part 6

[Virtual Presenter] Hello everyone, today we will be discussing the record of Jesus Christ's words on the cross as written in the Bible. The Bible does not provide many details of Jesus' suffering, but it does record His words. These words fulfilled prophecies and served as a model for Christians. The seven statements from the cross can be divided into three parts, showcasing Jesus' concern for others, His suffering, and His cries of victory. Let's look at each statement in detail. The first statement was "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Here, Jesus prayed for His persecutors, following His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. This serves as an example for us as Christians to also pray for those who may persecute us. Next, we have "You will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43), demonstrating the power of God's forgiveness as Jesus interacted with the thieves on the cross. Thirdly, we have "Behold your mother!" (John 19:26, 27), where Jesus expresses His love for His mother and entrusts her care to His disciple, John. Moving on, the fourth statement is "Why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46, 47), showcasing Jesus' deep anguish and suffering. Finally, we have "I thirst" (John 19:28) and "It is finished" (John 19:30), showing Jesus' humanity and completion of fulfilling God's plan for our salvation. Through His death on the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins. In conclusion, the Savior's words on the cross demonstrate His love, forgiveness, and obedience to God's will. As Christians, we can learn from these powerful words and strive to follow in Jesus' footsteps. Thank you for watching and stay tuned for our next session..

[Audio] In the final moments of Jesus Christ's life, He made a seventh statement on the cross, recorded in Luke 23:46. He cried out, "Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit!" By saying this, Jesus showed His complete trust in God, even in the midst of His suffering and death. This statement serves as a model for us to follow in entrusting our own lives to God. After this, Jesus' body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. However, before this, some unusual events took place. According to Matthew 27:45-54, darkness fell over the land for three hours, causing fear among those near the cross. At the moment of Jesus' death, the veil in the temple was torn in two, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and mankind through Jesus' sacrifice. There was also a great earthquake, which opened tombs and even raised some of the dead back to life. These miraculous events served as a powerful testimony to the truth of who Jesus was and what He had accomplished on the cross. Even the centurion in charge of Jesus' crucifixion was impacted by these events. Though he may not have fully believed in Jesus as his Savior, his heart was open to the truth. Finally, Jesus' body was buried according to Jewish law by Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus. This fulfilled the prophecy that a criminal must be buried before sundown on the day of their death. The tomb was sealed with a heavy stone. As we reflect on these events, let us remember the depth of Jesus' love for us and the ultimate sacrifice He made on the cross. May we also follow His example of complete trust and surrender to God, even in our own struggles and sufferings. The remaining statements of Jesus on the cross will be explored in the upcoming presentation..

[Audio] Our study of the Bible's record of Jesus Christ's words on the cross now shifts to the final stage of His story - His resurrection and ascension. This section emphasizes the sufficiency of Jesus' death, reaffirms the literal bodily resurrection, and delves into the impact of this significant event. We begin by considering Jesus' burial. After His last words on the cross, He yielded up His spirit and two men, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, were directed by God to care for His body. Joseph sought permission from Pilate to bury Jesus and with Nicodemus's help, they prepared His body for burial and placed it in a tomb. We then witness Jesus rising from the dead. On the third day, an earthquake shook the ground and an angel appeared, rolling back the stone that sealed the tomb. The guards were terrified and fainted at the sight. When they regained consciousness, they found the tomb empty and fled in fear. This miraculous event serves as the ultimate proof of Jesus' sufficiency and power over death. He did not die like others, but as the sole Victor over sin and death. He sacrificed Himself for our sins and, in doing so, fulfilled prophecies and set an example for Christians. Finally, Jesus appeared to His followers and commissioned them before His ascension to heaven. This marks the beginning of the spread of the gospel and the birth of the Christian faith. It also demonstrates Jesus' love for His mother, His care for others, and the power of forgiveness. In conclusion, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ are crucial aspects of His story, solidifying His role as our Savior and Messiah. Let us continue to reflect on the depth of His love and the power of His sacrifice as we move forward in our faith. Thank you for joining me for this section of our presentation..

[Audio] In this section, we will discuss the accounts of Jesus' appearances to his followers after his resurrection, serving as a powerful reminder of his love and redemption for all mankind. Firstly, Jesus appeared to the women who had gone to his tomb and Mary Magdalene, who did not initially recognize him. Jesus then revealed himself to her and she shared the news with Peter and John. Next, he appeared to the other women as they were returning to Bethany, showing the impact of his resurrection on those who witnessed it. In another incident, Jesus appeared to Cleopas and his companion on their way to Emmaus, revealing his identity only when he broke bread with them. This interaction provided insight into the thoughts and emotions of Jesus' followers after his death. The disciples also struggled with despair and confusion over Jesus' death, but he revealed himself to them and they went on to share the news with others. Finally, Jesus appeared to the disciples who had gathered in Jerusalem, addressing their doubts and helping them understand the events of the past few days through the Scriptures. This section concludes with Jesus commissioning his disciples to spread the message of his resurrection and redemption. Reflecting on these appearances, we are reminded of Jesus' love, forgiveness, and faithfulness. May we follow his example and share his message of hope and salvation with the world..

[Audio] When reflecting on the life of Jesus Christ, His words on the cross hold a significant meaning. These words show His concern for others, the power of forgiveness, His love for His mother, His deep anguish and suffering, and even His physical thirst. They also fulfilled prophecies and served as a model for Christians. In the book of Acts, we see Jesus appearing to His disciples for the last time near Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. They asked Him if He would restore His kingdom to Israel at that time, and in His infinite wisdom, Jesus answered that it was not yet time. However, He did give them more details about their mission as His disciples. He told them that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. He also promised that the Holy Spirit would empower them to carry out this mission. After Jesus ascended to Heaven from the Mount of Olives, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and waited for the Holy Spirit to come, as He had promised. When the Spirit empowered them, their lives were forever changed. Jesus' resurrection had transformed them, and they became bold in the power of the Spirit, fearlessly preaching to the very crowd who had crucified Christ. This was evident in Peter's powerful preaching on the Day of Pentecost. Through His words on the cross, Jesus not only fulfilled prophecies and set an example for Christians, but He also empowered His disciples to spread His message to the ends of the earth. May we be inspired by His words and follow in His footsteps, fulfilling our own mission of sharing His love and message with the world..

[Audio] As we near the end of our presentation, it is important to reflect on the final moments of Jesus Christ's life on the cross. Despite the intense physical and emotional agony He endured, Jesus displayed remarkable compassion for others. He pleaded with God to forgive those who were crucifying Him and even offered the promise of paradise to the criminal beside Him. In His last breaths, Jesus exemplified the power of forgiveness by willingly taking on the sins of the world and sacrificing Himself out of perfect love. This act serves as a powerful example for all Christians to follow in our own lives. On the cross, Jesus also demonstrated His love for His mother by entrusting her care to His beloved disciple John. This selfless act reminds us to value and honor our own families. Let us not overlook the immense anguish and suffering that Jesus endured on the cross. He bore the weight of all our sins and was separated from God for the first time in eternity. Despite this, He remained faithful to His mission and fulfilled countless prophecies even in His dying moments. In His final recorded words, Jesus expressed His human thirst, reminding us of His humanity and the incredible sacrifice He made for us. As we come to a close, let us remember the astounding love and grace that Jesus showed on the cross. His words and actions serve as a model for us to follow as we strive to live as true Christians. We appreciate you taking the time to listen..