"Seven Last Sayings Of Christ From The Cross"

Meditation: Christ still is hanging in the middle. The two thieves represent all of humanity. People must decide on Christ. One day, Christ will divide people to the right and to the left. Those who have received him will be on the right hand side, and those who have rejected him will be on the left hand side. On which side will you be?

Note that both thieves had prayed. I think perhaps that all men have cried out to God at one time or another. But there is a difference between the prayer of repentance and the prayer for comfort. One thief prayed, “Remove me from the Cross.” The repentant thief prayed, “Lord, remember me in your kingdom.”

Something changed the heart of the dying repentant thief. At first both thieves were mocking on Christ. Both thieves had witnessed the same events. Both thieves were approximately the same distance from the crucified Christ, but only one repented.

Perhaps the repentant thief was touched by the prayer of Christ, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Perhaps it was the fact that he knew that his death was imminent.

Perhaps it was that he finally realized that the world was wrong about Christ, and that the world had no love for him, and that the no one and nothing in the world was trying to save him, nor could save him.

Perhaps it was that he saw the Mother of Christ at his feet, and John the beloved there too, and thought to himself, I have no one.

Perhaps he saw Pilate’s inscription over the head on Christ that read, “The King of the Jews.” Perhaps he suddenly believed that to be true, and therefore he cried, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Now note the response of Christ. What had the thief asked for? Let me paraphrase: “Lord, someday in the eons of time, when you are finally established on a throne in a yonder kingdom… I am sure that I will be in Hell, and I want you to have a passing thought about me. I do not want to be utterly forgotten.”

Now, consider the blessed promise of Christ to the repentant thief. “Today…” Not some where in the eons of eternity. “Shalt thou be with me…” Not me in Heaven and you in Hell. “In paradise…” Not only will I be sitting as a king and enjoying the desires of my heart, but you too will be seated with me on a throne enjoying the pleasures at the right hand of God! Wow… Amazing Grace!

The fruit of the spirit: Joy.

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”

Matthew 27:46

Meditation: The sin of the world was now placed upon Christ. Jesus had become “sin for us.” The Father was of too pure eyes to behold sin. He, and all of Heaven, had to look away.

Remember the story of Noah. After the flood, and when the earth had settled again, Noah planted a vineyard. He got drunk and was naked in his tent. His son, Ham, laughed and mocked his Father. Shem and Japheth, honored their father by walking backwards with a blanket to cover their Father’s nakedness. That is what God the Father was doing in this text. Our sins were being covered by the blood of Christ.

This cry from Christ from the cross exemplifies every lost man’s cry as he goes out into a Christless eternity. Those in Hell will be forsaken by God. That is what will make Hell Hell.