Luke 23, turn there first of
all. This is one of the seven sayings
that our Lord uttered from the cross. Luke 23, verse 34. Then said Jesus, Father, Father,
God my Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. Now I'm telling the message the
last sermon the Lord Jesus Christ preached. Would you like to hear
a sermon like that? The last sermon the Lord Jesus
Christ preached. These are the words here of a
dying man. They crucified him and he died
there nailed to that tree. These are the last words of a
dying preacher, God's servant, unto his people spoken from the
cross. The Lord Jesus uttered seven
sayings from the cross. Hold your place here in Luke
23 and turn back to Luke chapter 4. The Lord Jesus Christ began
his public ministry by preaching the gospel. He was a preacher,
son of God, God's servant. He began his public ministry
33 years old or 30 years old as a priest of God. and he went there it says in
Luke 4 verse 16 he came to Nazareth where he'd been brought up and
as his custom was he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath
day and stood up for to read and there was delivered on him
the book of Isaiah and when he'd opened the book he found the
place where it was written Isaiah 61 the spirit of the Lord is
upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel." The
Lord was a preacher, a preacher of God's gospel. He was anointed
and came to preach the gospel to the poor. He sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, and that's what the gospel does. To preach
deliverance to the captive, that's what the message declares. Recovering
of sight to the blind, that's what the gospel does. To set
at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the year of jubilee. Freedom from sin in Christ. He closed the book, gave it to
the minister, sat down and the eyes of all them that were in
the synagogue were fastened on him and he began to say, this
day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. The Lord Jesus
Christ was the preacher. Sin of God. God promised in Deuteronomy
18, I'll raise up a prophet from among the brethren and you're
going to hear him. I'm going to put my word in his
mouth and he's going to speak all my truth and the man that
will not hear him, I'm going to hold him responsible before
God Almighty. Now the Lord Jesus spake seven
sayings from the cross. Now you think how horrible it
is to be what crucifixion is, his hand stretched out, nailed
to a piece of wood, his feet also fastened with a nail, great
agony, great pain that the Lord Jesus Christ went through and
yet there in the midst of all of his blood, his pain, his agony,
three hours of darkness, the Lord Jesus Christ preaches the
gospel unto us. Would you like to hear that sermon?
It's right here in front of us. And these seven sayings the Lord
declares from the cross found in John, Luke, and Matthew. They declare unto us two very
important things. They declare unto us his office,
who he is, And they declare unto us his doctrine, what he taught,
what he accomplished. These seven sayings we see also
his person declared and his work declared. Now let's look at the
first one. And I don't know if I can get
through all seven of these. I'll try to use my time wisely. But if not, maybe next week we
can bring part two. But we'll see how it goes here.
Turn to Luke 23 verse 34. And we'll read this verse one
more time. And remember, as the Lord speaks these words, he's
nailed to the tree. He's bleeding. He was a real
man, suffering agony of body and agony of soul, being made
sin for his people. And the Lord cries out in his
agony, Father, forgive them, forgive them. they don't know
what they're doing. Now they knew that they had nailed
a man to a tree but they didn't know that they were fulfilling
God's will. They didn't know they were fulfilling
God's purpose. They didn't know they were fulfilling
all of Scripture. Now hold your place there and
find Acts chapter 4. They didn't know that they were
accomplishing the purpose of God. They did what their wicked
heart determined to do, but in doing what they did in their
malicious, evil rage, they said away with him, crucify him, we
have no king but Caesar. Give us Barabbas. And Pilate
said, what will I do with this man? Remember what they said?
