INTRODUCTION
In Christianity, the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross are the "Seven Saving Works of the Son." These acts are believed to offer redemption and eternal life to believers. Additionally, the rest found in Christ, symbolized by the Cross and the Sabbath, represents a profound spiritual significance. This teaching explores the Seven Saving Works and their connection to the Cross and the Sabbath. Let the Bible speak.
THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD
Zec 3:9 says, “For
behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven
eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and
I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day,”
Eph 2:20 says, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
Rev 5:6 says, “And
I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in
the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns
and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the
earth.”
The seven Spirits which were upon the Son and by which He spoke
the seven ‘I AM’ statements are:
The spirit of wisdom,
The spirit of understanding,
The spirit of counsel,
The spirit of might,
The spirit of knowledge, and
Isa 11:1-2 says, “And there
shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of
his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and
of the fear of the LORD.”
“I am the light of the world” (Joh 8:12),
“I am the door of the sheep” (Joh 10:7,9),
“I am the resurrection and the life” (Joh 11:25),
“I am the good shepherd” (Joh 10:11, 14),
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Joh 14:6),
“I am the true vine” (Joh 15:1, 5).
THE SEVEN SAYINGS OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS
Not all seven sayings can be found in any one account of Jesus'
crucifixion. The ordering is a bringing together of the texts from each of the
four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These seven sayings are words of:
·
Forgiveness,
·
Salvation,
·
Relationship,
·
Abandonment,
·
Distress,
·
Triumph,
·
Reunion.
THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF SALVATION
The finished work of Christ by which we enter His rest are revealed in these seven statements He spoke as He was slain on the cross. Seven is the number of perfection, and these seven last words of Christ are God's completion of the believer’s salvation.
These phrases offer a hint into the
depth of Christ’s suffering to accomplish redemption, and by them Christ
unlocked the sevenfold inheritance of the believer, ending in rest! These seven
sayings of Christ on the cross unlocked the seven aspects of the meaning of the
compound word ‘salvation’ (Hebrew ‘yeshua’
and Greek ‘sozo’), which are:
·
Delivered
·
Protected
·
Healed
·
Preserved
·
Saved
·
Do Well
·
Be Made Whole
From this meaning of salvation we see these seven blessings:
·
Eternal life,
·
Deliverance,
·
Righteousness,
·
Healing and Health,
·
Prosperity,
·
Peace
·
Rest
These seven blessings are the ‘things that belong to salvation.’
Heb 6:9 (ESV) says, “Though
we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things-things
that belong to salvation.”
The seven blessings of salvation are in the feast of Atonement of
the Old Testament, which is the shadow of the Atoning work of Christ on the
cross.
Rom 5:10-11 says, “For if,
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more,
being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also
joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement.”
Isaiah prophesied of the Atonement of Jesus Christ with the
blessings of salvation.
Isa 53:1-12 (AMP) says, “Who
has believed [confidently trusted in, relied on, and adhered to] our message
[of salvation]? And to whom [if not us] has the arm and infinite power of the
Lord been revealed? For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a
tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form
or majestic splendor That we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that
we would [a]be attracted to Him. He was despised and rejected by men, A Man of
sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; And like One from whom men hide
their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.
But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and
pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and
degraded and humiliated [by Him]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He
was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The
punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes
(wounds) we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned,
each one, to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our
sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us]. He was
oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or
defend Himself]; Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, And like a sheep
that is silent before her shearers, So He did not open His mouth. ]After
oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation [His
contemporaries], who [among them] concerned himself with the fact That He was
cut off from the land of the living [by His death] For the transgression of my
people, to whom the stroke [of death] was due? His grave was assigned with the
wicked, But He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no
violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. Yet the Lord was willing To
crush Him, causing Him to suffer; If He would give Himself as a guilt offering
[an atonement for sin], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall
prolong His days, And the will (good pleasure) of the Lord shall succeed and
prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He shall see it
and be satisfied; By His knowledge [of what He has accomplished] the Righteous
One, My Servant, shall justify the many [making them righteous—upright before
God, in right standing with Him], For He shall bear [the responsibility for]
their sins. Therefore, I will divide and give Him a portion with the great
[kings and rulers], And He shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because He
[willingly] poured out His life to death, And was counted among the
transgressors; Yet He Himself bore and took away the sin of many, And
interceded [with the Father] for the transgressors.”
The seven blessings of salvation and the Atonement are also
revealed in the sevenfold promise of the blessing which God gave Abraham.
