The Cross Throughout the Scriptures - Part 21
28. The Sayings of TLJC while on the Cross.

The first statement dealt with the word forgiveness for His enemies.

The second one deals with salvation, Luk 23:39-42.

The salvation of the dying thief reveals the power of TLJC to save mankind and His willingness to receive all that come to Him, in spite of their predicament.

Heb 7:25 “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Not only the weakness of the Lord makes the salvation of the thief so extraordinary, but also that he recognized TLJC as the Savior.

Mat 27:44 And the robbers also who had been crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him.

His faith was not affected by his surroundings.

The crucified thief was our Lord’s last companion on earth.

Mat 11:19 - TLJC is called “a friend of publicans and sinners!”

Mar 2:17 “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Heb 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

So we might know how quickly someone can be saved and have their entire life changed and turned around for eternity.

Salvation is by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast, Eph 2:8-9.

Joh 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”

To show us the nearness of eternal things.

1. They were both guilty of rebellion, murder, and stealing.

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2. They could do nothing to save themselves.

3. They both had an equal opportunity to be saved.

The third statement from the cross - Joh 19:26-27 - deals with the word compassion.

Luk 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this {Child} is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed”

Luk 2:35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul - to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.

Each one of them was named Mary, because the name means bitterness.

The affection and care that the Lord showed others while going through the tremendous suffering of the cross.

Gal 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load.

He calls her woman, not mother, not out of any disrespect to her, but because mother would have brought in some heretical doctrine.

Sometimes, when God removes one comfort from us, He replaces it with another for us.

1Sa 22:3 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”

It is a great honor to be utilized by Christ, and entrusted with any of His interest in the world.

Even at such a time, TLJC did not consider natural ties as unworthy of recognition.

2Co 5:16 Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

Mat 26:56 Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

Mat 26:31 You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, “I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.”

Compassion = a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another’s suffering or misfortune accompanied by a desire to alleviate the pain and remove its cause.

The Lord is compassionate toward His people and expects them to be compassionate toward others, 1Ki 8:50.

Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries 2002