WHAT WAS JESUS THINKING?

Sometimes I ponder…

One of the things I think about is what might go through my mind if I knew that I was dying.  In those last few hours as I approached the gates of eternity, what would be my most important thoughts?  

What would I want to communicate to my loved ones? 

In this week leading up to Easter, I'm pondering Jesus.  Hanging on the cross, battered and bruised, weak and suffering, He knew He was dying.  In those last hours before He died…

What was Jesus thinking?

So, I'm taking a look at His last words, and speculating on what might have been going through His mind.


1. "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

The message:  Forgiveness

In an amazing act of humility and love, Jesus looked at His enemies, the people that were responsible for killing Him, and asked His Father to forgive them.  The message of forgiveness was of utmost importance to the Savior.  It was the purpose and the motivation for Him to complete His mission on earth. In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"Look at My example.  Forgiveness trumps evil.  Forgive others, as I am forgiving you."


The Lesson: Forgiveness is important.  Embrace it, and pass it on.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37, NIV)



2. "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

The message: Faith 

Jesus didn't make this moment of salvation theologically complicated, or personally difficult – no, He just spoke an unmistakable, clear promise that anyone who believed in Him would be saved.  Even if it was a last-minute repentance.  Jesus offered hope to sinners, and it was another important message He wanted to pass on.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"Believe in Me, and you will be saved.  And when you die, you will join me where I am, and live in My Presence forever."


The Lesson: Faith alone saves.  It saves in an instant, and it lasts forever!

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…" (Ephesians 2:8, NIV)



3. "Dear woman, here is your son." And He said to His disciple, "Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27)

The message: Family

Was Jesus self-absorbed in His own struggle, His own suffering? No, even at the end, in His supreme moment of agony, His tenderness shone like a beacon to everyone at the foot of the cross.  Jesus did not think of Himself.  He took care of those He loved – and at the same time, He was taking care of us.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages – 

"Take care of those you love, both family and others.  Love them like I do."


The message:  Family is important.  People are important.  Look out for them like Jesus did.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." (John 13:34, NLT)



4. "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Matthew 27:46)

The message: Fear

I believe that Jesus had to battle real fear.  I don't think for a second that Satan kept silent when Jesus was hanging on the cross.  I believe that the taunts in those last dying hours were escalated.  The lies must have been a torture all their own.  And can you imagine a greater fear than the moment when God had to turn His back on His beloved Son?  Jesus experienced all the wrath, judgment, and penalty for every sin – He experienced it alone.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"It isn't a sin to feel fear.  I've felt it, too.  But, because of what I'm doing right now, you never, ever have to fear separation from my Father or from His love."


The Lesson: Fear is part of being human.  But it doesn't have to consume us.  Love overcomes fear.

"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." (1 John 4:18, NLT)



5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28)

The message: Fragility

Jesus was a human being.  While He lived His life on earth, I'm sure there were times when He was sick, and achy, and hungry, and tired.  And on the cross, He had moments of genuine anguish.  He bled, He hurt, He grew thirsty.  Dying is lonely human business, and Jesus died a real, physical death. I believe this statement was important for Jesus to express so that we would understand that He was like us, fully human. He understood what that feels like.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"I'm a human like you.  And I understand the struggles and weaknesses you experience.  But because of what I'm doing right now, someday you will receive a new imperishable body!"


The Lesson:  Jesus knows what it means to be human.  Talk to Him about everything.

"Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death." (Hebrews 2:14, NLT)



6. "It is finished." (John 19:30)

The message: Finality

This phrase is a translation of a Greek phrase that means "paid in full." Yes, Jesus paid the price. Totally. Completely. And in this moment, in this statement, Jesus proclaimed the humbly jubilant truth that once and for all, the price was paid – by Him, and only Him.  We can never do enough to win God’s approval – we can never bridge the gap between a holy God and sin-filled people. Jesus did what we couldn't do. He bought us reconciliation with the shedding of His blood.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages –

"I have done what I came to do. I have borne the sins of the world. I have brought salvation to all people." 


The Lesson:  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Only Him – the only way.

"…so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:28, NLT)



7. "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" (Luke 23:46)

The message:  Freedom

Now, in the last seconds of His earthly life, Jesus expressed utter and total trust in His Father.  Having felt abandonment, He still believed that God was there.  God still cared.  God would take care of Him. And with those last words, He breathed His last. Jesus gave up His Spirit.  He rested in the promises of His Father's words – that this moment was NOT the end of the story.  Jesus saw the death of believers as the ultimate freedom, the final release from the slavery to sin.  In His dying moments, He was compelled to tell His followers – both then, and through the ages – 

"Trust your life to the Father's hands.  Death has no more power over you.  Enter the door to freedom."


The Lesson: Slavery to sin is over.  The fear of death has no power. Jesus has overcome.  We will live forever!

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 
(1 Corinthians 15:55, NIV)



These were the last words of Jesus.

And last words hold a mighty power.  They are important, and well worth listening to.

On this Easter, I'm pondering what Jesus might have been thinking on the cross – what He might have been saying to the world.

And Lord, I am listening.

Into the darkness,
The Light of the World came...

And the Son still shines! 

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

"After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.  As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.  'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!'"  (Acts 1:9-11, NLT)

"And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."  (Revelation 21:6, NLT)

How are you celebrating Easter this year?

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Pamela at A SHELTERING TREE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

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