Author Archives: Neil

Cries from the cross… Father forgive them, for they know not what they do

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

This is one of the most remarkable sayings that the Lord Jesus ever made. There He was, crucified on the cross, in agony beyond our understanding and comprehension. The Roman centurions and religious people of that day had tried to do their worst to the Lord Jesus. They had beaten Him, mocked Him, spat upon Him and even made Him carry His own cross before ultimately nailing Him to the cross.

I don’t know about you but my human instinct would be to show resentment and anger towards the crowds who stood below and were ridiculing Christ Jesus. Not this Man. Christ Jesus is different to each and every person that has ever been born. Yes He had a human body and felt many of the emotions which we feel every day. Yet He is so different, completely sinless, God’s only Son in a human body.

Rather than show resentment towards the crowds, He showed contentment. Rather than display bitterness He showed goodwill. Rather than show hatred, He demonstrated great love.

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. (Luke 23:34)

Christ Jesus had a deep concern for the spiritual wellbeing of these individuals. He looked down on them as “sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Christ had a deep concern not only towards the people on that particular day, today He also has a great concern for you.

Maybe you don’t realise like the people that day who Christ Jesus really is: that the purpose of His death upon the cross was all part of God’s great master plan. The result of Christ’s death means that we have this great opportunity to be saved from our sins.

The choice we all have to make is whether or not we accept the opportunity of forgiveness that Christ Jesus offers to all.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. (1 John 1:9)

Cries from the cross… It is finished

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So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

There is great satisfaction when we finish something. Whenever we complete a task, finish a race or get to the bottom of our to-do list, there is always that feeling of satisfaction: a sense that our hard work has paid off andthat our efforts have gained something. We often deserve a rest or a break in order to enjoy the results of our hard work. In fact, a rest is probably most enjoyable after hard work: we feel that the rest is deserved and are therefore able to enjoy it properly – not having to rest while worrying about unfinished work or feeling guilty, knowing that there is something we should be doing instead of resting!

The Bible explains that Jesus Christ is now in Heaven and that He is in fact sitting, not standing, at God’s right hand (Philippians 2:8-9). The reason for this is simple – He has finished His work on earth and is therefore sitting, or resting from this work. (Hebrews 10:12)

Why are Christians so thankful for this work? Why is Christ’s work relevant to us? The work that Christ completed was the penalty that needed to be paid for the sins that we have committed against God. If Christ did not finish this work for us, then we would have to finish it ourselves and endure death and separation from God for eternity. Any person who puts their trust in Christ and His finished work on the cross will be able to enjoy this ultimate rest knowing that their sins have been forgiven.

Cries from the cross… My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”(Matthew 27:46)

We don’t often hear the word “forsaken” these days; its equivalent might be “abandoned” or “left behind”. I wonder what this word would conjure in your mind. What does it actually mean to be forsaken? What was the impetus behind this cry from the cross? Was it a cry borne out of anger and rage, despondency and despair?

“Where is God when it hurts?”; “How can God allow such a disaster?” Often, people will quickly point to calamities as the basis for their unbelief in God. Well, here is Christ on the cross, suffering injustice and enduring excruciating pains, forsaken by friends and taunted by enemies. Still He calls upon God as “my God”. Even in such a traumatic death, the Lord Jesus trusted in His God. Have you considered that calamities should teach us dependence on God?

We live in a fallen world where sin (falling short of God’s holy standards) is rampant. Like an unstoppable warhead, it pierces through all social strata. Don’t just think of corruption. Sin has led to broken families and abusive relationships.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

By nature, we are inclined towards doing wrong; as we grow up, we find sin attractive and thrilling. The problem is that sin separates us from a meaningful and peaceful relationship with God.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

The Lord Jesus came to provide salvation from sin. He was on the cross for people like us, forsaken so that we can be forgiven, condemned so that we might live a new and meaningful life.

Cries from the cross… I thirst

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After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” (John 19:28)

This was the only indication the Lord Jesus gave of his physical suffering, while other sayings emphasise his spiritual suffering. All four gospel authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record that He was offered vinegar (“sour wine”) to drink.

John writes that this was “that the scripture might be fulfilled”.

Why did he write that?

In Psalm 69 David writes of rejection, humiliation and sorrow in a way that, while coming from his own experience, has an emotional depth that can only refer to the suffering of the Messiah.

In saying “I thirst“ the Lord Jesus identified Himself as the suffering Messiah. Any Jewish hearer around the cross, and any subsequent careful reader of the Bible would recall that the Psalm states:

“for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” (Psalm 69:21)

Other scriptures link closely: in Psalm 22 one can almost experience the thirst, suffering and abandonment of verse 15:

“…my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.” (Psalm 22:15)

If the Lord Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah, what does His fulfilment of those scriptures imply for you and me? Surely nothing else than He is the One who fulfilled the words of Isaiah chapter 53, verse 5:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Have you responded to Him as Saviour, or do you remain unmoved?

