Bible Questions and Answers

1. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Jesus here sets an example for us in dealing with our enemies and shows that his crucifixion was not about vengeance but about love and forgiveness.
2. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) Jesus quotes the first line of Psalm 22 which is a vivid discription of the actual crucifixion itself. Those who knew their scriptures would have been stopped in their tracks. Read it for yourself. Jesus knew his Father had not forsaken him but was doing his best to make his persecutors conscious of their terrible deed.
3. He said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" (John 19:26-27) Jesus was not left entirely alone. At the foot of the cross were his mother, Mary, and the young disciple John.  Even in his agony, he was careful to provide for his mother.
4. "I thirst!" (John 19:28) The tempation with which his ministry began is here repeated.  At his weakest moment, the temptation to impress the people with a spectacular display is presented and, again, rejected.
5. "Truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43) Notice that the thief did not expect to be in paradise with Jesus that day. He said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus response means, "I tell you now that you will be with me then."  Jesus expected to be 3 days and 3 nights in the "heart of the earth" not in heavenly glory. see Matthew 12:40.  Indeed, on the day of his resurrection, he told Mary not to touch him as he had not yet ascended to his Father. John 20:17 So, there was no expectation on the thief's part nor on Jesus' that he meant that the thief would join him in heaven that day.  John 3:13 says that no man except Jesus has EVER gone to heaven. One last point. Paradise NEVER refers to heaven in the Bible but always to a place on earth.  It comes from the ancient Persian "Pardes" and means an enclosed park or garden - like Eden.  The Kingdom to which the Thief referred was that of the Kingdom of God on earth - Eden restored. See "The Kingdom of God" www.thisisyourbible.com/library/show/170
6. "It is finished!" (John 19:30) He had successfully completed the role his Father had asked him to play. He had crucified the flesh with its passions and desires - Galatians 5:24
7. "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) His spirit, his life, [the word means breath] was committed to the Father who would give it back to him in 3 days. This is not the "immortal soul" of popular pagan mythology but rather the force that sustains life itself. see Job 34:14,15. The hope that Jesus had is the same as it is for us. Resurrection from the dead at his return. See:
   After Death, What?

Here is some information from the website on this topic:

The Cross of Christ

I hope you have found this helpful.

God bless,
Mike