The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross Introduction and 1. The Word of Forgiveness

Extract

The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross
A. W. Pink

Introduction and 1. The Word of Forgiveness

Introduction
The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is a subject of never-failing interest to all who study prayerfully the scripture of truth. This is so, not only because the believer’s all both for time and eternity depends upon it, but also, because of its transcendent uniqueness. Four words appear to sum up the salient features of this mystery of mysteries: the death of Christ was natural, unnatural, preternatural, and supernatural. A few comments seem called for by way of definition and amplification.

First, the death of Christ was natural. By this we mean that it was a real death. It is because we are so familiar with the fact of it that the above statement appears simple and commonplace, yet, what we here touch upon is to the spiritual mind one of the main elements of wonderment. The one who was “taken, and by wicked hands” crucified and slain was none other than Jehovah’s “Fellow.” The blood that was shed on the accursed tree was divine — “The church of God which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). As says the apostle, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Cor. 5:19).

But how could Jehovah’s “Fellow” suffer? How could the eternal one die? Ah, he who in the beginning was the Word, who was with God, and who was God, “became flesh.” He who was in the form of God took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men; “and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). Thus having become incarnate the Lord of glory was capable of suffering death, and so it was that he “tasted” death itself. In his words, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” we see how natural his death was, and the reality of it became still more apparent when he was laid in the …