Cries from the cross… Behold your son… behold your mother

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When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27)

Among soldiers casting lots for blood stained souvenirs was a woman gazing intently on the Son of God.

Years earlier Mary had been blessed to bring into this world the Holy One who was hanging on the cross. Mary knew He was born to save His people from their sin and as a sinner she rejoiced in God her Saviour.

Today let us each take note of what she said about Him:

“Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5)

Alongside Mary that day stood a fisherman who had forsaken all; John as a disciple had witnessed His power, authority and wisdom. Daily he had seen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and having stood at the cross he appreciated the greatness of His love:

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16)

Cries from the cross… Father, into your hands I commit my spirit

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46)

In choosing these as His last words, Jesus showed us the ideal way to meet God: committing our spirit into God’s hands for safekeeping.

Jesus spoke frequently of His Father, and it is clear that He means God Himself (Matthew 16:15-17). In fact, the key factor that led to Him being put to death was His claim that He was the Son of God (Luke 22:70-71).

There was no doubt about God accepting His Son’s spirit. Jesus never sinned, and never gave God any reason to be angry or disappointed with Him (Matthew 3:17) or refuse Him entry into His presence, but the same cannot be said for us. The Bible teaches that

“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

and that God will refuse us entry into Heaven unless this sin is dealt with. Not only that, but the Bible tells us that those who die in their sins will face eternal punishment at the hands of God.

This is why Jesus came into the world, so that He could go to the cross and take God’s punishment instead of us. If we admit that we have sinned against God, believe that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross to take our place, and ask God to forgive us for our sins, God will do so. This is not easily done – it takes humility to admit that we are sinners who deserve nothing more than an eternity in Hell. But, if we have done this, then we can go to meet God with the same assurance that Jesus had, committing our spirits to God for eternal safekeeping, rather than eternal judgement.

The motto of Abertay University

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Abertay University in Dundee, like most universities, has its motto written in ancient
Latin. This is perhaps surprising for Abertay which is a modern university, one of the
youngest in Scotland. It has had a long history, however, beginning in 1888 as
Dundee Technical Institute. It moved to its current site in Bell Street in1911, became
Dundee Institute of Art and Technology in 1933, and given university status in 1994.

Through all of its history and development, its mission has matched its motto:
Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam – which means “Blessed is the one who
finds wisdom”. This is actually a quote from the Holy Bible (as are the mottos of
many universities). You can find it in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs chapter 3
verse 13. “Blessed” means “truly and ethically happy”. It might describe that feeling
of achievement and celebration on graduation day, but there’s more to it than that. A
university education opens doors to success and prosperity which come from more
than the knowledge of facts and theories. It’s rather about knowing how to use and
apply what you know, about an attitude to life which is marked by “wisdom”.

Looking out on the world today you might think that wisdom is in short supply, with
countless problems for individuals, for nations, for us all. Advances in science and
technology have certainly been beneficial to society when applied correctly, but it
has also created problems, some of which persist while new ones crop up. You will
be able to name a few, many caused by selfishness and carelessness.

These are an evidence of something deeper which affects us all. The Bible calls it
sin, and it shows itself in many forms. The Bible also tells us that it will bring us
under the judgement of God unless it is forgiven. But how? God hates our sin but He
loves us – so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to take the penalty of our sin
when He died on a cross at Calvary. If we deliberately accept Him, putting our faith
and trust in Him, He will save us from our sin and its penalty. We will be forgiven.
God asks us to “repent and believe the Gospel”.

One day Jesus spoke about two men who built houses. In his wisdom, one chose to
build on a solid rock foundation. Foolishly the other man built on sand. In the great
storm which came along, one house stood fast. Predictably the other collapsed in
ruins. Jesus said that the wisdom which brings real blessedness is to build on the
solid foundation of what He offers to you today. If you find this wisdom you will be
really blessed. It will give security when life’s storms come along, and safety when
the storm of God’s judgement falls on the world.

The motto of the University of Dundee

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University of Dundee – Magnificat anima mea dominum – My soul doth magnify the Lord (Luke 1:46)

This motto is a quotation from the first line of Mary’s Magnificat – her song of praise recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55). The word “magnify” simply means to make large, and in her song Mary puts a focus on God’s goodness to her which she found overwhelming. It was prompted by the angelic announcement that she would be the vessel through which God would bring into the world His Son, Jesus – the divine saviour, the long promised descendent of King David, who will one day set up an eternal kingdom.

