Transcript

Three Merciful Sayings From The Cross

John 19:23-30
Sunday, April 4, 2004
Pastor Randy Smith

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In 1 Corinthians 2:2, the Apostle Paul said, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." Two thousand years later we still live in a world where: Bigger is better, power is pre-eminence, self is supreme and humility is helplessness. To the modern mind, like it was to the ancient world, knowing Christ and Him crucified is a joke! What good can ever come from a Messiah dying on a cross? What good can ever come with a God who has wounds? Paul was an educated man. Why would he choose to boast in nothing "except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

As ironic as it may sound, Christians know the cross represents our God at His finest. We see a majestic heavenly Father who would rather punish His Son than give us the just wrath that we deserve. We see a God who is uncompromising in His character, displaying perfect justice against sin and yet perfect love for those who still sin. We see a God who humbly became man and willingly became not only our substitute, but also our example. Though without sin, He identified with us and experienced real temptation, real suffering and real abandonment. It is through the cross that we identify most closely with Christ.

Along these lines the Apostle John records the closing hours of Christ's crucifixion. In his account he includes three of the Savior's final seven sayings from the cross. Here we have an x-ray into the heart of Jesus. The physical agony as He gasped for air and the spiritual torment as He bore the Father's wrath, uncover and prove, in their silence, His mission of mercy. However, our Savior was not without words. A close look at these three final sayings reveal a heart of pity in His final and most desperate hours; pity for His mother, pity for Himself and pity for His church.

This morning I'd like to examine these three final merciful sayings of Jesus Christ spoken from the cross intermixed with our reception of the Lord's Table. This morning we will boast in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1. MERCY FOR HIS MOTHER (vs. 23-27)

First of all (the third saying overall) Jesus demonstrates mercy for His mother.

Verse 25 records four women who followed Jesus to His point of crucifixion. In contrast to the soldiers who abused Jesus and the many disciples who forsook Jesus, these women faithfully (as they could not be apart from Jesus) and courageously (as it was dangerous to be associated with a criminal of Rome) kept vigil at the foot of the cross. John tells us that one of these ladies in verse 25 was Mary, the mother of Jesus. In verse 26 he adds the "beloved disciple," most likely the Apostle John himself was also in the company of these four women.

Even in the midst of limitless pain, Jesus' heart went out to the hearts that were breaking around Him. Primarily, He could feel His mother's agony. The infant she nursed, the boy she held, now losing His life as a young man. I'm sure every mother can identify with her sorrow. "She sees the crown of thorns but cannot remove it; she sees the nails but is not allowed to pull them out; she sees the lacerations but is not able to soothe her Son's pain with salve; she hears the mockery but is not able to quiet the crowd" (Lutzer, Erwin. Cries from the Cross, p. 77). Mary saw the soldiers gambling for Christ's tunic (Jn. 19:23-24), most likely a gift (according to historians) that she made for her Son. The prophecy was being fulfilled before her eyes that "a sword will pierce (her)…soul" (Lk. 2:35a). One commentator said, "If Christ was the Man of Sorrows, was she not the woman of sorrows" (Pink, A.W. The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross, p. 48)?

As the eldest son of a single parent home was departing from this world, Mary would need another to protect and provide for her needs. As a demonstration of His mercy, Jesus made arrangements in His most desperate hour to care for His mother. Turning to John He said, "Behold, your mother" (Jn. 19:27)! And to Mary He said, "Woman, behold, your son" (Jn. 19:26)! Verse 27 says, "From that hour the disciple took her into his own household." And contrary to Catholic teaching, we see Mary coming in under the headship of John, not John (the ideal disciple) coming under Mary, the mother of the church.

There is no doubt in this account that we see a son's care for his mother, but at a higher level we see a Savior's concern for His sheep. Throughout this Gospel we have learned that Jesus came to purchase a new family, a spiritual family (see Mt. 25:40; Mk. 3:33-35). Maybe this is why He asked the Apostle John and by-passed His four unbelieving brothers as potential caretakers for Mary. One author wrote, "Our Lord brings into being the brotherhood of believers. He fashions the fellowship of the household of faith. This is the new society, which is not segregated according to race or nationality. It is not predicated upon social standing or economic power. It consists of those whose faith meets at the cross, and whose experience of forgiveness flows from the cross" (DiGangi, Mariano. Words from the Cross, p. 21-22).

Evidence for this new spiritual family may be found in the fact that we have no biblical evidence that Jesus ever called Mary His mother. Even in this intimate account He calls her "woman." Mary had to realize that she was actually created and adopted by Jesus. The mother of Jesus had to realize that she was first a disciple of Jesus, also in need of the salvation Christ came to purchase. And that's where we find her, with other sinners gathered at the foot of the cross. In Luke 1:47 she said, "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." Ultimately, this was not the caring heart of her Son; this was the caring heart of her Savior and Lord, a heart of mercy that Jesus demonstrates not only to Mary, but also to all who belong to His spiritual family.

