The Sermon From The Cross
Introduction
(Luke 23:33–49)
Seven sayings from Calvary form a living sermon. These
Spirit-preserved words reveal forgiveness, compassion, hope,
atonement, humility, trust, and completion. Hearing the Savior’s
voice at the cross, we learn how to live, how to die, and how to
come home to God (Luke 23:33–49).
Forgiveness:
“Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)
The cross unveils the purpose of Jesus’ death—real forgiveness. He
petitions the Father while nails still hold His body to the wood.
The sacrifice He offers satisfies God’s will for remission of sins
(Hebrews 10:10–12). God’s love acts first; “while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Actual pardon reached
many of those very hearers when they believed, repented, and were
baptized on Pentecost (Acts 2:36–38). The Lord taught His disciples
to forgive and then practiced that teaching at Calvary (Matthew
6:14–15).
Provision:
“Woman, behold your son…Behold your mother.” (John 19:26–27)
From the cross Jesus arranges care for Mary through the apostle
John. The address “Woman” fits a respectful first-century form of
speech (John 2:4). Even while dying, He honors the command to care
for one’s own household (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; 1 Timothy
5:8). The Lord entrusts Mary to John and John to Mary, modeling
faithful provision when strength and resources seem gone.
Mercy and
Hope: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
One criminal turns to Jesus in humble faith (Luke 23:41). The Savior
promises immediate fellowship in Paradise. With this pledge He
affirms conscious life beyond death and offers comfort for the dying
(Hebrews 4:9; John 11:26). His compassion receives the penitent and
assures the obedient that grace is abundant.
Atonement
and Separation: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew
27:46; Mark 15:34)
The Sin-Bearer bears our penalty. He is the propitiation for the
sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Sin brings separation from God
(Isaiah 59:2). On the cross He “made Him who knew no sin to be sin
for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Isaiah foresaw this suffering: wounded
for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).
The cry of dereliction exposes the horror of separation and warns
every soul to stand firm (2 Peter 3:17) and flee the judgment
awaiting those who refuse the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
Humanity:
“I thirst.” (John 19:28)
The Word became flesh (John 1:14). The same One who is God (John
1:1) endures real human pain—blood loss, shock, and crushing thirst.
He was tempted in every respect and remained without sin (Hebrews
4:15). His thirst recalls the rich man’s plea for a drop of water
and urges us to receive the salvation that spares from everlasting
anguish (Luke 16:24).
Trust and
Destiny: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
At death Jesus entrusts His spirit to the Father, testifying to
human immortality and to the safety of a life placed in God’s hands.
Throughout His ministry He always pleased the Father (John 8:29),
laid aside the privileges of equality, took the form of a servant,
and obeyed to the point of death (Philippians 2:6–8). He completed
the work given Him (John 17:4). Each person will meet this moment;
it is appointed for humans to die once and then to face judgment
(Hebrews 9:27).
Completion:
“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
Before time the hope of eternal life stood in God’s purpose (Titus
1:2). The Levitical sacrifices never removed sin (Hebrews 10:1, 4).
The spotless Lamb offered Himself of surpassing worth. At Calvary
the redemptive work reached its goal. The price was paid;
reconciliation stands open through obedient faith in Jesus the
Christ.
The Sermon From
The Cross Sermon Outline:
-
Text:
Luke 23:33–49; the Seven Sayings from the Cross
-
Thesis:
Jesus’ words from the cross teach forgiveness, provision, mercy,
atonement, humility, trust, and completion, calling every soul
to obedient faith.
-
I.
Forgiveness from the Cross (Luke
23:34; Hebrews 10:10–12; Romans 5:8; Acts 2:36–38; Matthew
6:14–15)
-
II.
Care for Family (John 19:26–27;
John 2:4; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; 1 Timothy 5:8)
-
III.
Mercy and Paradise (Luke
23:41–43; Hebrews 4:9; John 11:26)
-
IV.
Atonement’s Depth (Matthew 27:46;
Mark 15:34; 1 John 2:2; Isaiah 59:2; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah
53:5; 2 Peter 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8)
-
V. True
Humanity (John 19:28; John 1:1,
14; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 16:24)
-
VI.