While Mary has a unique place in history, the second line of her song shows she was just an ordinary person, with whom we can all identify: “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour (Luke 1:47). You see, not only did Mary understand her personal need of a saviour; better, she had a personal assurance that God was her saviour.

Let me explain how you too can have this.

In the Bible God is described as a Saviour. That is, saving is part of His character, and He acts to preserve life in a whole host of often unrecognised ways. The 103^rd Psalm advises us not to forget the times God rescues us from coming to an early grave (Psalm 103:4). Think of the number of illnesses you’ve recovered from, or potential brushes with death and danger that could have been fatal. We’ve all been preserved at times, and the Psalmist urges us that God is to be thanked for those rescues.

However, beyond all that is the greater need for salvation from sin. The Bible warns that there is a day of judgement coming which will irreversibly seal our eternal destiny (Revelation 20:11-15). Ahead of that day, God has made it clear that each one of us already stands guilty of sin. And we actually know this – because our conscience provides us with a guilt feedback loop when we do things we know intuitively are wrong. The Lord Jesus bluntly summed up our condition: “There is none good but one; that is God” (Matthew 19:17).

The good news, or gospel, is that God has provided a way of salvation in His Son, Jesus. His entrance into the world was for the purpose of offering Himself through death to God – as a sacrifice on behalf of sinners. Today God promises to justify – that is, to declare right in His sight – every person who depends on His Son for salvation (Romans 3:26). Christ has done all the work, and now a simple act of faith brings us into the good of it (Romans 4:5). Like Mary, the person who has taken God at His word will have an internal assurance that God is their saviour, causing them to rejoice. If you don’t have this, it can be yours right now through faith. But don’t put it off – for after you die it is too late (Hebrews 9:27).

The motto of York St John University

The York St. John University holds the coat of arms- Ut Vitam Habeant et Abundantius which when translated from Latin to English reads “that they may have life and have it more abundantly” this is from the book of John contained within the Bible, chapter 10, verse 10.

The whole verse reads “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Here in the Bible, Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, is contrasting the differences between His shepherd-like care and “the thief”. The thief illustrates the unfaithful and illegitimate leaders. Their motives were clear, they caused destruction and devastation, harming and killing all that surrounded them and only taking for themselves.

On the other hand, we’re presented with a new kind of leader, Jesus. A lowly, humble man that didn’t come to accumulate riches and wealth from the people He ministered to; but instead we’re painted a very different picture of Christ for example; when a man proclaimed to Jesus that he wanted to be a follower of Him, Jesus effectively said, consider the cost, for the foxes have their holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. When the tax collector was pressing Him for an illegal assessment, Jesus did not have the money to pay so He sent Peter to catch a fish. When He wanted to use a coin to illustrate a point, He had to borrow that coin. Jesus, unlike ‘the thief’ didn’t come to take from us and accumulate a mass of wealth, He instead came to give all that He had for us!

Jesus Christ loved us so much that He willingly laid down His life for us. We as humans are flawed, we have advanced in so many ways in science and technology, yet we still do wrong, we still go to war with one another, we kill, we steal, we lie and break God’s law. The one thing that we can never fix despite our advancements is our sin. Jesus gave His life on our behalf, when He died on a cross at Calvary, it was so that our problem of sin could be dealt with, that we “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. All that remains for us to do is simply place our faith and trust in Him, to believe in His life giving word. In the book of John in the Bible chapter 3, verse 16 it says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” By trusting in Christ you can have this abundance of life this very day!

The motto of Aberdeen University

If you were to stroll past Aberdeen campus, you would perhaps notice the Latin phrase, Initium sapientiae timor domini, above Aberdeen University entrance.

You may not think twice of its importance and walk on; you may even say Latin is a dead language. However, whether you acknowledge it or not, Latin does in fact matter, because it underpins our western society. Without Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian and arguably the English language would not exist in the form they do today. Latin is not dead, but it’s very much misunderstood.

On a larger scale, but in a similar sense, Christianity is misunderstood. In a western society with a deep Christian history, it is surprising that many do not know about the incredible importance of the person of Christ. Latin gives our language value and meaning. Christianity does so much more: it gives value to our soul (Psalm 16:10 & Mark 8:36) and meaning to our life (Galatians 2:20).

Initium sapientiae timor domini ties together Latin and Christianity. The phrase, which is found in Psalm 111, means, “the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.” We live in a society where everyone is anxious about the future, yet they have no respect for God. But when you enter into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you enter into rest (Hebrews 4:13). There can be no anxiety about the future when you are trusting in One who upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1.3). This lack of fear about the future does not mean that Christians see themselves as perfect or superior to others. In fact, it means the exact opposite. Christians are people who have acknowledged that they are sinners and have placed their trust in the God who is righteous, gracious and full of compassion (Psalm 111:3-4).