Before we close this saying, there is one more theological point that needs to be considered. As we learned last week, Jesus Christ came to be our substitute. He received all our sin and took our place on the cross. As our substitute He also gave us His perfect righteousness so that we might be declared "not guilty" before the tribunal of God (Dt. 27:26). However, to give us this perfect righteousness as our substitute, He had to live a perfectly righteous life under the Law (Gal. 4:4) Himself. Christ had to do what we could not do for ourselves. He had to follow the Law perfectly. He had to "fulfill all righteousness" (Mt. 3:15; cf. Jn. 4:34; 8:29).

Part of the Law (as you know) is the commandment to honor our mother and father (Ex. 20:12; Mk. 10:19). We all fail to fulfill the Law perfectly in this area. But here we see Jesus Christ in His final moments before death, honoring His mother and perfectly fulfilling the law until the end. Of course Jesus cared for Mary, but in dying as our substitute, He had a higher motive in mind. So in the first saying we praise the Lord for perfectly fulfilling the Law and then driven by unspeakable mercy purchasing forgiveness for His spiritual family.

2. MERCY FOR HIMSELF (vs. 28-29)

In the second saying (fifth saying overall), it appears Jesus demonstrates mercy for Himself. Beginning in verse 28 we read, "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth" (Jn. 19:28-29).

Once again we see the humanity of Jesus Christ. In our society where water is cheap, clean and in excess, as available as the nearest faucet, we cannot appreciate the cry of Jesus Christ. Those living in the biblical lands often identified water with life itself. E.M. Blaiklock writes, "Fierce thirst, and the benediction of water which quenches it, is intensely real in the Bible" (Blaiklock, New Light on Bible Imagery: Water, p. 27).

You see, part of the torture involved in crucifixion was dehydration, as the hot desert sun beat the victim's weakened body. The Psalmist in prophetic fashion described Christ's burning thirst in Psalm 22. "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death" (Psm. 22:14-15)

How ironic is this? The One who created oceans and waterfalls, would long for a few drops of water to slake His thirst. The One who could have commanded "stones (to) become bread" (Mt. 4:3) cried out to the people He created for help. Verse 29 tells us that the soldiers present offered Jesus some of their sour, inexpensive wine (oxos) that was "standing there." Verse 30 tells us that Jesus gladly received the drink (cf. Mk. 15:36).

While Jesus in His humanity suffered from dehydration, according to verse 28 the ultimate cry for thirst was to fulfill Scripture. Specifically in this case, Jesus fulfilled Psalm 69. "They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psm. 69:21). Jesus Christ, as "David's greater Son" (Lk. 20:41-44) took these words from King David (as He did much of the Old Testament) and applied them to Himself. Once again, in the midst of horrific suffering, Christ's ultimate concern was to obey the Father and submit to the Scripture. We would do well to follow His example.

In addition to the literal thirst and the fulfillment of Scripture, many see these words of Christ laden with symbolism, symbolism that once again speaks of His mercy for the church dying as our substitute. We must remember it was at this time that Jesus was most likely facing the Father's wrath in bearing the penalty for our sins. Why the thirst? A.W. Pink answers, "His thirst was the effect of the agony of His soul in the fierce heat of God's wrath" (Pink, The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross, p. 95). How can we not recall the rich man in hell, also under God's wrath who cried out saying, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame'" (Lk. 16:24).

Additionally, there is no doubt that Christ's spiritual separation, this forsaking from the Father as He bore our sin (Mt. 27:46), gave Him not only a physical thirst but also a spiritual thirst to be back in fellowship His beloved Father. Was Christ also fulfilling those precious words found in Psalm 42? "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God" (Psm. 42:1-2). Was His spiritual thirst to be back in fellowship with God even a greater thirst than His physical thirst for water?

Jesus Christ originally refused the cup of charity when He turned down the wine mixed with myrrh (Mk. 15:23). He did not want a sedative to lessen His responsibilities. Jesus did receive the cup of sympathy (as we just learned), the sour wine to quench His thirst (Jn. 19:28-30). But most importantly, Jesus also received the cup of the Father's wrath. The cup that He prayed at one point might pass from Him (Mt. 26:39). But thankfully, He faithfully drank this cup filled to the brim whereby His children can be forgiven and never experience the fierce thirst that comes from the flames of hell and separation from the Father.

Death and the curse were in our cup;
O Christ, 'twas full for Thee!
But Thou hast drain'd the last dark drop,
'Tis empty now for me.

