Sayings from the cross #7: Completion

‘It is finished.’ (John 19:30) After all the twists and turns, the betrayal and trials, the lying and sentencing, the beating and mocking, the nailing and humiliating, the pain and torture, things come to a climax.  Jesus, knowing that all was now finished asked for a drink and then declared the work done. A single […]

Sayings from the cross #6: Trust

‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46) Twice on the cross Jesus addresses His heavenly Father.  The first time it is for others, interceding for them by asking for their unmerited forgiveness: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34).  This second time it is for Himself, as […]

Sayings from the cross #5: Suffering

‘I thirst’ (John 19:28) When considering a complex truth I often find myself focusing on one aspect over and above another before having to re-set and consider other aspects.  The mind-blowing, incomprehensible mystery that Jesus was fully God and fully human is one of those situations.  Sometimes I find myself focused on His complete humanity […]

Sayings from the Cross #4: Isolation

‘My God, my God why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46) There has been nowhere, nor will there ever be anywhere, more isolated than the cross.  On those cruel beams Jesus hung alone and bore the weight of sin and shame.  Jesus had dwelt with the Father since before time began and enjoyed intimate fellowship […]

Sayings from the Cross #3: Grace

‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43) Grace is outrageous. As we have already seen, Jesus was crucified between two criminals.  These two men deserved punishment.  Described as robbers by Matthew and Mark, and criminals by Luke, we don’t know the details of their crimes, only that […]

Sayings from the Cross #2: Tenderness

‘Woman, behold your son!’…. ‘Behold your mother!’ (John 19:26,27) I cannot imagine the pain and heartache of Mary at this moment.  Stood nearby as her son was viciously nailed to the cross, then hoisted up and clearly dying in agony, what must she have been thinking?  Yes, there was the small comfort of her companions […]

Sayings from the Cross #1: Forgiveness

‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) The accounts of the crucifixion are mercifully brief; I am not sure we could handle a more detailed account of the brutalisation of our Saviour.  Luke’s version gives the bare bones of place – ‘the place that is called The Skull’ – and […]

Sayings from the Cross: Introduction

The four gospel accounts record in great detail the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.  Those final days are among the most significant days in the history of the world as God brought his redemption plan to a climax.  The consequences of the events of the period we now call Holy Week – from […]