Jesus said to his mother
The seven sayings of Jesus could be a great devotional for the coming week.
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34 (Also, read Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 11:4)
"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:43
"Jesus said to his mother: "Woman, this is your son." Then he said to the disciple: "This is your mother." John 19:26-27
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 (Also, read Psalm 22)
"I thirst." John 19:28 (Also, read John 15:12-13)
"It is finished;" and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:29-30
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Luke 23:46
The cross of Jesus is at the heart of the gospel. Not because it is a cruel and barbaric instrument of a torturous death. Nor is it simply because what took place on that Friday when darkness appeared to have the upper hand and injustice reigned. There are many messages associated with the cross. With this lesson let’s consider what the cross reveals about the power of God’s love to overcome even the basest of human actions. How the fulfillment of God’s will is revealed in sacrifice (Matthew 26:52-56; Mark 14:48-49; John 18:11). Jesus’s prayers on the cross put his heart on display. Earlier in his ministry Jesus taught, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). John’s record of Jesus’s prayer prior to the Garden (John 17) focused on his actions bringing God glory and God’s care for his disciples. In the Garden he prayed for God’s will to be done and cautioned his disciples of their need for prayer. Luke’s record of Jesus’s two prayers on the cross maintains this theme that has been consistent throughout. The events leading up to the cross were the fulfillment of what Jesus had earlier revealed about his mission. When his disciples declared him to be
God’s Messiah he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed” (Luke 9:22). All that took place was unjust. Hypocrites, liars, corrupt politicians, and people blinded by fear perverted the system so it would render a guilty verdict and sentence of death. Beaten and humiliated Jesus was compelled to walk like a common criminal through a mass of witnesses. With his mother looking on he was nailed to the cross and lifted up in shame. Through cracked, dry lips a raspy voice is heard. And twenty centuries later his prayer for you can still be heard. Getting Started
1. Share a time when someone surprised you by offering forgiveness to the one(s) who had wronged them. 2. Most people want to receive grace – not everyone is comfortable with others receiving it. Why would people oppose an offer of grace? In the Text (The two prayer texts below are from Luke. As a group, or individual, you may wish to explore the “Seven Words of Jesus on the Cross” located on the back page.) The First Prayer Luke 23:32-34 1. Who was crucified with Jesus? 2. Whose actions had led to Jesus being placed on the cross? To what degree were each of these people or groups responsible (1- little direct responsibility to 5- directly responsible)?
_____ Judas
_____ Jewish leaders
_____ Pilate
_____ Pilate
_____ Herod
_____ Crowd
_____ Roman Soldiers
_____ Others (who?)
3. What had Jesus taught about forgiveness? (Here are examples from Luke – 5:17-24; 7:36-50; 11:4; 17:1-5) 4. What is the focus of Jesus’ prayer in Luke 23:34? 5. How does the context of this prayer shape the way it is understood? The Second Prayer (Luke 23:44-46)
6. What details did Luke include immediately prior to recording Jesus’s prayer? 7. What is the significance of these elements of this account?
a) “Darkness came over the whole land… the sun stopped shining” b) “The curtain of the temple was torn in two” c) “Jesus called out with a loud voice” 8. What was Jesus’s last prayer? 9. How does this prayer compare with Jesus’s prayer in the Garden?
NOTE: You might be interested to read through those who mocked Jesus in Luke 23:35-39; it is a progression
(1) the __________________
(2) to the __________________
(3) to, finally, even __________________ APPLICATION: What does it mean to you that Jesus prayed for you on the cross? Who do you know that needs to know of Jesus’ prayer for them?
