THE SEVEN WORDS Reading: John 13 In these times and in many parts of the world c

ommemorates the world's most spectacular fact: the death of Jesus on the cross.
A bloody deed, cruel, hateful and yet an act of love and forgiveness. Many citie
s staged events that happened almost 2000 years in Bible lands. On this day I wi
sh we were with our mind for a moment back in time and that together we become s
pectators of the last words of Christ on the cross. To do this we will go to the
gospels of Luke, John and Matthew and extract from there the words of Jesus. 1.
Word of forgiveness Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Luke 2
3:34) We are in a terrible place, all expectant people before the horrific scene
, three people were nailed to the cross. Many people were gathered for the sole
purpose of making fun of Jesus. In those days Jesus was subjected to all kinds o
f bullying, teasing, insults in a word, contempt. Human wickedness crucified wen
t so far, a distinction that they did it only the worst criminals. There was Jes
us, the Son of God. I had enough power to destroy them all or to send angels to
serve him. In only one word could kill everyone and escape with his life. Jesus
pronounces some words, not waiting to hear from people in such a situation of di
stress and pain, but words of forgiveness, of mercy: "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do." Him, interceding for his executioners, pleading at
the same time, in the same place of pain, how-
do still feel all the suffering in his flesh, saying "Father forgive them." Not
only is there no hate in him but that raises a prayer that God does not take acc
ount of their sin, because they are blind, people who can not understand what th
ey are doing or what is happening. People who are living with a blind eye to the
reality of the wonderful presence of God among men in the form of the Son of Go
d, Jesus. Many people today live without knowing God, living God behind, living
wonderful blind to the realities of the spiritual world. His own disciples faile
d to understand how a Messiah, as expected, the Promised One, died on the cross.
Jesus always in all his ministry here on earth was marked by love and mercy to
all and especially to the people abused, neglected or ill. Once again demonstrat
es his mercy even though most can not understand. But there was someone closer t
o Jesus at this time, two thieves, and this leads to the second word spoken by J
esus: 2. Word of hope. This made Jesus a criminal who sometimes are tempted to c
all "good thief" when we should call him "the repentant thief." At this moment,
in this place, there was good or bad thief, the two were worthy of punishment, t
he two had done their best to deserve the punishment of death on the cross, the
worst punishment of the time. But if we find two very different characters. One
concern of himself, preoccupied to get out of the cross, and almost mockingly sp
oke to Jesus for his power, got rid rid Jesus and him too. He did not care
Jesus no, not interested in anything from him, just wanted to solve your problem
. Many people only remember God when something bad happens in your life. The oth
er character, he acknowledges his guilt for being on the cross. He had done well
enough to undergo the punishment. He acknowledged that he deserved just the cro
ss. Not trying to make excuses. A few days ago, in a television program, analyzi
ng the life of a very special prisoner, who was serving a sentence of thirty yea
rs nicknamed "the rat." It was self-taught and had the ability to appear before
the camera as someone good. But at no time was recognized guilty of a misdemeano
r, and for him it was all because of the circumstances of life, society had led
him there. He had, he said, no chance of doing anything else. At no time acknowl
edged his guilt. However the thief recognizes his guilt, acknowledges that Jesus
is condemned unjustly. Possibly he had heard, perhaps lived, ever closer to Jes
us. Perhaps the activity against the cross made him see that Jesus was innocent
and was suffering unjustly. The thief sees him as someone extraordinary, and dar
es to make a request. "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." This thief
trust in Jesus, confident that Jesus has power to win over death. In a word has
faith in Jesus, believed in him and in his words. Jesus appreciate these words o
f confidence and ensures that, when it comes, but now€today will be with Him in
paradise. This thief had no opportunity to do any good work, had no opportunity
to be baptized, said only believe in Jesus and that Jesus brought him to assure
 him eternal salvation in heaven. Friend listener, you like the thief, you can g
o to Jesus in faith and receive the same benefit received by the thief. No matte
r your status, no matter what you've done, Jesus says: "He who
I come, not made out. " Believe in Jesus and be saved, will have eternal life, y
ou have paradise. But Jesus gave even more words, the following is found in John
19:26-27. 3. The word Jesus was concerned care that his mother, who at that tim
e suffered the most, were well cared for and nurtured. Even at this juncture so
difficult when your mind and body are in agony, when as a human being enduring t
he cruel torture of the cross, has a few words for those loved ones who are with
him. Who would look after her mother? The best would be the hands of the belove
d disciple. John needed to Mary and John Mary needed. Jesus unites these two liv
es to help each other. Maria to recover, where possible, to his son. For John to
have a mother. Jesus teaches every Christian to think of the earth, in the duti
es to our neighbors starting with the closest to us. No need to live lives think
ing only in the afterlife, thinking of the glory and the salvation of our lives.
