24 hours that changed the world: it is finished RUMC 3/20/16

24 hours that changed the world: it is finished

RUMC 3/20/16

Richard B. Mellon was the President of the Alcoa Corporation. He and his brother Andrew had a long running joke of playing a game of tag for 7 decades. When Richard was on his deathbed, he called his brother over and whispered, “Last tag” and died. Poor Andrew remained “It” for four years, until he died.

Leonardo da Vinci may have been overly modest on his deathbed, saying, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”

Charles Gussman, a writer and TV announcer. He gently removed his oxygen mask and whispered: “And now for a final word from our sponsor”

Pope Alexander VI on his death bed said, “Okay, okay, I'll come. Just give it a moment."

People have a weird fascination with last words. Jesus last words are among the most powerful in history. But let me set the stage first.

 In spite of what we see in artistic renditions, prisoners carried only the horizontal piece of the cross, called the PATIBULUM. It could weigh between 90 and 100 pounds. Many men could carry it… UNLESS they were sleep deprived, dehydrated, hungry, beaten, and bleeding from a scourging. We are told that when Jesus could no longer carry it, a man named Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross to Golgotha. He was probably a devout Jew who made the long trip from North Africa to celebrate the Passover.

 When they arrived at Golgotha- the place of the skull- they nailed Jesus to the cross. We picture the nails in his palms, but they actually went through the wrist because the flesh in the hands would tear out under the weight of the body. They nailed him to the cross being very careful not to pierce the artery or the nerve that runs through the wrist. They did not want him to bleed to death too quickly, or pass out from the excruciating pain of having that nerve severed. The point was to prolong the suffering.

 Normally we see Jesus feet crossed and nailed to the front of the cross. They may have done that some times, but archeological evidence seems to indicate that the feet were often nailed to the side of the cross with a slab a wood acting like a washer so told them in place.

We picture the cross being pretty high, but the truth is that Roman crosses were only 8-9 feet high. That would put Jesus feet 2-3 feet off the ground. Close enough that he could look into the eyes of those around him.

Death on the cross usually took days. Jesus was crucified at 9 in the morning according to Mark. About noon according to John, and mercifully, he died at 3 in the afternoon. A mercifully short 3-6 hours.

Death by crucifixion was often by suffocation, because the position of the body and the weight of the body prevented exhaling. Some died of congestive heart failure, which might explain why water and blood poured out when they stabbed Jesus with the spear. They may have pierced the pericardium. Others die by loss of blood. None were quick. All were horrible ways to die, but that was the roman intention. So that those who walked by would know not to mess with Rome

 Jesus last words deserve at least 7 sermons, but then we lose the effect of hearing them all together. So I am going to touch on each one today very quickly so we can see the big picture.

 The first word from the cross was “FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” You might think that was nice of Jesus but in order to understand the power you have to realize that he was speaking primarily to the guards. There were very few disciples there. The Jewish authorities knew exactly what they were doing. The guards were just doing their job, and had no idea who this was

And then you have to remember that his feet were only 2 feet off the ground so that is like as close as we are right now. He looked them in the eye--- he looked deep within their souls and said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Forgive them. Can you imagine the power that had? Gives mu goose bumps just thinking about it.

 The next words were similar. Remember there were two bandits, one on each side of Jesus. One joined in the mocking, daring him to jump down off the cross and prove who he was. Of course the man didn’t realize it, but Jesus could have done that at any moment, and didn’t. The other bandit, whose name is lost in history says “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Suddenly this guy being executed had an epiphany and realized who Jesus was, or at least is willing to take a chance that he was who he said he was. He came to faith with just hours to live. And Jesus said, “I TELL YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

These two saying taken together remind us that right up to the end, Jesus was savior. Even dying on the cross, and remember I said exhaling was very difficult. What do you have to do to talk? Exhale!!! With some of his last excruciating breaths, Jesus is offering forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life to those near him. He knew what he was here to do and he never wavered from that mission.

Sometimes I have people tell me “Pastor, I’ve never told another soul about this, but one time I did such and such don’t think there is any way Jesus can forgive me for that.” Really? He forgave the Roman guards who drove nails through his flesh. He forgave and promised eternal life to the thief on the cross next to him after his deathbed confession. What can you do? What can I do that Jesus cannot forgive?

•             The three middle sayings of Jesus’ last words come from a different place in Jesus. They remind us that he was still human. 100% human. “MY GOD MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME.” Who among us has not felt that way at some time? There are times when life gets so hard, so stressful, so painful that we feel like God has abandoned us. Some people say that Jesus was reciting Scripture Psalm 22. That’s true, but if he wanted to look spiritual, he could have chosen any of 1000 scriptures that express praise to God or confidence to God. No, instead he poured out his heart to God, opened his heart to us, and invited to see that this was a real live man; suffering, dying, and scared.

•           The other two words that I call the middle sayings do the same thing. “I am thirsty.” Of course he was. He was dehydrated and bleeding to death. But thirst is not something God experiences. It is a human need.

•           As was making sure someone looked after his mother. Joseph was apparently dead by this time, or Mary would have had someone to care for her. But Jesus, being a good son, and a loving son, a compassionate son, wanted to make sure that someone looked after his mom. That was his last will and testament. He had no earthly possessions, but his one responsibility as the oldest son was to care for his mother. He gives the disciple John that honor.

“WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME” “I THIRST,” and “WOMAN HERE IS YOUR SON AND HERE IS YOUR MOTHER” are all reminders that for all the forgiveness and all the promises of eternal life that he could offer as God hanging on the cross, Jesus was also still human (just like you.. just like me) with fears, needs, and hopes.

 Finally, there are the last two words from the cross. An expression of ultimate trust in God for all things, “FATHER INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT.” And cry of victory “IT IS FINISHED.” What was finished, his life?… Easter morning would show us that his life was not over. No, I think Jesus cried, “It is completed” or “It is finished” because he had finished everything he came to do. He was God incarnate, he lived, taught, preached, healed, argued, and loved. He had experienced every human emotion from the elation of the Mount of Transfiguration to the depth of grief standing before Lazarus’ tomb. But now. Now at last he had shown once and for all how much God loved the world. That God was willing to suffer and die for his people. That God was willing to go to any lengths to bring salvation to the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.”

People never seemed to realize how much God loved them until God showed them on the cross. You know the saying, “I asked Jesus how much he loved me, and he said ‘this much,’ then he stretched out his arms and died.” It is finished. But the story isn’t over. He knew that. We know that. Easter will prove the rest of the story.

There is one other word from near the cross that I want to close with. One of the guards who had watched this whole episode. He may have helped with the flogging, the mocking, the nailing, the killing… he stood by and watched while his compatriots had a pool to see who would get Jesus’ clothes. Maybe Jesus first word of “FATHER FORGIVE THEM” got his attention, but for whatever reason he had for watching. He was soaking it all in. He was learning. And he was being touched. His life would never be the same. We don’t hear about him again. We don’t know his name.  But we know his confession, “SURELY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD.”

You stand at the foot of the cross today. This close. Jesus mangled and murdered body hanging lifeless before you. And you can draw your own conclusions.

He was a rebel…He was a good rabbi…He was a healer…He was a kook?

Or, if you dare. If you really believe, that the power of sin was defeated by the power of God’s love on the cross. If you really believe, that God loves you this much. Do you dare say it?

Say it with me. “SURELY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD.”