Crucify him. Crucify him. And then it said
they delivered Jesus unto their will. What's the will of man? Death, hell, judgment. Acts chapter 4. Look what it
says in verse 25. Who by the mouth of thy servant
David said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine
vain things? The kings of the earth stood
up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and
against his Christ. For the truth against thy holy
child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate,
With the Gentiles, that's the Romans, and the people of Israel,
that's the Jews, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes were gathered
together for to do whatsoever thy hand, thy counsel determined
before to be done. They didn't know what they were
doing, but they were accomplishing the purpose of God. But never
think that the work wicked men did that day is sufficient to
put away our sin. It's what God was doing at the
cross that day. That's our hope. Look back at
Acts chapter 2. The Lord Jesus Christ is being
crucified for our sin according to the scriptures. Never think
of the Lord Jesus Christ as a helpless victim of wicked ungodly men. He's the spotless, holy Lamb
of God dying according to the purpose and will of God. Acts
2, 22. You men of Israel, hear these
words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man. Yes, he was a real man. He cried,
I thirst. He knew agony and pain. A man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs
which God did by Him in the midst of you. As you yourselves also
know, Him being delivered. Pilate delivered him up to their
will and they said crucify him, but they only did what God determined
before. Him being delivered by the determinate
counsel and full knowledge of God, full ordination of God,
you have taken and by wicked hand crucified the Lord of glory,
whom God raised up having loose the pains of death because it
was not possible that he should be holding of it. He was delivered
for our offenses and raised again for our justification. The grave
couldn't hold him. Death had no claim on him. Sin
had no final end on him because he put away sin by the sacrifice
of himself and God raised him up from the dead. Father, Father
forgive them. They do not know what they're
doing. Now the first thing I see here
and want to talk about his office, his office work. Here we see
the Lord Jesus Christ in his office work as the only mediator
between God and men. They're just one mediator. The
Lord Jesus Christ is interceding for them. a certain people for
them and I know this those for whom he prays father forgive
them they're forgiven because he's a successful mediator he's
a successful advocate and intercessor there is one God and one mediator
between God and men who is it? That's 1 Timothy 2, 5. It's the
God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. We must have someone to represent
us unto God. I cannot come into the presence
of God, not in and of myself. I must have a high priest designated
of God, sent of God, to mediate for me, to reconcile me unto
God. And that one mediator speaks
from the cross and he says, Father, forgive them. Forgive them. Christ the Lord Jesus, Christ
is our great high priest, but he didn't bring that typical
animal sacrifice, did he? He brought his own blood and
purchased eternal redemption for us with his own blood. The Lord Jesus Christ does intercede
for us. He is our advocate. John writes,
my little children, these things I write unto you that you sin
not. But when you do, we have the
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. We do
have a mediator. Let me give you a good example
of that. Turn one page back, Luke 22. Two pages. Luke 22, verse 31. Here's an example how the Lord
mediated for Peter, with the advocate for Peter. The Lord
said, Simon, Simon, verse 31, Luke 22. And behold, Satan hath desired
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I prayed for
you. There's the mediator. The Lord
Jesus ever lived to intercede for us. I prayed for you. I prayed for thee that your faith
fail not. When thou art converted, strengthen
the brethren. Aren't you glad we have a mediator
that that prays for us, that intercedes for us, we have a
mediator. And we must have a mediator.
We must have one who will stand up for us and protect us at all
cost. And this is exactly what the
Lord Jesus Christ did for us at Calvary Street. He reconciled
us unto God. Even now, right now, the Lord
Jesus Christ ever lives to intercede for us. intercede for us. Don't turn, let me just read
this to you. Who shall anything to the charge of God's elect?
It is God that justifieth, Romans 8 33. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather
is risen again. Who is even at the right hand
of God? Who also He maketh intercession
for us. He appears in the presence of
God for us. You remember Hebrews 9, 24? Right
now we have a mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. That's his office
work, isn't it? He's a mediator that we need.
