The Death of Jesus

The Death of Jesus

28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
I. Core Message
Content:
1) Jesus knew all was now completed, and so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” (v28)
2) A soldier soaked a sponge in wine vinegar and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. (v29)
3) When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished,” and he gave up his spirit. (v30)
Theme:
1. Death of Jesus.
2. Sayings of crucified lord.
II. Who are God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?
1) Jesus Christ who had completed. (v28, v30)
2) Jesus Christ who fulfilled the scripture (v28)
3) Jesus Christ who was thirst because of the loss of water (v28)
4) Jesus Christ who gave his spirit to the Lord (v30) 
III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations, and warnings?)
1) The first sentence, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke23:34) By the time, Jesus had been crucified on the cross and had been suffering in extreme pain. His body was near to the edge of death, but he still remembered to forgive. He begged forgiveness for people who accused him, who compelled him, who betrayed him, who humiliated him, who crucified him. How great his love was! Jesus had taught us the standard of forgiveness is to forgive seventy-seven times. It did not mean that we have to forgive people seventy-seven times. The number was to tell us that we should always forgive. You, yourself, would be the first person being released because your heart would be set free right away. Only when you forgive would we be qualify to request for God’s forgiveness. Christians feeling no peace and depression is because they lack forgiving hearts. We are all disciples of Jesus and sons and daughters of God. We should learn from Jesus, and obey God’s laws. When we are being insulted or harmed, we should forgive them by all hearts.
Reflection: Could I behave like Jesus who forgives people who had harmed me?
1. The second sentence, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
• There were two other criminals who would also be crucified with Jesus. One of them insulted Jesus, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us?” However, the other repented, and begged Jesus to remember him when Jesus returned to heaven. Jesus consented right way, and answer, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” “Today you will be with me in paradise” was a definite guarantee. This criminal was not baptized and had never entered the church, but he was the one who was really being saved. Repent, but not ceremonies is the key to save.
Reflection: Have I been baptized? Have I repented? Do I feel confident to be with Lord in paradise?
1. The third sentence, “‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘ Here is your mother.’” (John19:26-27)
• Jesus Christ suffered on the crust for taking away our sins. However, he still kept his mother in mind before he passed away. He asked the disciples to take care of his mother. The fifth of the Ten Commandments, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 19:12) “This is the first commandment with a promise.” (Ephesians 6:2). Filial Piety is important in Christianity.
• Reflection: What kind of attitude should I have toward the parents? Do I committee my responsibility? Do I use service as an excuse to run away from the responsibility?
1. The forth sentence, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
• From nine in the morning till three in the afternoon, it was now about the sixth hour. Jesus being crucified on the cross was truly suffering. He even felt that the God had left him. Thus, he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Supposedly, God would not forsaken Jesus since Jesus was his son. However, Jesus was being hanged on the crossed as a man’s son instead of the God’s son. Jesus took all sins of human. In God’s eyes, he was sinful, and he was a scapegoat. God was justified, he would not forgive sinfulness. Thus, Lord’s put all his angriness on Jesus Christ alone. Thus, Jesus was suffering in great pain, and even felt that the God had left him.
Reflection: It is painful to be away from God. Have I ever been in guilt and been away from God?
1. The fifth sentence, “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)
• Jesus on the cross knows that all was now competed. He had completed God’s plan of redemption and fulfilled the testimony in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ said, “I am thirsty.” This clearly told us that Jesus was being crucified as a man’s son rather as a God’s son. He is a man with blood and flesh. Thus, he feels the pain, the thirst like us.
• Reflection: Do I understand the bitterness and the pain Jesus bear for us on the Cross? How do I repay?
1. The sixth sentence, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
• Jesus said, “It is finished!” This sentence was to declare that redemption had now completed. And also to imply that him being crucified on the cross was a success. Most of them time, there are differences between being spiritual or not. A non-spiritual man always wanted to receive what he requested for. A spiritual man often lost what he requested for first. This was why it is more blessed to give than to receive. It seemed that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was a failure, but it was actually a success. When he rose up from the grave after three days, it again proves that he was the son of the God, the forever lasting true God. He is a triumphal King; thus, Christian is a triumphal religion.
• Reflection: How is my value? Is it more similar to the world’s, or to God’s kingdom?
1. The seventh sentence, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
• This was the last sentence Jesus said on the cross, than he passed away. Even though his body was dead, he still committed his spirit into God’s hand. This is the last example he set for us- commit your way to the Lord. We, as Christians, are being saved till the day we were called back. And we should commit our way to the Lord. Even till the last moment, we shall commit our spirit to God’s hand in order to seek for eternal peace.
• Reflections: Do I truly believe in God and commit my way to him?


Translated By Irene