Christianity is also extremely practical. Christianity is not just thinking abo
ut heaven is to live on earth and prove, as Christ did, we serve our God and thi
s is embodied in a service to others. We have duties and opportunities of doing
good. Let's do it. Each person needs help, the encouragement, companionship, lov
e of others. We can not live in isolation and say we do not need anyone. We all
need understanding and love. Jesus also knows and that leaves the care of one an
d other. John and Mary came to the cross and found a son and a mother. As we app
roach the cross, mu-
chas Sometimes we have to give up many things and many things may be nice, but w
e will find something more valuable: the constant presence of Jesus in us. He pr
omised to be with us always until the end of the world. 4. The next word is one
of sadness find it in Matthew 27:46. It is perhaps the most mysterious of all th
e words. It is a sad word, a word of despair. Throughout history, many people ha
ve suffered martyrdom for his faith. Many people have been martyred, enslaved, k
illed, because they believed in a sincere and real in Jesus Christ. But all of t
hem, despite the suffering, never lacked confidence, security, the presence of G
od in their lives. This time Jesus is alone, abandoned by his disciples, abandon
ed by the people he helped, despised by all and now even forsaken of God. How ca
n God be abandoned to itself? N what all theologians and Christians agree on is
that at this moment, and supernaturally, Jesus had all our transgressions, all o
ur iniquities, and God could not, by its purity, endure all this evil. Hence the
feeling of abandonment on the part of Jesus. God can not tolerate or bear the s
in of our lives for large or small. Its purity is so perfect that any speck of s
in, it is immediately discovered and removed, separated from the presence of God
. It is at this time and so we do not understand or comprehend the full extent,
God is judging the sin of all mankind, and does so in the person of Jesus. The s
in is love of us, as we cried in anguish, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?." This wa
s the most horrible time of the crucifixion and the best guarantee for us and ou
r lives. God's love did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for to-
two us (Rom. 8:32). What separate us from the love of God? Not anything or anyon
e. 5. The next word is of necessity find it in John 19:28 and is a very short on
e: "I have thirst." Obviously after the time spent hanging on the cross, exposed
to warm sunshine, after the blood he lost and endured great suffering, physical
needs, is thirsty. This shows that the cross He was a real man, his body felt t
he full weight of horrendous suffering of the cross. Once it has addressed those
present, of the need and demand of the thief on the cross, and others who care
for loved ones, after feeling the full weight of human sin,€now feels a persona
l need: "I have thirst." The latest prophecy is fulfilled, the last enemy in lif
e is up, now everything depends on the people, the plan of God is done, this bri
ngs us to the sixth floor we find in John 19:30: "It is finished." 6. Warranty W
ord Jesus had fulfilled the task successfully. Jesus had done the work entrusted
to it and satisfaction you can say "I have done," is already done, is done. God
 in His sovereignty, His majesty and power, decides to human, limited to a human
body, born, to live among men, being one of them, showing us how we should live
and then go to the cross to carry, forgiving, clean all and clean our sins and
to stand before God's presence.
This work was difficult, painful, but now it is finished. Now anyone, anywhere,
any condition can approach the cross, place their faith in Christ and enjoy a ne
w relationship with God that had been broken by sin. Again we can relate to our
Creator, our God. These words contain both a security and a wonderful hope. The
man can now approach God, the price for our transgressions is paid, the bill is
paid. We have been bought by the blood of Christ. Glory to God! We entered the l
ast words of Christ found in Luke 23:46. 7. Word of confidence Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit. Once all the work, after carrying out the whole plan
and purpose of God, rest assured and confident of his Father. Death no longer pr
oduces panic. The last enemy has been defeated. Now death is not horrible, dark,
dark. Death is only a step to be given to enter into a relationship with our Fa
ther God. " With what confidence Jesus dies. It is the anguish of someone who kn
ows where it goes, but the tranquility of knowing that on the other side awaits
his Father. In John 14:1-3, Jesus tells us that going to prepare a place for us,
will prepare a place for you and me. Death for the believer means a higher prof
it. In earthly life we move by faith, walk without seeing the spiritual reality
in a visible but after that we can contemplate face to face, live, in the very p
resence of God. How wonderful for believers. We join the apostle Paul when addre
ssing the
Philippians tells the gain that represents death: Because for me to live is Chri
st and to die is gain (Phil 1:21). CONCLUSION Jesus asked forgiveness for all an
d that includes you and me, promised eternal life to the thief, as I promise to
you and me. Care provided Jesus Maria and John as well as provide for you and me
. He suffered for you the burden of your sins to the point of feeling abandoned
by God and endure a scorching thirst. Before giving his Spirit to the Father cou
ld exclaim with a firmness that divine work of salvation, ie the work of your sa
lvation and mine, was consummated. We then have assurance of our salvation becau
se it lies in ourselves but in Christ. But while we have a responsibility as his
children that this message of salvation comes to everyone. Let us join the chur
ch of the saved by the One who gave us life through His death on the cross. Amen
.