Committing the Spirit (Luke
23:46; John 8:29; Philippians 2:6–8; John 17:4; Hebrews 9:27)
-
VII.
Finished Work (John 19:30; Titus
1:2; Hebrews 10:1, 4)
Call to
Action
The cross speaks to every heart. Come to the crucified and risen
Lord in obedient faith. Believe the gospel (John 3:16). Confess
Jesus before others (Matthew 10:32–33). Repent of sins (Luke 13:3).
Be baptized for salvation (Mark 16:16). Then continue in loving
obedience, keeping His commandments and doing the Father’s will
(John 14:15; Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:8–9). The Savior who prayed,
provided, pardoned, suffered, trusted, and finished the work now
calls you to follow Him.
Key
Takeaways
-
Forgiveness
flows from the cross and calls for a faithful response (Luke
23:34; Acts 2:38).
-
Christ
models care for family and responsibility under God (John
19:26–27; 1 Timothy 5:8).
-
Paradise
awaits the penitent who turn to Jesus in faith (Luke 23:43; John
11:26).
-
Atonement
exposes sin’s separation and exalts God’s grace (Matthew 27:46;
2 Corinthians 5:21).
-
The Savior’s
thirst affirms true humanity and warns of eternal thirst (John
19:28; Luke 16:24).
-
Trust
commits the spirit to the Father and finishes life’s assignment
(Luke 23:46; John 17:4).
-
“It is
finished” proclaims a complete redemption (John 19:30; Hebrews
10:10–12).
Scripture
Reference List
-
Luke
23:33–49 — Context for the
crucifixion and the seven sayings.
-
Luke
23:34 — Prayer for forgiveness
from the cross.
-
Hebrews
10:10–12 — One offering perfects;
Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice.
-
Romans
5:8 — God’s love displayed while
we were sinners.
-
Acts
2:36–38 — Pentecost response:
faith, repentance, baptism.
-
Matthew
6:14–15 — Forgive to be forgiven.
-
John
19:26–27 — Care for Mary
entrusted to John.
-
John
2:4 — Respectful form of address,
“Woman.”
-
Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20 —
Children honoring and obeying parents.
-
1
Timothy 5:8 — Duty to provide for
one’s household.
-
Luke
23:41–43 — Promise of Paradise to
the penitent thief.
-
Hebrews
4:9 — Rest for God’s people.
-
John
11:26 — Life in Christ that never
ends.
-
Matthew
27:46; Mark 15:34 — The cry of
abandonment.
-
1 John
2:2 — Christ the propitiation for
the whole world.
-
Isaiah
59:2 — Sin separates from God.
-
2
Corinthians 5:21 — He became sin
for us.
-
Isaiah
53:5 — Wounded and bruised for
our iniquities.
-
2 Peter
3:17 — Warning to remain
steadfast.
-
2
Thessalonians 1:8 — Judgment on
those who do not obey the gospel.
-
John
19:28 — “I thirst.”
-
John
1:1, 14 — Deity and incarnation
of the Word.
-
Hebrews
4:15 — Tempted like us, yet
without sin.
-
Luke
16:24 — The rich man’s thirst as
a warning.
-
Luke
23:46 — Committing the spirit to
the Father.
-
John
8:29 — Always pleasing the
Father.
-
Philippians 2:6–8 — Humiliation
and obedience to death.
-
John
17:4 — Work completed for the
Father’s glory.
-
Hebrews
9:27 — Appointment with death and
judgment.
-
John
19:30 — “It is finished.”
-
Titus
1:2 — Hope of eternal life
promised before time.
-
Hebrews
10:1, 4 — Law’s sacrifices
insufficient to remove sin.
-
John
3:16 — Believe for everlasting
life.
-
Matthew
10:32–33 — Confession and denial
before the Father.
-
Luke
13:3 — Necessity of repentance.
-
Mark
16:16 — Belief and baptism unto
salvation.
-
John
14:15 — Love displayed in
obedience.
-
Matthew
7:21 — Doing the Father’s will.
-
Hebrews
5:8–9 — Author of eternal
salvation to all who obey.
Prepared by David Hersey |
The
church of Christ