Gal 3:13-14 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Gen 12:1 says, “Get out
of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that
I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your
name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall
be blessed.”
Here God gave these seven promises of blessing to Abraham:
·
I will make you a great nation
·
I will bless you
·
I will make you name great
·
You will be a blessing
·
I will bless those who bless you
·
I will curse those who curse you
·
In you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.
God also gave the seven blessings in the Abrahamic covenant to
Israel - the natural seed of Abraham, through Moses.
Exo 6:6-8 says, “Say
therefore to the sons of Israel: “I am the LORD; I will bring you out from
under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will deliver you from their bondage, and
I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I
will take you for My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I
am the LORD your God who brought you out from under the burdens of the
Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you for a possession: I am the LORD.”
The seven blessings in this promise to Israel are:
·
I will bring you out from under the burdens of the
Egyptians
·
I will deliver you from their bondage
·
I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and
with great judgments
·
I will take you for My people
·
I will be your God
·
I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to
Abraham
·
I will give it to you for a possession.
The seven blessings of salvation also match with the seven things
in the seven seals of the scroll/book of Revelation which also were unlocked by
and given to Christ in His crucifixion, and are:
·
Power,
·
Riches,
·
Wisdom,
·
Strength,
·
Honour,
·
Glory,
·
Blessing
Rev 5:5-6, 12 says, “And
one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll
and its seven seals." And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth… Saying with a loud voice, Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory,
and blessing.”
Christ did not receive this sevenfold inheritance of salvation
for Himself, He did it for humanity. The seals by which the seven blessings of
salvation were unlocked in the cross are:
Seal 2: Red Horse (Rev 6:3-4)
Seal 3: Black Horse (Rev 6:5-6)
Seal 4: Pale or Speckled Horse (Rev 6:7-8)
Seal 5: The Martyrs’ Cry (Rev 6:9-11)
Seal 6: Judgment Signs (Rev 6:12-17)
Seal 7: Silence in Heaven (Rev 8:1)
The seven seals contain seven enemies opposed to the seven
components of salvation:
Seal 2: The Red Horse removes peace by violence (Rev 6:3-4)
Seal 3: The Black Horse removes prosperity riches by famine (Rev 6:5-6)
Seal 4: The Pale or Speckled Horse launches an attack on life by death (Rev 6:7-8)
Seal 5: The Martyrs’ Cry is an attack on righteousness by persecution (Rev 6:9-11)
Seal 6: The Judgment Signs are an attack on the healing glory by gloom (Rev 6:12-17)
Seal 7: Silence in Heaven removes the power to rest on earth (Rev 8:1)
The seven seals also unlock the seven blessings of Revelation, which match to the seven elements of salvation. The seven blessings of Revelation are found in Revelation 1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, and 22:14.
HOW CHRIST UNLOCKED THE SEVENFOLD INHERITANCE OF SALVATION
We will now look at the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross and
see how Christ unlocked the sevenfold inheritance of the believer through His
sevenfold work of the cross to finally establish the believer’s REST.
1. Jesus Speaks to Unlock Healing as Jehovah Rapha/The Spirit of counsel
Luk 23:34 says, “Then said
Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do...”
This first saying of Jesus on the cross is the Word of
forgiveness which was directed to the Father. It is Jesus' prayer for
forgiveness for the Roman soldiers who were crucifying him and all others who
were involved in His crucifixion. In the midst of His painful suffering, the heart of Jesus was
focused on others rather than Himself. Here we see how His unconditional and
divine love unlocked healing from the wounds of His suffering.
1Pe 2:23-24 (ESV) says, “When
he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not
threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself
bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
David made a striking prophecy of the crucifixion and wounds of
the Messiah at a time when crucifixion was not known to exist.
Psa 22:16-17 says, "They
have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones."
If Jesus had retaliated at His tormentors, His wounds would have
released judgment instead of healing on His tormentors.
Mat 8:14-17 (AMP) says, “When
Jesus went into Peter’s house [in Capernaum], He saw Peter’s mother-in-law
lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her; and
she got up and served Him. When evening came, they brought to Him many who were
under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and
restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah], so
that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He Himself took our
infirmities [upon Himself] and carried away our diseases.”
Jesus unlocked healing by the Spirit of Jehovah
Rapha, also known as the Spirit of counsel. When Jesus said ‘I AM the Bread of
life’ (Joh 6:35, 41, 48 & 51), He revealed Himself to be full of the Spirit
of counsel or Jehovah Rapha (I AM who heals) who gave healing to the children
of Israel by the counsel of His Word.
