Gospel of John - Jesus' Final Words

                        

Jesus’ Final Words

John 19:28-30

The death and resurrection of Jesus is possibly the greatest work of God on earth. Jesus has now finished the work that the Father has given him to do, he has submitted to the will of the Father and the will of man. It is now that he takes upon himself the sins of humanity. The act of sacrificial atonement has been given for the lives of mankind. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A 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. 

The crucifixion had begun at nine in the morning on the day of preparation. Jesus has been hanging on the cross for approximately nine hours, He has spoken words of comfort to the women, of hope to the criminal next to him, and forgiveness to all involved. The next words that he speaks will seal the hope for all of humanity. 

Jesus had refused the first wine mixed with gall, a form of narcotic to deaden pain, the second wine vinegar offered to Jesus was in mockery of his kingship. John said the soldiers had a jar of wine, probably for their own thirst. It was this wine, which must have been soured into vinegar that Jesus accepted. It was raised up to him on a sponge attached to a hyssop branch, the same form of branch that was used to brush the blood over the door frames and posts during the passing over of the death angel (Ex. 12:21-22), and the same type of branch used for the sprinkling of blood for ceremonial cleansing of sin (Lev. 14; Num. 19) and symbolically in Ps. 51:7, “Purge me with ahyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Jesus sipped the wine vinegar this time in fulfillment of Ps. 69:21b, “in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Application - Have you ever sensed the joy of finishing a task? In satisfaction, you have given your all and your best, and you know that the one in whom you love is pleased, yet some of those around you are apathetic and dispassionate. It has no relevance to their desires, they just want to end the occasion, and move on. 

This is how much of the world sees salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s a take it or leave it, or a one and done moment that has not penetrated past the exterior of the heart. It’s a checklist moment, on the things I need to do.

 But to the one in who has received salvation with joy and thanksgiving, their enthusiasm goes beyond the here and now, it is sealed and written on their hearts. It is cleansing, cherished, and revered, for it has changed them. The reality of salvation, and its giver are etched not just on their minds, but on their very souls. They are thirsty for the living water that will never run out, not a draught of temperance that leaves their thirsty longing for something better. 

Next Jesus’ words are taken from Matthew’s account of the death of our Lord Jesus. “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

Jesus crying out in lostness to his Father. For the first time in his life, he is broken from the separation of fellowship, with intimate communion and oneness with the Father. He has experienced the penalty for sin, and that for the whole of mankind since the Garden of Eden. The  darkness in the atmosphere around the crucifixion in both weather and the spiritual realm was thick. The land was covered in darkness. Jesus’ words in Arameric were confused by the onlookers. They thought Jesus was calling for Elijah, but in actuality he was calling out to the Father, who couldn’t be approached in sin.

Being forsaken by the Father was the deepest of pain and suffering of the crucifixion. In the garden prayer, he anguished to the point of sweating blood in submitting to the Father’s will, for the Father had set before him the cup of his wrath. But this was the ultimate level of sin, to be separated from the Father. Jesus had experienced temptations from the evil one, he had been tested by sinful men. The taunting of Satan during this brief moment was met with the taking of every thought and making it obedient to the Father’s will.

Application - The walking alone in a world of torment will play upon the mind, driving someone to the fine line between rational and irrational, leading to suicide and mental health issues today. There is an empty void in the minds, hearts, and souls who are enslaved, oppressed, and possessed by sin’s taunting voice. They will try everything from drugs, temporal pleasure, to a driving force for fulfilling achievements. All of this is the result of separation from God. It is a loneliness that exposes the emptiness of divine reality in the heart and soul of mankind. 

Jesus came to fill that void with himself. He came to give life and that in abundance, in the power of the Holy Spirit, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” (Jn. 10:10) He has taught us through his Word and his Spirit, to abide in him, “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” (Jn. 15:4 MSG), live life in him as we walk in the Holy Spirit, “I say this to you: Let the Holy Spirit lead you in each step. Then you will not please your sinful old selves.” “God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-pity. You should be kind to others and have no pride. Be gentle and be willing to wait for others. (Gal. 5:16 NLV, Col. 3:12 NLV), and walk in the light, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). This is real life! This is a victorious life! The void is filled with agape love, a love that loves regardless of the state of our reality. We are nourished by his omnipresent wisdom, knowledge, and purpose through his Word and Holy Spirit in order to bear good fruit. Life is fulfilling because of his nurturing and guidance. He walks with us because he is in us.

There is not going to be anyone else coming to save us, like Elijah. For God has given us salvation through his Son, to all who will believe and trust in him. 

Next, Jesus is declaring victory, not over pain and suffering, but over sin. Luke 23:44-46 gives us the complete perspective of the final minutes of Jesus’ final sentence. Jesus spoke, “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jn. 19:30)

Jesus had experienced the fullness of the Father in his life, and now the emptiness of separation from the Father. He knew it was finished, the Father’s will and purpose were fulfilled. There was only one last thing to fulfill, the words of Psalms 31:5, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.” It was at these words, Jesus let go of this life, in order to receive life without end with the Father. He breathed his last breath as a man and released his spirit to the one who had given it to him. “Remember him before your spirit goes back to God who gave it.” (Eccl. 12:7b NIRV)

As Jesus’ released his spirit back to the Father, the manifestation of God’s power and prophetic word ripped the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the temple from top to bottom. God spoke in a way that no one could deny, he had opened the way for God to dwell in a new temple, not made by men but by God. (Heb. 9:1-9) The thick 40 cubits tall veil, possibly four inches thick, was cleaved into, and the way to the Most Holy Place was revealed to all.

Application - “It is finished…” What joy when a task is done. We celebrate the big tasks with jubilation, for the work is done. I have seen the light and peace on the face of those who have said these words as they finished this life and went into eternity to live with the Father and the Son. It was a physical release from this world into the eternal kingdom of our God.

I have also witnessed those who fight to stay in this world because of uncertainty of the next. The writer of Hebrews stated, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Heb. 9:27) Jesus said that all people will be judged solely based on what they did during their lives. For those who have walked in the light of God’s Word and with God’s Spirit there is no fear, for perfect love has driven out the fear, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.” (1 Jn. 4:17-18 MSG) and his peace, a peace that transcends all understanding will be our lot. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)

For those who are left in the world, God hasn’t forgotten them, Jesus opened the way on the cross,  through his body and blood shed for our sins, iniquities, and transgressions. The way to the throne of God’s presence was opened. Through the blood of Christ, we can come into God’s presence with confidence and surety,  “According to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence…Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need…Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Eph.3:11-12, Heb.4:16, 10:19-22)

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com