Last Sermon
Less than 50 words, but the most powerful sermon ever preached ! As Christ hung on the Cross at Calvary His actions spoke volumes. What can we learn from Christ's Last Sermon? Let us look at His last few hours and the words He spoke.
After being arrested, beaten, abused, tormented, deprived of sleep, food, or even water, Jesus hung on a Roman Cross, between two common criminals. Denied any justice, an innocent man slowly suffered an agonizing death. As He hung there in agony, hardly able to breathe, He looked upon a sinful world and those who were the instruments of His torment. And Jesus prayed "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Even in His pain, awaiting His own death, He did not condemn those who mocked and attacked Him.
Two men hung with Jesus on that hill of the damned, both deserving of their fate. One, even in death, remained rebellious and unrepentant. "If you are the Christ, get us all down from here." he sneered. But the second rebuked the first and recognizing his chance for redemption asked His Savior for mercy. Again our Lord spoke through His agony "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Even wracked by unbearable pain, Jesus offered comfort and hope to a sinful man.
He continued in His compassion, even as the pain increased, and His breath became more and more labored. Looking down He saw His grieved mother crying at His feet and with her His beloved Apostle John attempting to comfort her. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. Even as His heart melted like wax, Jesus assured the care of His widowed mother.
As the darkness of death closed in on our Lord, He cried out in a loud voice "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This if often misunderstood as GOD turning HIS back on Jesus 'forsaking' Him on the cross, but it is perhaps one of the stongest statements Christ made in proof of His position as Lord, Savior, and Messiah. Jesus was not calling out to GOD, but preaching a scathing sermon to those with knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. He quoted directly from David's prophecy of the Death of the Messiah. Psalm 22:1 "To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" This Psalm goes on to give an exact account of the suffering of Christ and ends "For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." Then of course follows Psalm 23, the Psalm of the Good Shepherd. He continued this sermon as He said "I Thirst" Psalm 22:15.
Then Jesus proclaimed "It is finished" as the last of His precious blood flowed out, a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Atonement had been accomplished for a world lost from the days of Adam. The Lamb was slain that GOD's grace might flow forth to all who would believe and accept the gift of salvation. Then with His last breath, Jesus once more turned in prayer, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:" and with that prayer he gave up His life.
If you have not accepted the free gift of salvation, bought with such a high price on the Cross of Calvary, i pray that you will ask Him now. Jesus died for you, that you, right now might have eternal life. When he looked out on a sinful world from the Hill of Calvary, He saw you, right where you are now and he said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Jesus died, that all might be saved. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that YOU should not perish, but have everlasting life.'
If you do know Christ as your savior i praise GOD for you, and pray you will find an even deeper knowledge and closer relationship with Him. In either case, i welcome you to write me and share your testimony. We all need each other in our walk.
Scriptures:
Matthew 27:46
Mark 15:34
Luke 23:34, 43 & 46
John 19:26-28 & 30
Psalms 22 & 23