THE SEVEN LAST WORDS
A series of messages by members of the Biola faculty.
going one of the most painful deaths known to man, Jesus didn’t question whether God was still His Father. Christ didn’t consider Himself dis inherited or rejected by God. This should teach us that no matter how hard and painful our circumstances may be, God isn’t the hard-hearted Judge or the gleeful avenger. He is our loving Father. We need to learn the importance of prayer in times of trouble and grief, as well as amid joy and prosperity. Men may despise us, the world may be against us, our circumstances may be anything but delightful, but if our hearts are right with God, no condition of life can change our relationship to our lov ing Heavenly Father. Note then that the Saviour said, “Father, forgive them.” There is no greater example of forgiveness that the world will ever know. One rea son is that the pardon was offered to those who were least deserving. In the beginning of His ministry, the Saviour said, “Love your enemies and do good to them that persecute you.” To the very end, He practiced what He taught. How different was this from the conduct of some of the world’s greatest leaders who have extolled some of the highest virtues of heaven and earth. Yet, by their conduct, they’ve destroyed those very qualities which they eulogized. This is one of the greatest requests ever made because of the circumstances under which is was offered. Christ had endured the most excruciating 3
Word One by Dr. James H. Christian M ore than 80 years ago, Charles Haddon Spurgeon gave a mes sage on our Lord’s words from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The well-known preacher commented, “What tenderness, what self-forget fulness, what almighty love is ex pressed here!” As the sacrifice be gins, Christ’s great intercession is inaugurated. Of the last seven words of our Lord uttered from the cross, the first, fourth, and seventh were addressed to God. The first and sev enth were most intimate, beginning with the wonderful word, “Father.” Christ died as He had lived, thinking first of others. Here, in the closing hours of our Lord’s earthly life, we see from Luke 23 His threefold office of prophet (verses 28-31), priest (verse 34), and king (verse 43). Looking at the Saviour’s inter- cessary prayer, realize that this isn’t something remote, but that it can be of very personal concern to us today. Actually, we are responsible for His death just as much as those who hung Him there in the long ago. He was praying for us. Note the endearing term “Father,” revealing the intimate relationship existing between the Trinity. This relationship wasn’t marred by time, place, or circumstance. While under
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