Anne Ross Cundell Cousin

Erwin Lutzer once said, "He drank from the cup of death that we might be able to drink from the cup of life" (Lutzer, Cries from the Cross)

Thanks to Jesus, every Christian is saved from the thirst incurred by God's wrath. And every Christian, while he or she is given a greater thirst for God, Jesus Christ satisfies that thirst as well. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (Jn. 4:13-14; cf. 7:37-39; Rev. 7:16; 22:17).

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink, and live."

I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.

Horatius Bonar

3. MERCY FOR HIS CHURCH (vs. 30)

Finally, in the sixth saying from the cross, Jesus cried (in verse 30), "It is finished."

Jesus Christ came to earth for a purpose. He was on a mission to die for the sin of the world. Having accomplished that work, just prior to giving up His Spirit (Jn. 19:30; Lk. 23:46; cf. Psm. 31:5), Jesus cried in a loud voice (Mt. 27:50), telelestai, "It is finished."

His work was consummated. God's wrath was endured. The Law was fulfilled. Guilt was removed. Condemned sinners were pardoned and salvation was brought to completion once and for all. It was at this point, Christ cried, "It is finished!"

I recently came across a story from a young girl that put this awesome truth about the completion of Christ's work into perspective:

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room with walls covered with boxes of index files stretched from the floor to ceiling. One box was labeled "PEOPLE I HAVE LIKED". I opened it and to my surprise each card had the name of a person I knew.

Then I realized where I was - this was the catalog file of my whole life; all the details, big and small, were recorded. Both curiosity and fear stirred within me as I began to randomly open the files. Some brought back wonderful memories. Others triggered shame so intense that I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one was watching. Files included "BOOKS I HAVE READ" and another, "TELEVISION PROGRAMS I HAVE WATCHED". And there was one "LIES I HAVE TOLD" and "COMFORT I HAVE GIVEN". Then there was a file: "THINGS DONE IN ANGER" and another: "TIMES I HAVE CURSED". And also there were files titled: "PEOPLE I HAVE HELPED" and "PRAYERS I HAVE PRAYED".

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volumes of cards - There were hundreds of boxes and each contained hundreds of cards. I timidly opened the "PEOPLE I HAVE HURT" file and was amazed at its depth and the many cards, yet each card had my name and signature.

I was drawn to the file "PEOPLE I HAVE SHARED THE GOSPEL WITH" and was embarrassed that the box was almost empty. When I moved on to the file "PEOPLE I HAVE NOT FORGIVEN," I was surprised that the box was almost full. I did not have to look at each card because I knew intuitively that these files were accurate, no mistakes here.

I glanced up and the file I dreaded most, "LUSTFUL THOUGHTS," was in front of me. A shameful chill ran through my body. I opened the file only for a moment, not willing to test its bulk and size

Out of the corner of my eye I saw another file: "VARIOUS SEXUAL SINS." I pretended not to notice and turned away. I was obsessed with destroying the cards but I found I could not. Though they were thin they were strong as steel. In fact I could not even dislodge them from the file cabinets they were in. By now only one thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards. No one must enter this room! Tears came to my eyes. I sobbed so violently that I began to shake. I fell on my knees and cried, humiliated and afraid. I must lock the room and hide the key!

As I wiped my tears away and was about to stand up I noticed that someone had entered the room. I glanced up at His face and then I saw Him. No! Not him! Anyone but Jesus!

I turned away burning with shame.

Then He began to open the files and read the cards. He went from box to box and when I glanced up I saw sorrow on His face that was as deep as my own.

Why did He have to look at them? Why Him?

After a few moments He walked over and put His arm around me. He said nothing but just cried with me.

Then He began to systematically go thru the files, one by one, from beginning to end, signing His name on each card.

No! I sobbed. You can't do that! I was amazed at how quickly He went through all of the boxes and when He was finished He showed me some cards up close and I noticed that on each was His signature signed with His own blood, covering my name.

I turned away and cried, but now He was standing beside me. He put His hand on my shoulder and said "IT IS FINISHED." He waited in silence for me to dry my tears. Then He led me out of the room.

Suddenly a verse I memorized in Sunday school flashed into my mind "THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS."

It …is… finished

Jesus paid it all!

Amen

This morning we have examined the mercy of Jesus Christ. I have labeled the three points mercy for His mother, Himself and His church. Technically, they could all be boiled down into one, Jesus Christ and His mercy for the church, His people whom He went to the cross for, finishing the work of bearing their sins and dying in their place. If you are in Christ Jesus this morning, I trust these final sayings from the cross and the participation in the Lord's Table were a reminder of His undeserving mercy for you. May they compel you to join the Apostle Paul whereby you live your life to boast in Jesus Christ, and Him crucified!