When Christ was placed on the cross, there were seven last statements that he said before he breathed his last breath. These statements literally send chills down my spine every time I read them, and especially when I hear them out loud. I encourage you to read the scripture and speak the words that Jesus spoke (if you didn't hear them today in a service). This is why Christ died, to save the world from its sin. He had to die, even though he was innocent and without shame.

Jesus had been punished for doing no wrong, yet he still was more concerned with the salvation of the word than his own pain and suffering. Oftentimes, these words still ring true for us, we do not know what we do. Every time we sin, we nail the nail once again, we, all humankind, stand the cross up high, and we are the ones who cried out, "Crucify him!" We are to blame, but Jesus took our blame, our shame, and hung it on a cross, and then he asked God to FORGIVE US!


Jesus said this word to his mother and the "disciple that he loved." Some Bible scholars believe that the reason why we do not hear the name of the disciple is because we are ALL the disciple that Jesus loved and we are all called to take care of the widows and orphans of the world. Jesus showed that he wanted to honor his mother, and make sure she was taken care of, and he taught us to take care of others, before we take care of ourselves.

Sometimes we doubt God, and we somehow think that there is something wrong with that? How can we not see that it's okay to ask God questions about our faith, if Jesus even asked "Why have you abandoned me." I'm sure deep down, Jesus knew that God, his father, was with him. But it must have been so lonely on that cross, so painful. We sometimes feel abandoned too, and we cry out to God. However, we know the victory is won. Because Jesus was lonely on the cross, abandoned and all alone, we never have to be lonely again!

How can the one who offers us water that will make us "thirst no more" be thirsty on the cross? At this moment Jesus had nothing left to give us, he had given it all, even the everlasting water that he had promised. He had to be thirsty so WE never have to thirst again!

Jesus, the perfect son of God had come to do what he had been sent to do — Die for all humankind. There he was — lonely, abandoned, thirsty, and so very tired. His work on Earth was complete - It is finished.

The truth of everlasting life -- the father takes the spirit and it is entrusted in his hands! How must we mourn today the death of the perfect son? How do we ever repay him for the life he laid down for our sins ... He was pierced for OUR transgressions, and by HIS wounds we are healed! Amen.


Discussion Starters:

1. Reflect, pray, make the passion real for you! It's easy to ignore the pain, the lament, but know it, feel it, believe it! Don't just skip to the resurrection, Jesus WILL rise, but right now ... he has to die.