The Seven Statements of Jesus on the Cross:
Expression of Human Suffering
"I thirst!"
Matthew 27:33-34; John 19:28-30 Foretold by Prophecy (Psalm 69:21)
The Humanity of Christ
· God took on human flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:1-3, 14)
-He was hungry (Matthew 4:1-2)
-He was tired (John 4:6)
-He felt fear and intense sorrow (Matthew 26:36-44)
-He experienced the pain, suffering, and temptations of all men (Hebrews 2:17)
· He surrendered His heavenly glory but not His deity (Philippians 2:5-8; John 1:18; 4:9-11)
-He was IMMANUEL, i.e. God with us (cf. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23)
-Jesus was fully God and fully Man; a subject for belief not academic speculation
· What Jesus experienced on the cross is unique to an earthly experience.
-Pain, humiliation, and thirst are not found around the throne of God. (Revelation 7:15-16)
-Lest we think that Jesus cannot relate to us, look at the cross and remember He was a man.
The Intensity of Christ’s Sufferings
· Recollect the sequence of events leading to this statement of our Lord.
· Consider again Psalm 22’s description of the scene. (Psalm 22:1-18)
· First century readers of the gospel accounts would be very familiar with crucifixion.
-They would understand the horror inherent within these terms:
· So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. (John 19:1)
· When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him…Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. (Matthew 27:29-30)
· And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha (John 19:17)
· Then they crucified Him… (Matthew 27:35)
-It takes something like The Passion of the Christ to help 21st century readers understand it.
Application: Seeing Our Sufferings in the Light of the Savior
The Lord Knows Our Woes, and He Cares
· Jesus’ sufferings as a man more fully qualified Him to relate to us as our High Priest.
(Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16)
· Jesus understands our struggles from two perspectives: as Creator and as a Participant in them.
· We can be confident that Jesus cares about our sufferings. (1Peter 5:6-7)
We Can Learn Contentment By Looking At the Cross
· What Jesus endured as a man, He endured for us.
· If Jesus was willing to endure hardship for me, I ought to be willing to endure it for Him.
· Contentment is found by focusing on Christ and relying on His strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)