What Jesus Said on the Cross #1 - The Week Before

 Today, we’ll begin a brand-new study. The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.   These seven sayings reveal different aspects of Jesus' final hours:

• Forgiveness (1)
• Salvation (2)
• Love and care for others (3)
• The depth of His suffering (4)
• His true humanity (5)
• The completion of His redemptive work (6)
• Trust in the Father (7)

These things speak about what we understand about Jesus’ final suffering and death, but I think they also speak about who Jesus was.  As Christians, we should endeavor to be Christ-like.  We should also develop these qualities in our own lives.

First, let’s set out the list of the seven things Jesus actually said on the cross:

(Luke 23:34)

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

(Luke 23:43)

And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

(John 19:26-27)

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

(Mark 15:34)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

(John 19:28)

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"

(John 19:30)

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

(Luk 23:46)

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.

The Events That Led to the Cross!

Most of today’s study is going to be background about Jesus’ last week; the things led to the crucifixion, and then next week we will begin to look in depth into the things He said and what they mean for us.  So, let’s look at what has happened up to this point:

5 days before Crucifixion Jesus enters into Jerusalem.  (We call this Palm Sunday).  It is called that because of this moment:

(Luke 19:32-38)

So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of him." Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: " 'BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

This is interesting, they are making a political statement here.  What they are doing is looking at Jesus as a political king.  They’ve misinterpreted the scriptures and prophecies of Jesus thinking that He’s come to free them from the oppression of Rome. We can see that in John’s description of what was happening:

(John 12:13)

took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' The King of Israel!"

The KING OF ISRAEL! 

The reaction of the people frightened the Pharisees, who were the political leaders of the Jews at the time, as well as the religious leaders.  They were afraid of losing their power. 

There were other things that happened, as well.  Jesus turned over the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple courtyard. Declaring:

(Luk 19:45-46)

Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE IS A HOUSE OF PRAYER,' but you have made it a 'DEN OF THIEVES.' "

The sacrifices in the Temple had become business.  The moneychangers had lost sight of worshipping God through the Temple rituals and saw it as a way to make money.  They even cheated and the people and participated in usury. (Loaning money at inflated interest rates…Like gangsters do today.) 

Jesus also taught daily in the Temple and people came to hear Him and were attentive to His words:

(Luk 19:47-48)

And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

The Pharisees became envious because the people were turning to Jesus and away from them and their leadership.  So, they plotted to kill Jesus.

(Mat 26:3-5)

Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."

This takes us up to Thursday night.  On Thursday night Jesus and the disciples ate their last supper together. There were some significant events that took place during that gathering.

1.       The Washing of the Disciples’ feet.

(John 13:3-5)

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

(John 13:12-15)

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

In this, Jesus demonstrates His divinity for us.  He knows He is from God. But He is also showing His disciples that they should be servants of other in all Humility. This is also a message for us.

2.      Judas’ Betrayal

Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him.

(John 13:25-27)

Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."

(Matthew 26:14-16)

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Thirty pieces of sliver was considered to be the price of a slave under Mosaic law.  But it is a little deeper than that, it is the compensation to be given for the death of a slave.

(Exodus 21:32)

If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

This price is also a fulfillment of prophecy in Zechariah.  You can see that in Zech 11The rejected shepherd.

3.      Jesus’ Arrest and Trial

Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.  In that prayer He spoke to God about what was to happen.  Look at what He said:

(Matthew 26:39-44)

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Jesus shows us something powerful here.  It is in his petition to God.

"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

We are taught here to put God’s Will above our own. Following this Jesus is arrested and taken before the High Priest Caiaphas.  He’s tried and the delivered to Pontius the next morning.  But Pilate wanted to avoid controversy and when he learned 6hat Jesus was from Galilee he sent him to Herod.  But Jesus wouldn’t speak to Herod, so He was sent back to Pilate.

(Mark 15:2)

Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered and said to him,  "It is as you say."

Remember in the beginning of all of this the people waved palm fronds saying “Hosanna, The King of Israel.”  After this though they chanted, “Crucify Him.” “We have no king but Caesar!” 

Pilate tried to release Him but the people chose Barabbas. 

(Matthew 27:17-18)

Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

(Matthew 27:21-22)

The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

(Matthew 27:24-26)

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

That brings us to the crucifixion.  And we will begin next week to look at the things spoken by Jesus on the cross.  As you can see There are a number of lessons here for us.  Maybe in another study we will break this whole thing down and examine more closely.  I wanted you to see what the climate was when Jesus spoke the things He spoke.