Psa 107:20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them…”
Mat 15:22-28 says, “And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was
crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely
oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples
came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after
us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord,
help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to
the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs
that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O
woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her
daughter was healed instantly.”
2. Jesus Speaks to Unlock Eternal Life as Jehovah Shammah/The Spirit of the fear of the Lord
Luk 23:43 (ISV) says, “Jesus
said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in
Paradise."
This second saying of Jesus on the cross is the Word of salvation
which was directed at one of the two thieves between whom Jesus was crucified,
the one who supports Jesus' innocence and asked to remember by Christ when He
would come into His kingdom. Jesus replied promising him eternal life in
Paradise (the heavenly garden of Eden). In this saying Christ unlocked the
blessing of eternal life to all who would believe in and identify with Him in
His death.
Rom 6:8 says, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.”
2Ti 2:11 says, “It is a
faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.”
Jesus
unlocked the blessing of eternal life through the light of the gospel as Jehovah
Shammah, also known as the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. When Jesus said ‘I
AM the Light of the world,’ He revealed Himself to be Jehovah Shammah (I AM is
there) who will forever light the New Jerusalem city with the unapproachable
Light of His presence which brings out the fear of God in the hearts of men.
Eze 48:35 says, “It
shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about: and the name of the city from
that day shall be, Jehovah is there,”
1Ti 6:16 says, “Who
only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;
whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.
Amen,”
2Ti 1:10 says, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Rev 21:22-23 says, “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the
Lamb, are the temple thereof. And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of
the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the
lamp thereof is the Lamb.”
3. Jesus Speaks to Unlock Prosperity as Jehovah Ra-ah/ The Spirit of wisdom
Joh 19:26–27 says, “When
Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved,
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, thy son!" After that, he said
to the disciple, "Son, behold, thy mother!" And from that hour, that
disciple took her unto his own home.”
This third saying of Jesus on the cross is the Word of
relationship, and in it Jesus entrusted Mary his mother into the care of ‘the
disciple whom He loved.’ This is the only saying in which Jesus spoke to more
than one listener. Naked and poor, He left no inheritance for the care of His
mother after His death, and He had to leave His mother in the care of the
disciple He loved and trusted. Christ was so poor that the only inheritance He
left behind Him was His only robe, which His tormentors divided among
themselves by casting lots.
Mar 15:24 says, “And when
they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what
every man should take.”
Christ’s poor inheritance and its distribution by the casting of
lots was in fulfilment of another messianic prophecy in Psalm.
Psa 22:18 says, “They part
my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
Joh 19:24 says, “They
said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it,
whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They
parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These
things therefore the soldiers did.”
This saying exposes Christ’s poverty and by saying it He unlocked
the blessing of prosperity on the believer.
2Co 8:9 (ISV) says, “For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, for your
sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.”
Jesus
unlocked prosperity as Jehovah Ra-ah, also known
as the Spirit of
wisdom.
When Jesus said ‘I AM the Good Shepherd,’ He revealed
Himself as Jehovah Ra-ah (I AM is my Shepherd) who guides His sheep out of
lack, to prosperity.
Psa 23:1-6 says, “The
LORD is my shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD forever.”
4. Jesus Cries Out to Unlock Righteousness as Jehovah Tsedek/ The Spirit of knowledge
Mat 27:46 and Mark 15:34 say, “And
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
This third saying of Jesus on the cross is the Word of
abandonment of the Son by the Father, and in it Jesus addressed the Father as
God as a sign of His abandonment. This is the only saying which appears in two
gospels, and is a quote from Psalm.
Psa 22:1 says, “…My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from
the words of my roaring?”
Both gospels related that it was in the ninth hour, after 3 hours
of darkness, when He cried out this fourth saying. The ninth hour was three
o'clock in Judea. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the Messianic prophecy of the
suffering Servant of the Lord who would take away people’s sins.
Isa 53:11-12 (ESV) says, “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
Mar 15:28 says, “And
the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the
transgressors.”
At the moment when Jesus took upon Himself the sins of humanity,
and the Father had to turn away from the Son because He is of pure eyes and
cannot look at sin.
Hab 1:12-13 (ESV) says, “Are
you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? …You who are of purer
eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong…”
By this saying Christ unlocked righteousness for the believer on
the cross. Christ Jesus bore the full weight of our sin by becoming sin, so
that we may become the righteousness of God upon believing in Him.
2Co 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1Pet 2:24 says, "He
himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we
might live for righteousness..."