He's a mediator and intercessor that sent him God. And his mediation
is always successful because of who he is. Now here's the
doctrine that's declared here. Those for whom he prays and intercedes
for, those for whom he prays and those for whom he dies for,
those for whom he prays and those for whom he shed his blood for,
they must be forgiven. His prayers are always answered. He never prays like we pray. Many times, probably most of
the time, our prayers are In vain. The Lord never prayed that
way. Every prayer that He prayed was
answered because He prayed according to the perfect will of God. He knew the will of God. He said,
Father, My will, not My will, but Thy will be done. Those for
whom He dies and those for whom He intercedes for, they must
be forgiven. His blood demands their salvation. Is there forgiveness of sin with
the Lord Jesus Christ? Is there? Well, that's what the
Scriptures teach. Turn over here to 1 John, chapter
4. The Scriptures teach that there is forgiveness of sin,
but only in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Mediator who died to put
away our sin. 1 John, chapter 1, verse 7. But if we walk in the light,
as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another in
the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin. All our sins. Now read on, 1
John chapter 1. If we say that we have no sin,
and notice that doesn't say sins. If we say we have no sin, talking
about that original sin that's been imputed to all of Adam's
race, and Adam all died, and Adam all sinned. If we say we
have no sin, if we say that we're not sinful sinners, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us if we confess our sins. Our sins are the result of our
sin nature. He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You know that is the blessed
man that the book of Psalms talks about. Turn over there. You see
this is the mediator that we need and this is the mediator
we have. Father, forgive them. There's
only forgiveness based upon His mediation. Turn over here to
Psalm 32. Psalm 32. Here's the blessed
man. There is forgiveness of sin based
upon His payment for sin. Father, forgive them. How can
He do that? How can He forgive them and be
just and holy and righteous? Because the Lord Jesus Christ
paid their sin debt. Psalm 32, blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the
man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, in whose spirit
there is no God. Father, forgive them. Is there
forgiveness of sin in him based upon his payment for sin? Look
at Psalm 103. Aren't you glad the Lord said,
forgive them? Father, forgive them. Believers
are forgiven. Believers are pardoned. Believers
are redeemed. We're bought with a price. Psalm
103, look at this verse one. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me. Bless his holy name. Bless the
Lord, O my soul, forget not all of his benefits, who forgiveth
all thine iniquities. Man, I have a lot of them. The
blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sin. Who healeth
all thy diseases, with his stripes we are healed. And that's talking
about a spiritual healing. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction,
who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies.
Look at verse 10, Psalm 103. He hath not dealt with us after
our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquity. For as the heaven
is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that
fear Him, as far as the east is from the west. So far hath He removed our transgressions
from us. Father, forgive them. Turn to
Psalm 130. Is there forgiveness of sin in
the Lord Jesus Christ, our mediator, our advocate, our sacrifice for
sin? Absolutely. I'm glad he preached
this last sermon. I'm glad he uttered these seven
sayings. Look at Psalm 130 now. If thou,
verse 3, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand? If you're
going to charge me with my sin, I can't stand. Not justified
before God. Who shall stand? But there is
forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for
the Lord, my soul doth wait, in his word do I hope. My soul
waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.
I say more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope
in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him
is plenteous redemption. He shall redeem Israel from all
his iniquities. Father, forgive them. Is there
forgiveness of sin? Yes, in the Lord Jesus Christ. And we have that. When will we
have that? Well, someday we'll have forgiveness
of sin. Look to turn to Ephesians chapter
1. No, we have forgiveness of sin
right now. Right now we have forgiveness
of sin. Ephesians chapter 1, verse 6, to the praise of the
glory of His grace, when He hath made us accepted in the Beloved,
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sin according to the riches of His grace, in whom we have right
now are we sons of God, forgiven of all our sin. Now, do you have a mediator? To whom do you look to mediate
for you before God? The only mediator that God has
provided is the Lord Jesus Christ. The only mediator that He will
accept is the one that He has provided. Christ Himself. He is the only mediator. There is salvation in Him. He prays for His church. Father,
forgive them. Forgive them. Aren't you glad
there's forgiveness of sin in Christ? Now, here's a second
statement found in Luke 23. Look down at verse 39. Luke 23, 39. When they crucified the Lord
Jesus Christ, they crucified two men with him, two thieves,
the one on the right hand, and one on the left and this was
done that the scripture might be fulfilled Isaiah 53 and one
of the malefactors which hanged were hanged crucified railed
on him saying if thou be Christ save thyself and how about us
the other answering rebuked him This was his partner in crime.
They were both thieves. They probably stole things together.
