02-10-08-am

Dr. Gary VanDeWalker“Woman, behold your son!”

Evangelical Free Church of Mount Shasta

Seven Quotes of Famous Last Words

(1) Henry David Thoreau, “I never knew we had quarreled.”

(2) “John Rodgers did.” --John Holmes

(3)        “Flames? Not Yet, I think.” --- Henry Labouchere

(4)        “I see it, I see it.” ---Solomon Foot

(5)        “Did I not tell you I was writing the Requiem for myself.” Mozart

(6)        “I am about to—or I am going to—die: either expression is correct.” --- Dominique Bouhours

(7)        “And now I am officially dead.”—Abram Hewitt

Seven Last Sayings of Jesus from the Cross

(1) Matthew 27:46 On about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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

(3) “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

(4) “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

(5) “Woman, behold your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27)

(6) “I thirst” (John 19:28)

(7) “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

(5) “Woman, behold your son!” and “Behold your mother!”

1. “Did I not tell you I was writing the Requiem for myself.” Mozart

2. The cross is death to _________, not ______________________

--You are given freedom to __________________ God as you never could before

--His love for you is unconditional and sacrificial; however, this does not mean He doesn’t want you to respond with your _________________

3. He is the _________________ in all ways

--Romans 8:29 Firstborn of many __________________

--Col 1:15 Firstborn over all _________________

--Col. 1:18 Firstborn from among the ________________

4. You take up a new life, with new _________________________

--The ______________ is meant to transform your life

--After encountering the cross, you are meant to become a __________________

--You were _______________________ with Christ

5. This week:

--Identify one thing that Jesus’ death on the cross means to you.

--What is a current responsibility Jesus has given you?

--How are you different now than when you received Christ?

--Where do you still need to be different, and what will you do this week to allow God continue this process He has begun in you?

(5) “Woman, behold your son!” and “Behold your mother!”

1. “Did I not tell you I was writing the Requiem for myself.” Mozart

After convincing his sister-in-law to stay through his death and be a support to his wife.

2. The cross is death to sin, not responsibility (Hebrews 12:1-2)

--You are given freedom to serve God as you never could before

…Before you are a Christian, you are a slave to sin

…The Christian life is not merely a moral life, it is lived with Christ’s life

--His love for you is unconditional and sacrificial; however, this does not mean He doesn’t want you to respond with your life

…You can’t earn your way into heaven

…However, you were created to do good works

…Christ changes you for a purpose

3. He is the firstborn in all ways

--Romans 8:29 Firstborn of many brothers

…You are part of a family

…You have been crucified and resurrected when you change families

…There is an inheritance for those who love Him

--Col 1:15 Firstborn over all creation

….He is the first and foremost in the universe

…He exercises Lordship because it is His place and His right

…You have a responsibility to answer to Him

--Col. 1:18 Firstborn from among the dead

…He is the not the first to rise from the dead

…He is the first to experience the benefits of the resurrection

4. You take up a new life, with new responsibilities (Ephesians 2:8-10)

--The Cross is meant to transform your life

…Salvation is only a beginning

…You are being made into the likeness of Christ

…You will one day be perfected in Christ

--After encountering the cross, you are meant to become a new person

…People should see a change in you

…You should continue to change

--You were crucified with Christ

…Your old self has died

…You need to let the dead parts of you stay dead

5. This week:

--Identify one thing that Jesus’ death on the cross means to you.

--What is a current responsibility Jesus has given you?

--How are you different now than when you received Christ?

--Where do you still need to be different, and what will you do this week to allow God continue this process He has begun in you?

Home Study

(5) “Woman, behold your son!” and “Behold your mother!”

1. How do you prepare for a trip?

2. What do you consider one of your greatest responsibilities when you leave home, to take care of before you leave?

3. Read John 19:25-27.

4. Who is at the cross with Jesus? What if anything do you know about the three women?

5. Who is the disciple “whom Jesus loved”?

6. What responsibility, as the firstborn son does Jesus take care of from the cross?

7. What do you think was going through Jesus’ mother’s mind? Through John’s?

8. How can Christianity sometimes be an excuse for people to avoid responsibility?

9. What type of responsibilities has Christ entrusted to you? (If you have trouble thinking of them, glance over passages in Matthew 5-7)

10. Read Matthew 28:16-20.

11. What is one responsibility Jesus gave us before returning to heaven?

12. What should this responsibility look like the life of an average Christian?

13. How well are you doing with this responsibility?

14. What are some way you can gain more skills in carrying out the responsibility Jesus has left you?

15. Write down one name of a person you see on a regular basis who Christ has given you a responsibility to share with.

16. Take time as a group to pray for one another, for faithfulness in fulfilling you responsibilities to Christ and for those you desire to see in Christ’s kingdom.

New International Version (NIV)