Jesus
unlocked righteousness as Jehovah Tsedek, being
filled with the Spirit of knowledge. When
Jesus said ‘I AM the True Vine,’ He revealed Himself to be Jehovah Tsedek (I AM
is our righteousness) who would bring salvation to old Israel and make many
righteous by the knowledge of Christ’s finished work of salvation.
Isa 53:11 (ESV) says, “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by
his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted
righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”
Jer 23:5-6 says, “Behold,
the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous
Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and
justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell
safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
5. Jesus Speaks to Unlock Peace as Jehovah Shalom/the Spirit of understanding
Joh 19:28-29 (ESV) says, “After
this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might
be accomplished, saith, I thirst. There was set there a vessel full of vinegar:
so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his
mouth."
This fifth saying of Jesus on the cross is the Word of distress
and is the second one Christ directed at His tormentors. As in the other
accounts, Jesus was offered a drink of vinegar by a sponge dipped in the bitter
wine on a hyssop branch and held to His lips. Hyssop is a small plant that was
used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts of the Hebrews
(Exo 12:22). This saying of Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Psalm,
hence the comment ‘to fulfill the scriptures.’
Psa 69:21 says, "...
and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
Jesus had refused the initial drink of vinegar, gall, and myrrh
offered when He wished to quench His thirst; but several hours later He
fulfilled the messianic prophecy by drinking the bitter wine.
Mat 27:34 says, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.”
Mar 15:23 says, “And
they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.”
Gall represents bitterness of the heart in the bible, and it what
made the wine ‘too sour to drink.’
Act 8:23 says, “For I
perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”
Myrrh is also a bitter spice of sorrow, distress, grief or
mourning in the bible.
Isa 61:3 (ESV) says, “To
grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead
of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning (myrrh)...”
So Christ drank myrrh to give us joy and peace. They gave Him
bitter wine not knowing that they were fulfilling the scripture of giving
strong wine to the heavily hearted Messiah ready to die for His people.
Pro 31:6 says, “Give strong
drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy
hearts.”
By this saying of distress Christ was unlocking the blessing of
peace, for He was punished for our peace.
Isa 53:3-5 (ESV) says, “He
was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. …upon him was
the chastisement that brought us peace…”
Jesus
unlocked peace as Jehovah Shalom, being filled with the Spirit of understanding. When
Jesus said ‘I AM the Door of the sheep,’ He revealed Himself as Jehovah Shalom
(I AM is our peace) who brought peace by reconciliation between God and man
through His shed blood on the cross.
Jdg 6:22-23 says, “And
when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O
Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the
LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.” Then
Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah shalom:
unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”
Rom 5:1 says, “Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ.”
Is took the Spirit of understanding to establish the
peace of God which goes beyond human understanding on the cross.
Pro 11:12 says, “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.”
Php 4:7 says, “And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.”
6. Jesus Speaks to Unlock Deliverance as Jehovah Nissi/The Spirit of might
Joh 19:30 says, “When Jesus
therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his
head, and gave up the ghost.”
This sixth statement of Jesus on the cross is the Word of victory and is the only statement directed all the people who were present at Golgotha. ‘It is finished’ (Greek ‘tetelestai’) is the official announcement of the end of the curse of the by the crucifixion of Jesus. These last words are a cry of victory as Jesus had now completed what He came to do as a sacrifice offered to pay the penalty of sin on behalf of humanity.
As He died, it was finished. The words ‘it is finished’ on business documents or receipts have been used to denote that ‘the debt is paid in full.’ Jesus knew he was suffering the crucifixion for a purpose. Earlier he had said, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (Joh 10:18 - NIV).
The gospel of John recalls the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12 in this passage. The soldiers offered wine on a sprig of hyssop to the Lord. Hyssop is a small plant that was used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts of the Hebrews (Exo 12:22). John's gospel related that it was the Day of Preparation, the day before the actual Sabbath Passover, that Jesus was sentenced to death (Joh 19:14) and sacrificed on the Cross (Joh 19:31).
Joh 19:33-34 says, "But
when they came to Jesus and saw he was already dead, they did not break his
legs."
This fulfilled the instruction in Exodus about the Passover Lamb.
Exo 12:46 says, “It shall
be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house,
and you shall not break any of its bones.”
He died at the ninth hour (three o'clock in the afternoon), about
the same time as the Passover lambs were slaughtered in the temple. So Christ
became our Passover Lamb.
1Cor 5:7 says, "For
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed."
The innocent Lamb was slain for our sins, so that we might be
forgiven. It is now a work accomplished. The sixth word of Jesus on the cross
unlocked our deliverance as we passed over from the curse of the law.
