David Campbell is minister at North Preston Evangelical Church, and a Trustee of the Banner of Truth.<\/p>\n
The Bible tells us that Jesus spoke seven times as he hung on the cross of Calvary. In order, these seven words from the cross<\/em> are as follows:<\/p>\n To his Father in heaven Jesus said, \u201cFather, forgive them, for they know not what they do\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:34).<\/p>\n To the dying criminal who was being crucified beside Jesus and who asked him to remember him when he came into his kingdom, he said, \u201cTruly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 23:43).<\/p>\n John tells us that when \u201cJesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, \u2018Woman, behold your son!\u2019 Then he said to the disciple, \u2018Behold, your mother\u2019\u201d<\/strong> (John 19:26-27).<\/p>\n Matthew records that \u201cabout the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, \u2018Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?\u2019 that is, \u2018My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\u2019\u201d<\/strong> (Ch.27:46).<\/p>\n After this, \u201cknowing that all was now finished\u201d<\/strong>, Jesus \u201csaid (to fulfil the Scripture), \u2018I thirst\u2019\u201d<\/strong> (John 19:27), in response to which sour wine was held to his lips.<\/p>\n John then tells us that having \u201creceived the sour wine, he said, \u2018It is finished\u2019\u201d<\/strong> (Ch.19:30).<\/p>\n Luke records the seventh and final word: \u201cThen Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, \u2018Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!\u2019 And having said this he breathed his last\u201d <\/strong>(Ch.23:46).<\/p>\n Words from the Cross<\/em>, as the title suggests, is an exposition of these seven remarkable sayings. But it is more than that. \u201cTo appreciate the significance of Jesus\u2019 words from the cross\u201d, says Ian Hamilton, \u201c we must see them in the light of the Old Testament\u2019s foretelling of Jesus\u2019 coming as the long-promised Saviour, the Servant of the Lord who would triumph over Satan and undo the tragedy of Adam\u2019s sin\u201d (p.7). To aid us in this Dr. Hamilton directs our attention in the first part of his book to what are known as Isaiah\u2019s Servant Songs<\/em>. He says of them, \u201cIt is in the prophecy of Isaiah that the portrait of the promised Messiah reaches new heights of clarity. In four passages \u2013 four songs or poems celebrating the coming Messiah \u2013 God paints us a picture of the one he calls \u2018my servant, my chosen one\u2019 (Ch.42:1)\u201d (p.9). A short but illuminating chapter is devoted to each. The book is further enriched by brief meditations on Gethsemane, our Saviour\u2019s arrest and trial, the seven words as a whole, and the miracles that followed Jesus\u2019 death.<\/p>\n Words from the Cross<\/em> is suitable for reading, of course, at any season of the year but will prove especially helpful as a preparation for Easter. The fact that none of the nineteen chapters are long makes it ideal for daily devotions.<\/p>\n Here are some quotations to whet your appetite:<\/p>\n From Chapter 3, The Saviour\u2019s first song<\/em> (Is.42:1-4): \u201cThe dependent nature of this servant\u2019s life is highlighted: God himself will \u2018uphold\u2019 him. God says, \u2018I will put my Spirit upon him.\u2019 In his life of service to the Lord, the Servant will not act autonomously. He will live out his life of service upheld by God and enabled by the Spirit of God. It is this truth that lies behind Jesus\u2019 words, \u2018I can do nothing by myself\u2019\u201d (p.12).<\/p>\n From Chapter 5, The Saviour\u2019s third song<\/em> (Is.50:4-11): \u201cMorning by morning, day by day, he applied himself to hearing, reading, pondering, memorising the written word of God. There were no supernatural shortcuts to understanding. There was no co-mingling of his humanity and deity\u2026Our Saviour knew from experience that there are \u2018No gains without pains\u2019\u201d (p.22-23).<\/p>\n From Chapter 11, \u2018Oh the depth!\u2019<\/em>: \u201cAs we reflect on the chronologically sequential \u2018cross words\u2019 of Jesus, we can recognise a theological and spiritual progression. His words from the cross are not random utterances. They are deeply related, revealing a theology of the cross that marvellously displays the character of God\u201d (p.53).<\/p>\n