"…And by
that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10
ESV
As He
hung on the cross, Jesus made seven final statements. These phrases are held dear by followers of
Christ because they offer a glimpse into the depth of his suffering He went
through just so we can have eternal life.
These seven last words of Jesus are presented here in chronological
order.
1) Jesus Speaks to the Father -"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they
are doing." (NIV) Luke 23:34
In the midst of his excruciating
suffering, the heart of Jesus was focused on others rather than himself. Here
we see the nature of his love—unconditional and divine. Also, the whole reason He was on the cross
was based on forgiveness. He is dying so
we can be forgiven for your sins so why wouldn’t his first word from the cross
be one of forgiveness?
2) Jesus Speaks to the Criminal on the Cross -"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise." (NIV) Luke 23:43
One of the criminals who was crucified
with Christ, had recognized who Jesus was and expressed faith in him as Savior.
Here we see grace poured out through faith, as Jesus assured the dying man of
his forgiveness and eternal salvation. Jesus
promised that the criminal would be with him in paradise. Yet the text of Luke
gives us no reason to believe this man had been a follower of Jesus, or even a
believer in him in any well-developed sense. He might have felt sorry for his
sins, but he did not obviously repent. Rather, the criminal’s cry to be remembered
seems more like a desperate, last-gasp effort.
Though we should make every effort to
have right theology, and though we should live our lives each day as disciples
of Jesus, in the end, our relationship with him comes down to simple trust.
“Jesus, remember me,” we cry. And Jesus, embodying the mercy of God, says to
us, “You will be with me in paradise.” We are welcome there not because we are
living rightly, but because God is merciful and we have put our trust in Jesus.
3) Jesus Speaks to Mary and John -
When Jesus saw his mother there, and
the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is
your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." (NIV)
John 19:26-27
Jesus, looking down from the cross, was
still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his mother.
None of his brothers were there to care for her, so he gave this task to the
Apostle John. Here we clearly see Christ's humanity. This statement brings about a clear sense of
reality. We are reminded that Jesus is
human, that he was once a little boy and a baby in his mother’s arms. It also brings up the horror that Mary must
have felt at watching her child crucified.
4) Jesus Cries Out to the Father
And about the
ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (NKJV)
Matthew 27:46 (also Mark 15:34)
In the darkest hours of his suffering,
Jesus cried out the opening words of Psalm 22. And although much has been
suggested regarding the meaning of this phrase, it was quite apparent the agony
Christ felt as he expressed separation from God. Here we see the Father turning
away from the Son as Jesus bore the full weight of our sin. Jesus is expressing the heaviness that He
feels in His heart at this time. He was
feeling the full separation of God from Him as He took on the sin of the
world. He had entered into the Hell that
is separation from God.
5) Jesus is Thirsty
Jesus knew that everything was now
finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty." (NLT) John 19:28
Jesus refused the initial drink of
vinegar, gall and myrrh (Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23) offered to alleviate his
suffering. But here, several hours later, we see Jesus fulfilling the messianic
prophecy found in Psalm 69:20-21: Their insults have broken my
heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me. But instead, they give me poison for food;
they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
6) It is Finished
... he said,
"It is finished!" (NLT) John 19:30
Jesus knew he was suffering the
crucifixion for a purpose. Earlier he had said in John 10:18 of his life,
"No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have
authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I
received from my Father." (NIV) These three words were packed with
meaning, for what was finished here was not only Christ's earthly life, not
only his suffering and dying, not only the payment for sin and the redemption
of the world—but the very reason and purpose he came to earth was finished. His
final act of obedience was complete. The Scriptures had been fulfilled.
Because Jesus finished his work of
salvation, you and I don’t need to add to it. In fact, we can’t. He
accomplished what we never could, taking our sin upon himself and giving us his
life in return. Jesus finished that for which he had been sent, and we are the
beneficiaries of his unique effort. Because of what he finished, you and I are
never “finished.” We have hope for this life and for the next. We know that
nothing can separate us from God’s love. One day what God has begun in us will
also be finished, by his grace. Until that day, we live in the confidence of
Jesus’ cry of victory: “It is finished!”
7) Jesus' Last Words
Jesus called out
with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When
he had said this, he breathed his last. (NIV) Luke 23:46
Here Jesus closes with the words of Psalm
31:5, speaking to the Father. We see his complete trust in the Father. Jesus
entered death in the same way he lived each day of his life, offering up his
life as the perfect sacrifice and placing himself in God's hands.