Gal 3:13 (BBE) says, “Christ
has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us:
because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by
hanging on a tree.”
These three words were packed with meaning, for the very reason
and purpose Christ came to earth was finished. The words were saying the
promised deliverance to the captives was paid for in full (Luk 4:18), and the
prisoners now were free! Soon He would lead the prisoners out of captivity in
His resurrection!
Eph 4:8 (ESV) says, “Therefore
it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave
gifts to men."
Jesus unlocked deliverance to
the believer as Jehovah Nissi, being filled with the Spirit of
might.
By the empowerment of Spirit of might, God gave
deliverance unto Syria through Naaman the leper.
2Ki 5:1 says, “Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king
of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him
the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour,
but he was a leper.”
When
Jesus said ‘I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life,’ He revealed Himself as
Jehovah Nissi (I AM is my Banner) who protects His children and makes them
shine His Light and Life in victory, by lifting the standard of His Truth among
them.
Exo
17:15-16 (LITV) says, “And Moses built an
altar. And he called its name, Jehovah My Banner. And he said, A hand
is on the throne of Jehovah; war is to Jehovah with Amalek from generation
to generation.”
A banner then was not a flag such as we use nowadays. Often it was a bare pole with a bright shining decoration which flashed in the sun. The word here for banner means to shine, exaltation, a pole, ensign, standard, and a miracle working hand.
As a flag or standard it was a sign to God's people to march to
Him. It stood for His cause, His battle. It is the word for the pole on which
the brazen serpent was raised in the wilderness, and is the word used by the
psalmist as ‘lift up.’
Psa
4:6 says, "Lord, lift thou up
the light of thy countenance upon us."
The
lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness was a shadow of how Christ would be
lifted up on the cross.
Joh
3:14 says, “And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”
When
we look at the crucified Christ who was lifted up as our banner on the cross,
we will enjoy deliverance from the bondage of the enemy.
Heb 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Joh 8:32-36 says, “And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered unto him, We are
Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou,
Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Everyone that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the bondservant
abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth forever. If therefore the
Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
7. Reunion: Jesus Speaks to Unlock Rest as Jehovah Jireh/The Spirit of the Lord
Luk 23:46 says, “And when
Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my
spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."
This seventh and last saying of Jesus on the cross is the Word of
reunion and is the announcement of Jesus joining the Father in heaven. Here
Jesus used the words of Psalm praying to the Father, who alone could raise Him
from the grave.
Psa 31:4-5 (MKJV), “Bring
me out of the net that they hid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your
hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, the God of
truth.”
These last words of Jesus from the cross show His absolute trust in the Father to be raised from the dead as He surrendered His Spirit into the Father’s safekeeping hands. We see his complete trust in the Father. The seventh word of Jesus just before He died unlocked the blessing of rest for believer.
Jesus entered rest from His complete works after offering up His life
as the perfect sacrifice of salvation and placing Himself in the Father's hands
through death. The death of the righteous is ‘sleep,’ and sleep is the natural
state of rest in which eyes are closed and the mind and body are inactive. That
is why those who die in Christ are said to have rested from their works.
Rev 14:13 (ESV) says, “And
I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the
Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds
follow them!"
So when Christ commended His Spirit into the Father’s hands and
died, He entered into His own rest as God the Son in the same way the Father
entered into His rest on the seventh creative day! This is the rest He had
promised to give to all who were heavily laden and labouring to keep the Law,
only if they would come unto Him and believe in His message which is an easier
and lighter burden than the Law.
Mat 11:28-30 (ESV) says, “Come
to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light."
Jesus
unlocked the blessing of rest as Jehovah Jireh, also known
as the Spirit of the Lord. When Jesus said ‘I AM the Resurrection and the
Life,’ He revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh (I AM will see) who appeared to
Abraham, the His resurrection after dying as the human sacrifice was seen on
mount Calvary.
Gen 22:14 says, “And
Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh: as it is said to
this day, In the mount of the LORD it (the resurrection) shall be seen.
By the Spirit of the Lord, Christ had mastery
over death and rested His Spirit into the hands of the Father knowing that He
would pick it up and rise from the dead on the third day by His own will and
power.
Joh 10:17-18 says, “Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my
Father.”
CONCLUSION
Understanding and embracing the saving works and the rest they offer enables believers to experience the fullness of God's grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. May we continually strive to comprehend and live in the light of these profound truths, rejoicing in the salvation and rest found in Jesus Christ.
