The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross: Their Circumstances and Meaning

by Murray J. Harris

Who of us can possibly imagine the excruciating pain of being crucified? But further, who would imagine that in the midst of this ghastly punishment that brings on unrelenting headaches and mental disorientation, a crucified man would actually give thought to the needs of others? This book explores in detail the nature of crucifixion and then invites the reader to listen in stunned silence to the amazing seven sayings of Jesus of Nazareth while hanging on the cross, as he focuses his attention on others in the first three sayings, and only then on his own distressing situation. His last four sayings give expression to his utter spiritual and physical anguish and conclude with a cry of victory and then a cry in which he commits himself to God. "Like the sledgehammer used to nail Jesus' hands to that crossbeam, this book packs a wallop. Harris' reverent but rigorous scholarship casts fresh light on some of history's weightiest words. Neither shying away from the gruesome nor losing sight of the glorious, this book succeeds wonderfully. It magnifies Jesus' unparalleled character and achievement by paying painstaking attention to known historical circumstances and Jesus' startling, unforgettable utterances." --Robert W. Yarbrough, Professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary "Countless devotional works abound on the Passion of the Christ and his seven last words on the cross. Detailed scholarly assessments of this material also appear frequently. But Murray Harris has created something a succinct, readable explanation of the meaning of each saying in its historical and grammatical contexts, fully abreast of contemporary scholarship and deeply inspirational as one ponders the awfulness and the love behind Jesus' suffering on the cross. A real gift to the church and all interested readers." --Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary "It is refreshing to have these powerful words from the cross handled by a seasoned exegete who carefully places them in their Gospel and historical contexts, and offers us a treasure-trove of deeper insights. While its harmonizing approach will not suit all, Harris has produced a very accessible and devotionally rich study without loss of scholarly accuracy." --John Nolland, Professor, Trinity College, Bristol; author, NIGTC commentary on Matthew (Eerdmans, 2005) Murray J. Harris is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Formerly he was Warden of Tyndale House, a biblical research library in Cambridge, UK, and faculty member of the Divinity School in the University of Cambridge. He has written commentaries on the Greek text of Colossians and Philemon, Second Corinthians, and John's Gospel. He was one of the translators of the New International Version (NIV). He resides in his native New Zealand in retirement.

Genres: Theology

129 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2016

Reviews

[Tony Reinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book by Murray J. Harris, the world-class New Testament scholar, is worth buying and reading and shelving for future reference. Here he says in 90 pages what most writers say in 250, and as it happens, these 90 pages showcase some of the most profound historical, exegetical, and theological insights into the crucifixion of our Savior.

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this slim, prepossessing work published by Cascade Books, veteran exegete Murray J. Harris sets out to carefully interpret the traditional seven sayings of the Lord from His cross. The book strikes a unique balance between scholarly rigor and devotional beauty, and it packs quite a punch in just 90 pages.

Harris sets out to put Christ's words within their proper contexts. So first he begins with a poignant overview of the Roman practice of crucifixion, summarizing much of Hengel's work but also adding his own thoughtful conclusions. He then examines the various ways Jesus suffered, his probable cause of death, and the various causes of the crucifixion. At one point he provides an immensely helpful, probable timeline of Thursday and Friday. Then, in the rest of the book, he takes a chapter per saying.

Harris is a close and careful reader and pays great attention to the vocabulary of Scripture; he seems to have a knack for noting and explaining prepositions. He also looks at the sayings according to multiple angles, noting how they connect to Christ's mission, the fulfillment of the Old Testament, His relation to the Father, and the particular events that unfold during the six hours He hung on the cross. In doing this, Harris necessarily reads the four Gospels together and offers a kind of rough harmony, while still paying attention to each Evangelist's distinct style and theology.

Two parts that surprised me were his comments on the fourth saying ("My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?) and his observations on the narrative unity of the seven sayings (which would definitely be rejected by critical scholars who have already made up their minds that Jesus didn't actually speak the seven sayings attributed to Him).

For me this was the perfect work to read during Holy Week of 2018 for two reasons: academically, it helped me write three different sermons; and, spiritually, it was a superbly beneficial companion to my devotion.

I enthusiastically recommend it. I will be reading more of Harris's work because I enjoyed this one so very much.

[Adam Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this something of a mixed book. Harris is very good on exegetical detail (as you would expect), but is constrained by space limits. There is also a devotional element to the book, but it felt less warm and reflective than, for example, Rutledge's meditations. The most helpful part of the book is the first two chapters, where Harris sets out the context for the Seven Sayings, in terms of contemporary crucifixion practices and the arrest and trial of Jesus. This is a helpful orientation to these important words of Jesus.