Publisher's Synopsis
This book has been written to examine the seven statements that Jesus had made while He was on the cross. When someone is about to pass away, their final words are often worth remembering, and that is definitely true of the Lord. In the first five chapters of this text, many of the events that had led to His crucifixion will be discussed. The Old Testament prophecies about His coming, His mission while on earth, and His Incarnation will be considered. A conversation that He had had with Nicodemus will be examined to see why He had had to be crucified as opposed to experiencing some other kind of death. His apprehension by the Roman forces will be discussed, along with the six different trials that He had experienced before being condemned to die. Then the Roman scourging that He had experienced will be described. Chapter four will conclude by indicating two of the reasons that the Jewish people had been so adamant about rejecting Him as their Messiah.
With that background material in place, chapters six through ten will then look at each of the seven statements that Jesus had made while on the cross. As will be seen at that time, each statement that He had made had had significance. One thing that will be considered is whether or not the people whom He had prayed for enroute to Golgotha were actually forgiven. Another part of the study will look at the differences between paradise in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. That part will also explain why they are different. The discussion will look at why Jesus had asked His Father about being forsaken and also at what He had meant when He had said that it is finished. From looking at each of His seven statements, it will be clear that He had been selfless right up until the last breath of His life. Chapter ten of this text will follow the examination of His statements on the cross and briefly consider what the scriptures say relative to His deity and Lordship. The conclusion at that time will be that Jesus was and is the Messiah for whom the Jewish people have waited since the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. It will also be that the Bible confirms over and over in every book, in every chapter, and in almost every verse that He is the Lord, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, and the Christ. Very few people today are aware of exactly what Jesus endured on their behalf. So at the very least, He deserves the love and devotion of every person who humbly calls upon Him through faith to be saved. Before concluding this Introduction, there is one final note to be made with respect to the organization of this text. Something that the reader of this text might find useful is boxes that display the different passages that are being referenced at the times and in the places where they are being referenced. That way, he or she will not have to jump all over the place or get into or out of the scriptures to locate a particular reference. Hopefully that inclusion will help the reader in trying to understand the various events and to also put them into the right context. So it is hoped that that will make this book easier to read and that the Lord will receive all of the praise, honor, and glory that He rightfully and truly deserves.
