Book Recommendation-The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross by Arthur W. Pink

This is one of my favorite books by Arthur Pink. He goes through each of the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross as recorded in the Gospels. The sayings shed light on the character and work of Christ. We can learn much studying them. As you might suspect, this book contains seven chapters with an introduction. The crucifixion and atonement are very much in view here, and Pink never forgets the character of Christ, which shines through.

Chapter One is “The Word of Forgiveness.” It looks at Luke 23:34-“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Pink points out how man has crucified Jesus, and yet He prays for His enemies to be forgiven. Pink writes, “The first of the seven cross-sayings of our Lord presents Him in an attitude of prayer. How significant! How instructive!...Surely He has left us an example!”

Pink also outlines the following points about this saying: 1)It fulfills prophecy (Isaiah 53:12); 2)Christ identifies with His people-previously Jesus did the forgiving Himself, here He petitions His Father; 3)Sin is often through ignorance-yet it is still sin; 4)It shows the blindness of the human heart; 5)Jesus exemplifies His teaching on forgiving others; 6)We see man’s great and primary need; and 7) The triumph of redeeming love.

Next is, “The Word of Salvation.” (Luke 23:42-43)-The passage ends with Jesus’ words to one of the thieves He was crucified with “...Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” Pink writes, “It was no accident that Lord of Glory was crucified between two thieves.” God had it set up that way. Pink takes us through the following points: 1) A representative sinner; 2) Man has to come to the end of himself before he can be saved; 3) The meaning of repentance and faith; 4) A marvellous case of spiritual illumination; 5) The Saviourhood of Christ; 6) The destination of the saved at death; and 7) The longing of the Saviour for fellowship.

Chapter 3 is “The Word of Affection” from John 19:25-26-which is the account of Jesus leaving Mary in the care of the Apostle John. Pink shows how this fulfills prophecy (See Luke 2:25-25). He also shows how Jesus fulfilled the commandment to honour your parents.

When Jesus was arrested the disciples fled-but here we see John has come back. Pink writes,

Here is encouragement for you. Christ did not rebuke John on returning: instead, His wondrous grace bestowed on him an unspeakable privilege. Cease then your wanderings and return at once to Christ, and He will greet you with a word of welcome and cheer; and who knows but what He has some honorous commission awaiting you!

Pink covers other aspects of Jesus’ relationship with His mother, John and by extension all His people as well.

Next we find “The Word of Anguish”-“Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani? That is My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Pink writes early on in this chapter, “The crucifixion of the Lord of Glory was the most extraordinary event that has ever happened on earth, and this cry of the suffering One was the most startling utterance of that appalling scene.”

In these words, (and the context in which Jesus said them), we see the seriousness of our sins. We get a sense of God’s holiness and the penalty required. Also shown is God’s love for His people, Jesus’ fidelity to His Father, and also a foretaste of the consequences of rejecting Christ. It is only a short sentence, but it tells us a lot about Jesus.

“The Word of Suffering” is next as Pink writes on Jesus’ words in John 19:28- “I thirst.” The very idea Jesus suffered can be mind boggling when we consider who He is, and also why He suffered. The points Pink makes here are 1) this shows Christ’s humanity, he explains why this is important. (As a side note-many of the heresies throughout Church history have either denied Christ’s deity or His humanity). 2) We see the intensity of His sufferings. 3) We see His deep reverence for the scriptures. 4) We see His submission to the Father’s will. 5) We see how He can sympathize with us in our sufferings. 6) We see the expression of a universal need and 7) Pink shows how this thirst ties in with Christ being eternal water.

A familiar passage to many Christians is John 19:30-“It is finished”-Pink calls this, “The Word of Victory.” We turn from the tragedy of Christ’s sufferings to triumph! This is a big part of what the gospel is all about-Christ has accomplished payment of the sins of His people-and it is finished! Pink shows what is finished and what that means for believers.

The final chapter is “The Word of Contentment.” This is from Luke 23:46-“Father, into Thy hands, I commend My Spirit.” These words have a very strong impact. The first recorded Christian martyr, Stephen, refers to them when he is stoned to death. (Acts 7:59).

Pink’s points here include seeing the communion between Jesus and the Father being restored. We also see a contrast as before Jesus was in the hands of men-He was there willingly-but now He is in the Father’s hands. We see our salvation as well by extension, and the absolute uniqueness of Christ.

These words are well worth our time in reading, studying, and meditating upon.