Plotted and planned together. The other rebuked him saying,
don't you fear God? Saying that thou art in this
same condemnation. We're being judged for our sin. We're going to stand before God.
And we indeed justly, we're getting exactly what we deserve. For
we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this dying, repentant
thief, who was granted faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who
was granted repentance in the Lord Jesus Christ, he said unto
the Lord, Jesus, Lord, remember me, remember me. When you come into your kingdom,
he dressed him as Lord, he dressed him as King. And the Lord said
unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, today thou shalt be
with me with me with me in paradise right now today today you'll be with me in glory
now it's obvious as you read the record here of these two
thieves the Lord had mercy on one the Lord granted faith to
one Passed by the other the Lord granted repentance to one and
passed by the other here. We see one the plainest Declaration
that salvation is of the Lord that salvation is by the will
of God the purpose of God Why did he save one and pass by the
other? Even so father for so it seemed
good, and I signed it pleased the Lord to do so one died in
his sin Cursing God and the other believe the gospel of God's grace
and look to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the king of the Jews.
Here we see these two things again declared. We see his office.
We see his office declared, don't we? They put a sign above his
head written in the language of the Greek, the Latin, and
the Hebrew And the Pharisees, remember, told Pilate to take
that down and put up there that say that he said he was the king
of the Jews. Pilate said, no, what I've written,
I've written. He is the king of king, and he is the Lord of
Lord. So here's his office. Here's
his office, is it not? He's king. He's king of all the
earth. He's king in providence, is he?
Isn't he? He's king in providence. He's
king in creation. Created all things by the word
of his power. And my friend, he's king in salvation. He will
have mercy on whom he will have mercy. He will have mercy. It's sovereign mercy. Sovereign
grace. Turn over here to Romans chapter
9. Romans chapter 9. This dying thief submitted unto
his lordship. Like that public in the temple,
Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner. It's the same prayer, isn't it?
Lord, remember me. You're the King. You have the
right to forgive me. You have the right to justify
me based upon your atonement for my sin. He will have mercy
on whom he will have mercy. Romans 9 verse 15. Verse 13,
as it is written, Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated. There's
two men again. God loved one dying thief and
passed the other one by. God loved Jacob and hated Esau. What shall we say then? Romans
9 verse 14, is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he
said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I
will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then
it's not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of
God that showeth mercy. The Lord Jesus Christ in his
dying hour declared that he is Lord in salvation. that He is
King in salvation. The dying repentant thief rejoiced
in the Lordship of Christ. For who can give forgiveness
of sin? Who can grant eternal life? Today you'll be with me in glory.
Who can do that? None but God. None but God our
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ passed
one dying thief by and saved the other. because it pleased
Him to do so. His sovereign will, His sovereign
mercy to that end. And here's the doctrine, there's
His office, King, Lord. And here's the doctrine, the
doctrine that we see here in this text, Luke 23. Luke 23,
verse 43, not only His Lordship, But watch this, today shalt thou
be with me, with me, with me in paradise. Here we see his
doctrine. What is the doctrine? Salvation
is in a person. That's what is being taught here. His lordship at his office, what's
his doctrine? To be with me, to be one with
me is eternal life. to be one with me. Salvation's
in a person. Salvation's not in a place. Salvation's
not in a pool or persuasion or profession. Salvation's in a
person. He that hath the Son hath life.
Eternal life is in Christ. Thou shalt be with me in glory. In glory. Turn over here to 1
John chapter five. 1 John chapter five. 1 John chapter 5. He that believeth
on the Son hath life. 1 John 5.10. He that believeth on the Son
of God, 1 John 5.10, hath the witness in himself. He that believeth
not God hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record. Here
it is. Right here it is. That God hath given to us eternal
life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath
life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. I'm saying that this book teaches
that salvation is in a person. Salvation is in the Lord Jesus
Christ. He is what He's called. He is the Savior. He is the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is salvation. Let's turn to
another scripture. Find John 17. The Lord's prayer
as our advocate mediator. John 17, remember? Verse 1, John 17, These words
spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father,
the hour is come. Glorify thy son, that thy son
also may glorify thee. as thou hast given him power,
there's his lordship again over all flesh, that he should give
eternal life to as many as the Father hath given to him, there's
that electing love, electing grace, those given unto the Father,
or given from the Father unto the Son, verse 3, and this is
life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God,
who is the only true God, in whom is eternal life, Jesus Christ,
The one that is sin of God, whom thou hast sinned. He's not the
counterfeit. He's the real deal. Salvation
is in a person. I've glorified thee on the earth.
