If we were to make a list of all the needs and wants of the human heart, and condense them to the greatest and deepest of all, seven would remain: forgiveness, security, belonging, acceptance, soul-satisfaction, peace, and redemption. Jesus was not blind to these needs. While nailed to the cross over 2,000 years ago, Jesus spoke seven times, each time addressing one of our greatest needs. Over seven weeks, we’ll cover each of our greatest needs.
March 1 — Forgiveness
Luke 23:33-38
Everyone knows guilt, so everyone desires forgiveness. Moments after the nails were driven into Jesus, He prayed, “Father, forgive them…” Prior to this, Jesus always offered forgiveness on His own authority. Now as a servant, exercising no divine rights of His own, He prayed for our forgiveness.
March 8 — Security
Luke 23:39-43
Everyone feels unsettled and uncertain, so everyone wants security. In response to the thief’s genuine faith, Jesus said to him, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” There is no greater assurance given to man than for God to declare assurance over you.
March 15 — Belonging
John 19:17-27
Everyone knows loneliness, so everyone has a longing to belong. As salvation hung in the balance for all of humanity, Jesus looked with compassion on his mother and friend and said, “Behold your son…and mother.”
March 22 — Acceptance
Mark 15:33-39
Everyone knows the pain of rejection, so everyone longs for acceptance. As Jesus stood at the collision between God’s holiness and love, He said, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”
March 29 — Soul Satisfaction
John 19:28-29
Everyone knows the thirst for more, so everyone longs for their soul to be satisfied. The Creator of every water molecule became so thirsty in His work on the cross that He said, “I thirst.”
April 5 — Peace
Luke 23:44-49
Everyone knows they are going to die, so everyone wants peace in this life and the next. On the cross, we not only see Jesus paying our debt, we see an example of how to die. At the end of His struggle, Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
April 12 — Redemption
John 19:30
Everyone feels the heavy load of debt, so everyone wants the balance to be paid. Although we can’t see it, we feel our sin, guilt, and debt before the holy God piled high up into the sky. Jesus took all of our sin, guilt, and debt to the cross and said, “It is finished.”