The authors of the gospels collectively record seven statements made by Jesus on the cross. These brief utterances are significant: They are a record of what Jesus said during the intense, agonizing, and vulnerable hours of his death. On the cross, Jesus was literally and figuratively stripped bare. From the darkness of pain and sorrow, he cried out. But these are more than “dying words”—rather they contain hope, love, and life itself. Jesus’ words from the cross open a unique window into the heart and mind of God. Down through the centuries, people have studied them for their timeless truths. Moreover, they have experienced God’s presence in their own lives as they have meditated upon them. This Lent, we will take a contemplative approach to the gospel accounts of Jesus’ heart cries from the cross. We will invite God to speak to us afresh through them, to meet us in our vulnerability, and to help us become more like Jesus as we listen to him. This week we talked about accomplishment in the context of Jesus' words: "It is Finished"

Related Topics: Bible, character of God, church, compassion, God, God's love, goodness, Jesus, Palm Sunday | More Messages from Matthew Dyer | Download Audio