I've finished the work you gave me to do. Today you'll be with me in glory,
in paradise. Salvation is found in Christ. This is what he's declaring from
the cross. Now here's a third one. Turn
back to John again. John 19 this time. John chapter
19. We had this in our Bible study
when we went through this. John 19 verse 25. John 19, 25. Now there stood by the cross
of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister. Mary
the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene there's three Marys
and when Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciples
standing by whom he loved he saith unto his mother woman behold thy son then he said to
the disciple Then he said to the disciple whom he loved, and that would be John, then
he said to his disciple, behold thy mother, and from that hour
that disciple took her unto his own home. What do we see here? Well, his office and his doctrine. woman behold thy son and he says
to John John you behold thy mother now here's his office shepherd
charity savior the Lord will provide he's providing for Mary
isn't he? and he's going to use the means
of John to take care of her Lord will provide. The Lord will provide.
He is Jehovah Jireh. The Lord, He said, turn to John
19, or John rather 10, John 10, turn over there, excuse me, John
10 verse 15. How does He provide for His mother? How does He provide for His sheep? He is a good shepherd of the
sheep. He provides for them by the means He has ordained. In
John 10 verse 14, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,
and none of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even
so I know the Father, I lay down my life. for the sheep other
sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring
they shall hear my voice there shall be one fold and one shepherd
therefore doth my father love me because I lay down my life
that I might take it again verse 18 no man takes my life from
me I lay it down on myself I have power to lay it down I have power
to take it up again this commandment have I received of my father
there's his office Provider. The Lord will provide. Oh, how
He's provided for us so graciously, so generously. And then the doctrine
we see here in verse 26 and 27 of John 19. His office? Shepherd, provider, Savior, charity. His doctrine? He loves His own even unto the
end. Turn over here to John 13. We
see His love, don't we? He provides for us out of love. Here in His love, not that we
love God, but that He loved us. And He sent His Son to be the
sacrifice for our sin. He loved His own. John 13 verse
1. Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that His hour was come, that He should depart
out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which are
in the world, He loved them unto the end. He laid down His life for us
because He loved us. We love Him only because He first
loved us. How long has He loved His people? He loved His own with an everlasting
love. And therefore with loving kindness
does He draw us and provide for us. The Lord shall provide. Turn
over here to Romans chapter 8. Verse 35, Romans 8, By God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory through
Christ Jesus. Romans 8, 35, Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress,
persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword? You see his love
does provide just as he provided for Mary in her day, as it is
written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are
counted as sheep for the slaughter, nay, in all things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded,
here is my persuasion, how about you? I am persuaded that neither
death nor life nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the
love of God, the love of God which is in our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, He loved His own and
in His death He declares how He provides for His own His sacrifice
was a sacrifice of love, wasn't it? Turn to Revelation chapter
one. Revelation chapter one. And here's what we sing. Now,
I don't care too much for that song, Oh, How I Love Jesus, because
my love is so frail and so weak and so small, but I love to sing
of His love for us. And that's the song of glory.
You see, He provides for us out of love, just as a father and
a mother provide for their children out of love. And if need be,
would lay down their life for their children. Revelation 1
verse 5, Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the
first begotten of the dead, the prince of the kings of the earth,
prince of peace, king of peace, unto him that loved us and washed
us from our sin in his own blood. That's our song. He loved us. and washed us from our sin in
His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and
His Father. To Him be glory and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen. Amen. Well, we've considered three
of the Lord's saying, and I've got one, two, three, four more. And I'm not going to give them
to you today. You'll have to come back next
week to get the rest of the story. Okay?