Literature. — Denney, art. ' Ascension ' in Hastings' BB, vol. i. ; Sanday, '.Jesus Christ,' ib. vol. ii. p. (542; Swete, The Aiiostlrs' Creed; Westcott, The Ilistoric Faith and Epistle to llelireu'x; Jlilligan, The Ascennion of Our Lord ■,1r(inch, Exposi- tion of the Sermon on the Moxint, c)i. \\. ; Pearson, Exposition of the Creed, Art. vi. The relation of the Session of Christ to His presence among His people and to the Lutheran doctrine of
616
SETH
SEVEN WOEDS, THE
His ubiquity is discussed at length in Martensen's Christian Dogmatics, §§ 174-180. W. H. DUNDAS.
SETH. — The patriarch, mentioned as a link in our Lord's genealogy (Lk 3^*).
SEVEN, SEYENTY.— See Number.
SEYEN WORDS, THE.— These words, spoken by our Lord from the cross, are recorded by the different Evangelists, one by St. Matthew and St. Mark conjointly, three by St. Luke, and three by St. John. The progressive stages by which they are characterized may be taken to show a gradual unfolding of the will and purpose of God for the redemption of mankind. They seem to sum up in themselves the whole of the gospel. The first three words, ' Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do ' (Lk 23^^), ' Verily I say unto thee. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise' (Lk 23^^), and 'Woman, behold thy son . . . behold thy mother' (Jn 19^^-^^), were spoken be- tween the third and the sixth hour, and they reveal to us the great High Priest, in His life of ministry, interceding for the transgressors, pro- claiming pardon to the penitent, and blessing His own. The two next words, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (Mt 2V^, Mk 15^*), and ' I thirst ' ( Jn 19-^), were spoken in the dark- ness ; nature is Avrapped in gloom as the God-man, bearing the burden and the curse of sin that is not His own, reveals to us something of the mystery of suffering. The two last words, ' It is finished ' ( Jn 19^"), and ' Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit ' (Lk 23*), were spoken in the restored light. They reveal to us the victory, the completed work, and the entering into rest. All seven Avords are words of love It was love that animated Him from the time when ' for us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of tlie Virgin Mary, and was made Man' (Nicene Creed). It was love that entered into the whole of His life on earth, but that love shines with its brightest lustre in the cross. His ministry of intercession, of reconciliation, of bless- ing. His suffering. His tliirsting. His triumph, all reach their climax in the cross. They are the out- come of the great love wherewith He so loved us that He gave Himself for us.
1. 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' — This first Avord Avas probably spoken Avhen the soldiers Avere driving the nails into His hands and feet, and were about to lift up the cross Avith its sacred burden and i^lant it in the ground. From His hard bed, the cross, Avhile suffering untold agony. He intercedes for them, and adds to His intercession an excuse for their deed, 'They know not Avhat they do.' In one sense they did knoAV, they must have knoAvn, even those rough Roman soldiers, that they Avere per- petrating an act of gross cruelty ; but familiarity Avith suffering had made them callous. It Avas part of their Avork ; they Avere paid to do it, and they did it. But they did not knoAV all, they did not knoAv that they Avere crucifying the Lord of glory, they Avere but unconscious instruments doing Avhat they Avere bidden ; and so the Saviour prayed for them and made excuse for them, and not for them only, but for all avIio had taken part in that deed of violence, for all Avho, during all the ages that have since elapsed, have been crucifying the Son of God afresh.
2. ' To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.' — Having interceded for the transgressors, Christ from His cross proclaims pardon to the penitent robber on his cross. This man had been one of a band of robbers, perhaps the same band to Avhich Barabbas belonged, a band of men living Avild and
reckless lives ; and now both he and his felloAv, having fallen victims to the poAver against Avhich they have been in revolt, are suffering the ex- treme penalty of the laAv. Crucified Avitli them, in the same condemnation, is the pure and holy Jesus, Avho did no sin, neither Avas guile found in His mouth. He Avas numbered with the trans- gressors. He descended to the loAvest depth of human degradation that He might lift humanity to the height of holiness and heaven. F'rom His cross He Avill exert a Avorld-Avide attraction : ' I, if I be lifted up from the earth, Avill draAv all men unto me ' (Jn 12^-) ; and noAV this attraction is beginning. Both these robbers had at first reviled the Holy Sufferer ; one remained hardened and impenitent to the end, but the other Avas brought to a better mind. Perhaps this Avas not the first time that this man had seen the Christ ; he may have been among those Avho listened to His Avords on some previous occasion, he may have seen some of His miracles ; now, hoAvever, he is brought face to face Avith the poAA'er of His love, conviction daAvns Avithin him, he sees himself in his true light ; turning to his felloAv, he says, ' Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condenmation ? And we indeed justly, for Ave receive the due rcAvard of our deeds ; but this man hath done nothing amiss' (Lk 23'"'-^^). He confesses his sins, and not only is there a confession of sins bat a Avonderful faith, and this faith is manifested, not when Christ is at the height of His popularity, but in the depth of His humiliation. He sees in the cross a throne, and in the thorn-crowned sufferer a king seated ujion it, and he prefers his request, ' Lord, remem- ber me, when thou comest in thy kingdom.' And Jesus turns to this penitent robber and proclaims the gospel of forgiveness, ' To-day shalt thou be Avith me in paradise. '