercy!”
A Word of Great Need
Our Lord’s fifth word form the cross is found in John 19:28. — “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” – Here is Christ the Man, expressing his great need and desire. — “The Word was made flesh.” Here we see our Savior’s real humanity. This is the shortest of the seven statements he made on the cross; but it is every bit as instructive as the other six. I am sure it is meant to show us at least these three things about our Savior.
His body’s Thirst — Being in anguish of body, burning with fever, his tongue swollen and cleaving to his jaws, he thirsted for water, just like the rich man in hell, as he endured the fire of God’s hot, holy wrath for us.
His Soul’s Thirst — Being forsaken of God, he thirsted in his soul. – “As the hart planteth after the water brooks,” so panted his soul for God.
His Heart’s Thirst – The Lord of Glory was made to be sin, made to endure all the horror of God’s holy, unmitigated wrath, because he thirsted for the souls of men. He thirsted for his people! He thirsted to be thirsted after! When I hear the Master cry, “I thirst,” I can almost hear his heart crying, “I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.”
A Word of Accomplishment
Stay here in John 19. Read verses 28-30 again. — “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (29) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” Here, in this sixth word from the cross, as I hear the Immanuel cry, “It is finished,” I see Christ our Surety crying out in triumph, victory, conquest, and accomplishment.
“It is finished!” – What a blessed, triumphant word! Our blessed Savior was not crying a sigh of relief. He was not saying, “At last, it is over.” Oh, no! Most men leave this world with things unfinished. — So many plans unfinished! – So many hopes unfulfilled! – So many desires unsatisfied! – So many works incomplete! So many things they wanted to do, or see, or experience, unfinished! – No so with the Lord Jesus Christ, our great Surety! He accomplished everything he came here to do.
What did he come here to do? – Did he come here…
This is the Surety’s cry of accomplished suretyship to the Father. — “It is finished!” — “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do!” – Here our Covenant Surety says to his Father, I have finished all the work trusted to my hands. I have redeemed all the souls trusted to me. I have ransomed all the sheep. I have found all the lost ones I came to find. All the work is fully done, well done, perfectly done!
This is the cry of our great Surety to pour, needy sinners! — “It is finished!”
“It is finished!” Sinners, hear it: Hear the dying Savior’s cry; “It is finished!” Angels Sing it, Sing the praise of Christ on high. “It is finished!” — “It is finished!” Tell it through the earth and sky!
Justice now demands salvation For those souls whose wrath Christ bore; And it smiles with approbation On the ransomed evermore! Grace and mercy, grace and mercy Freely flow from boundless stores.
Hear the Son of God declare it, All is done He came to do! Needy sinners, Hear, believe it. – Is not this good news to you? — “It is finished!” “It is finished!” All is done! Oh, yes, it’s true!
“It is finished!” All is over. Jesus drank damnation dry! Never can a ransomed sinner God’s salvation be denied! “It is finished!” “It is finished!” Cries our Sur’ty now on High!
Who is he that shall condemn us? Who shall charge us now with sin? It is God who justified us Christ, Who died, cries in our name, — “It is finished!” “It is finished!” Praised forever be His name!
A Word of Rest
The Savior’s last word from the cross is found back in Luke 23:46 — “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” – Here I see Christ our Sabbath entering into rest. Once our great Redeemer had finished his work, he “cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Thus he entered into his rest and obtained eternal rest for us.
(Hebrews 4:9-11) “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
Our Savior died with the Word of God in his heart and on his lips (Ps. 31:5).
(Psalms 31:1-5) “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. (2) Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. (3) For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. (4) Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. (5) Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”
Notice, here, our Savior who had cried, “My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” now calls his Father by that endearing name, “Father.” The storm of God’s holy wrath beat fiercely upon his holy soul; but now the storm is nearly over. Only one thing is to be done. He must yet die; but here he seems to say to poor, needy sinners, “Look here. Look unto me. Behold, now reconciliation is made. Anger is turned away. Judgment is gone!”
(Isaiah 12) “And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. (2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (3) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (4) And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. (5) Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (6) Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”
Our blessed Savior committed his spirit into his Father’s hands, not Satan’s. Some vainly imagine that the Lord Jesus was now taken to hell to be tormented of the devil for three days. Not so (Heb. 9:12). He owed Satan nothing! Here he conquered the fiend of hell forever! He committed his spirit into his Father’s hands, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps.
(1 Peter 2:22-24) “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
At last, in sovereign majesty, “he gave up the ghost,” he dismissed his spirit. This Man who is God our Savior did what none but God, who gives life and takes life at his will, could do. “He gave up the ghost.” That is to say, He dismissed his spirit!
Come, now, to Christ and enter into his rest.
(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Amen.
|
|
[1] Date: Danville — Sunday Evening — May 14, 2006
Mid-South Baptist Church, Merigold, MS (FRI — 05/19/06)
Tape # Y-95b
Readings: Bob Pruitt & James Jordan