Dear Christian friends:

"When Jesus had tasted the vinegar, He said,
It is finished. And He bowed His head, and
gave-up His spirit (died)."

Jesus hanging on the cross says, "It is finished!" What is finished? His terrible suffering for sin is finished. He has finished enduring all God's terrible anger against sin and sinners. He is finished being separated from God, His Father. He has finished suffering as the condemned in hell. He has succeeded! He has finished God's good and gracious plan to save all people. All people now are redeemed, saved. But where are the saved ones? Where are they tonight?

Jesus suffered and died for all people, all who ever lived before, all who live now, and all who will live. Jesus died for all! Jesus has saved all! But most do not believe it. Jesus' blood is wasted on most people.

Most of the people in Jerusalem who knew about Jesus' crucifixion didn't care. They thought Jesus was the same as other lawbreakers the Romans often crucified. Jesus saved them, but they don't care. They refused their salvation. Jesus' blood and suffering was wasted on them!

And most people today still don't care. They know about Jesus. Daily they walk past or drive by churches and see the cross on the steeple. At Christmas and Easter they hear and see the story of Jesus on TV and radio. They may also have a Bible in their home. But they don't care. They never get baptized. They don't care to join the church or come to the Lord's Supper. They refuse their salvation.

Jesus' suffering and blood is wasted on them. My brother, and my sister, don't be like them. If you don't care, you can't be saved. Jesus' blood will be wasted on you.

God visited and redeemed His people. Some were soldiers by the cross. They divided up Jesus' clothes and gambled for His robe. They cursed and mocked Jesus. They did not feel sympathy for Jesus. They were cold and hard-hearted. They did their job. Jesus suffered and died for them, too. But His suffering and blood was wasted on them. They refused their salvation.

And there are cold and hardhearted (indifferent) people today. They see Jesus' cross, but have no interest in it. They go to work everyday and do their job, waiting for their pay check; waiting for the weekend when they can drink and play and watch football or baseball or participate in other sports. Jesus suffered and died for them, too. But His suffering and blood is wasted on them. They refuse His salvation.

My brother, my sister, don't be cold, hardhearted to Jesus' suffering and death. If you have no interest, you can't be saved. Jesus' blood will be wasted on you.

God had visited and saved His people in Jesus. Some were the priests and rulers who stood by Jesus' cross and mocked Him. Jesus suffered and died for them, too. But they self-righteous and proud. They think that they do not need His suffering and blood. They trust in their own good works and laws. They refuse Jesus' salvation. Jesus' blood is wasted on them.

Today still there are many proud self-righteous people. They ask, "Who needs a Savior?" They believe in science and technology. They trust in the federal government and in banks. Some say, "There is no sin. There is no God. There is no heaven. There is no hell." Therefore they mock and laugh at church and church members. They refuse their salvation. My brother, my sister, don't laugh and mock Jesus and His people. For if you do, you can't be saved!

Jesus died for His people. One was Judas, now hanging from a rope, dead. When Judas realized his sin, he despaired. He felt so bad, that God could not forgive him. So he went out and hanged himself. Jesus' blood was wasted on Judas.

Today many people are like Judas. They are sad and depressed. They hate themselves. They have no hope and purpose in life. They can't believe that God loves them and forgives them. A few kill themselves, but most try to forget by eating and drinking or use drugs and amusements. My brother, my sister, don't despair! Jesus has died for you, too. He loves you, too. If you despair and refuse to believe you can't be saved.

Nine disciples forsook Jesus and ran away to hide. They were afraid to be with Jesus in His suffering and death. They almost did not get saved! Jesus died for these nine, too, but they ran away in fear.

Many church members today are afraid to be involved with Jesus. They are uninvolved. They don't want any trouble. They are afraid to stand up and be counted, and witness for Jesus. They hide their faith and their love for Jesus. They want to be secret disciples. They are in danger. They can lose their salvation. My brother, my sister, don't be afraid to suffer with Jesus. He says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:29-33)

Some people accept Jesus salvation. Jesus' blood and suffering is not wasted on them.

One was the thief dying on the cross on the right hand of Jesus. He was sorry and confessed his sin. He scolded the other thief and told him to stop mocking Jesus. The he asked Jesus to remember him. You do like that thief. Don't be proud and think yourself better. Say with thief, "Lord, remember me!" Accept His salvation!

Another one who accepted Jesus' salvation was Peter. After he denied Jesus three times he went out and wept. Both Judas and Peter were sorry. Judas was sorry and despaired. But Peter was sorry with faith in Jesus' mercy and forgiveness. Do like Peter. Be sorry and weep with faith. We should weep just as Peter did, because we have denied Jesus more often than he, as I pointed out in the sermon yesterday. Jesus loved you and died for you although you have betrayed Him, denied Him and forsaken Him. Believe through your tears, just as Peter did.

Another one who believed was by the cross, John. He stood there with Jesus' mother to help her and support her. John wanted to serve Jesus, although he might be crucified, too. Jesus looked down from the cross and asked John to take care of His mother. John stood with his Lord and accepted the work His Lord gave to him! You do like John. Don't hide or be uninvolved. But stand with Jesus and serve Him although you may have to suffer for it. That sometimes happens when we accept Jesus' salvation.

God has visited and saved all people. But where are the saved? Are you with Jesus or without Him? Be with Jesus, and remain with Him and His people always. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

Amen.