Jesus Last 7 sayings on the cross (by Kdurant)

Jesus Last 7 sayings on the cross

(Prepared by Capt. Kelly Durant, notes from Wikipedia)

Intro: How many of you have smashed a finger with a hammer? Or been in pain so bad you were almost passing out?

Imagine that kind of pain on your entire back, head, hands, feet, entire body! The excruciating pain Jesus went through gives anyone chills just to think about!

What makes me hate Satan and His people so much is knowing that they enjoy torturing the righteous. There are Christians that still get crucified today! It makes you sick to your stomach to even think about it!

Imagine, the most righteous loving person ever, Jesus, the Son of God, and all of Satan’s minions wanted to do was to hurt him to this horrible extreme! Jesus with His suffering and death exposed the evil that exists in all humanity. The demons in people are real! What horrific cruelty! But Jesus wanted to save even those carrying out his execution, but only those that believed, like the thief on the cross beside him who believed, obtained salvation into heaven.

There is a message we must learn from Jesus last 7 sentences as He died on the cross. Imagine, even in such despair, he was teaching us how our attitudes should be!

Please, let’s learn from Him!   

1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”

Luke 23:34

This first saying of Jesus on the cross is traditionally called "The Word of Forgiveness". It is theologically interpreted as Jesus' prayer for forgiveness for the Roman soldiers who were crucifying him and all others who were involved in his crucifixion.

Reflection: Would you be able to forgive someone who was murdering you? I suspect there were a few dozen Roman soldiers who got saved that day being awestruck that Jesus would forgive them for their violent act against him. We must practice an extreme forgiveness, if we want to be like Jesus.

2. “Today you will be with me in paradise”

Luke 23:43

"And he said to him (the thief on the cross), 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise'."

This saying is traditionally called "The Word of Salvation". According to Luke's Gospel, Jesus was crucified between two thieves, one of whom supports Jesus' innocence and asks him to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. This reading assumes a direct voyage to Heaven. 

Reflection: Would you have the faith to trust that salvation could even be for a condemned person? We must share Jesus gospel with all, even the dying whom the world considers as scum. We must trust in the salvation of the souls of others to be like Jesus.

3. “Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother”!

John 19:26,27

This statement is traditionally called "The Word of Relationship" and in it Jesus entrusts Mary, his mother, into the care of "the disciples whom Jesus loved".

Mary for sure was in horrific shock to have to ‘behold’ her son dying in such an evil manner, but we can equate this with how Jesus wants us to invite those closest to us to see what salvation cost. All of us hate to see anyone we love suffer, but it is a reality we must face.

Could you entrust to those you love your parents or relatives? The presumption here is that Mary is suffering in her heart as much as Jesus is, and in order to be like Jesus we must be willing to suffer as she did, and be willing to console, as the disciples did.

4. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34

"My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?" See also: Language of Jesus Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani (Ἠλί, Ἠλί, λιμὰ σαβαχθανί)

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This is an expression: “A word of abandonment”, an expression of loneliness.

Theologians understand this as cry of one who was truly human and who felt forsaken. Put to death by his foes, very largely deserted by his friends, he may have felt also deserted by God. God and Jesus had agreed, that He would have to figuratively ‘turn his back on Him’ so He could complete the mission of being the sacrificial lamb that takes away the sin of the world.

Reflection: Can you allow God to fulfill His purpose in you, even if it means God allowing you to pass through a painful test? We must endure feelings of loneliness and abandonment if we want to be like Jesus.

5. “I thirst”

John 19:28

This statement is traditionally called "The Word of Distress" Here we observe that Jesus lived in a body just like ours. In the Garden of Gethsemane He lost a lot of blood with his sweat , and had not eaten or drank anything since then. Jesus physically suffered to the extreme, inside and out! Jesus himself was the living water, but during His death he had to face what all flesh faces, that this world will not provide for all our needs or comfort, especially in death. Would you also endure extreme physically suffering to be like Jesus?

6. “It is finished”

John 19:30

"Jesus said, 'It is finished'" (τετέλεσται or "Tetelestai" in Greek).[25]

This statement is traditionally called "The Word of Triumph" and is theologically interpreted as the announcement of the end of the earthly life of Jesus, in anticipation for the Resurrection.

A commentator, Adam Hamilton writes: "These last words are seen as a cry of victory, not of dereliction. Jesus had now completed what he came to do. A plan was fulfilled; a salvation was made possible; a love shown. He had taken our place. He had demonstrated both humanity's brokenness and God's love. He had offered himself fully to God as a sacrifice on behalf of humanity. As he died, it was finished”

7. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit”

Luke 23:46

These same words we find in Psalm 31:5, which is an announcement traditionally called "The Word of Reunion". Theologically this is interpreted as the proclamation of Jesus joining God the Father in Heaven. His spirit left his old body, but in resurrection his spirit regenerated it!

Review

Seven is the number of perfection; these last words cover God's completion of the circle of creation and we could apply them to our faith walk in Jesus. Jesus said this Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

1.    “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”  (Forgiveness)To know Jesus our first step is to forgive and be forgiven of our sins.

2.     “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Salvation). This statement affirms that once you believe and accept Jesus, no matter the past sins, you will have a place in heaven

3.    “Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother”! (Relationship) This statement reveals that our loved ones will suffer with us and us with them due to our strong connection to Jesus and the rough path it may take us to.

4.    “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Abandonment) This phrase proves that in life we will not always get God’s attention how we want it when we want it and we must accept the fact He is doing a great work in us beyond what we feel at any moment. 

5.    “I thirst” (Distress) In our life and death we will pass through many stressful events and our physical thirst (pain) must not overshadow our thirst for “righteousness” which Jesus taught us to have. He said we would never thirst again, and in the flesh thirst can never be satisfied, only in the spirit. 

6.    “It is finished” (Triumph) We must keep our eyes on the Lord always as once having passed through all the tests in life, the end there is victory; a completion of all the Lord required of us and obtaining a reward for it. 

7.    “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Reunion) The most wonderful thing in life is when we die we will be united with our Father, with Jesus, and with our fellow believers. The promise of heaven will become very real upon our passing as our spirit will be forever protected and blessed for trusting in Jesus dwelling where He lives.

These words may remind you of a typical prayer that is often taught. ‘I commit myself to you, O God. In my living and in my dying, in the good times and in the bad, whatever I am and have, I place in your hands, O God, for your safekeeping’.

May we be blessed on this Good Friday, on this day of such a painful reminder of what it cost Jesus to bring us salvation. May we always be thankful and share His love to all until the day we die.