The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross: Their Circumstances and Meaning

by Murray J. Harris

Overview

Who of us can possibly imagine the excruciating pain of being crucified? But further, who would imagine that in the midst of this ghastly punishment that brings on unrelenting headaches and mental disorientation, a crucified man would actually give thought to the needs of others? This book explores in detail the nature of crucifixion and then invites the reader to listen in stunned silence to the amazing seven sayings of Jesus of Nazareth while hanging on the cross, as he focuses his attention on others in the first three sayings, and only then on his own distressing situation. His last four sayings give expression to his utter spiritual and physical anguish and conclude with a cry of victory and then a cry in which he commits himself to God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498237543
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	02/18/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	124
File size:	301 KB

About the Author

Murray J. Harris is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Formerly he was Warden of Tyndale House, a biblical research library in Cambridge, UK, and faculty member of the Divinity School in the University of Cambridge. He has written commentaries on the Greek text of Colossians and Philemon, Second Corinthians, and John's Gospel. He was one of the translators of the New International Version (NIV). He resides in his native New Zealand in retirement.
Murray J. Harris is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Formerly he was director of Tyndale House, a biblical research library in Cambridge, UK, and faculty member of the Divinity School in the University of Cambridge. He has written commentaries on the Greek text of Colossians and Philemon, Second Corinthians, and John's Gospel. He was one of the NIV translators.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Introduction xiii

Abbreviations xv

Part 1 The Circumstances of the Sayings

1 More Remote Circumstances of the Sayings 3

A The Arrest of Jesus 3

B The Trials of Jesus 5

1 The Jewish Trial 6

a A preliminary, informal, and unofficial enquiry 6

b A formal interrogation 6

c Ratification of the council's decision 7

2 The Roman Trial 8

a Pilate interrogates Jesus 8

b Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas 8

c Pilate's remonstrance with the Jewish leaders and the crowd 9

2 More Immediate Circumstances of the Sayings 11

A The Crucifixion of Jesus at Golgotha 11

1 The Nature of Crucifixion 11

2 The Causes of Jesus' Death 15

a The Ultimate, and Immediate Causes 15

b The Historical Causes 16

c The Physical Causes 18

B Conclusions: The State of Jesus' Body and Spirit 19

1 At Golgotha 20

2 On the Cross 21

Part 2 The Meaning of the Sayings

3 The First Saying 27

1 The Addressee: "Father" 28

2 The Request: "Forgive" 30

3 The Beneficiaries of the Forgiveness 32

4 The Basis of the Forgiveness 33

4 The Second Saying 35

1 The Circumstances 35

a Sarcastic insults 35

b The repentance of one of the criminals 36

2 Jesus' Promise to the Penitent Criminal 38

a Its validity: "I solemnly assure you" 38

b The time of its fulfillment: "Today" 39

c Its essence: "With me" 39

d The location of its fulfillment: "in paradise" 40

5 The Third Saying 42

1 The Circumstances 42

a The women "near" (para) the cross 42

b The disciple whom Jesus lived "standing nearby" 43

2 The Directive to Mary 44

a The Address: "Dear woman" 44

1 Luke 2:41-52 45

2 John 2:1-10 47

3 Matt 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21 47

4 John 19:26-27 48

b A New Relationship 49

1 Affirmed: "Here is your son!" 49

2 Its nature: John becomes Mary's spiritual son 49

3 The Directive to John 50

a A New Relationship 50

1 Affirmed: "Here is your mother!" 50

2 Its nature: Mary is entrusted to John and becomes Johns spiritual mother 50

b The Outcome 53

1 John receives Mary as his charge and his spiritual mother 53

2 A permanent relationship 54

3 A new resident in Johns home 54

4 Theological Significance 55

a For Jesus 55

b For Believers 55

6 The Fourth Saying 56

1 The Scene: local darkness for three hours 56

2 The Cry: "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" 57

a Its Source 57

b Us Language 60

c Its Addressee 61

d Its Meaning 61

1 The Nature of the Abandonment 61

2 The Time of the Abandonment 63

3 The Reason for the Abandonment 64

2 Corinthians 5:21 64

Galatians 313 67

3 Theological Reflections on the Cry 69

7 The Fifth Saying 70

1 The Circumstances 70

2 The Purpose of the Statement, "I am thirsty" 71

a Explicit: the fulfillment of Scripture 71

b Implicit: 72

1 The relief of acute thirst 72

2 Preparation for the final two words 73

3 The Outcome of the Statement 74

8 The Sixth Saying 76

1 The Tense of the Affirmation 76

2 The Subject of the Affirmation 77

a "It" may refer to Jesus' life on earth 78

b "It" may refer to Jesus' work on earth 78

c "It" could possibly include a reference to the old order 78

3 Conclusion 79

9 The Seventh Saying 81

1 The Circumstances 81

2 The Cry 83

a Its Source: "Into your hands I entrust my spirit" 83

b Its Addressee: "Father" 83

c Its Significance: "Into your hands I entrust my spirit" 84

d Its Influence 84

3 The Sequel: The Death of Jesus 85

10 Final Observations on the Sayings 87

11 Table Listing the Sayings 89

Bibliography 91

Index of Subjects and Authors 95

Index of Ancient Documents 99