The Seven Words Of Jesus From The Cross: Series

Death and resurrection are two important events in the life of Jesus and the life of the church. The events of Good Friday are recounted in all four Gospels of the New Testament. According to the Gospels, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper with His disciples. He was then taken to trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin, where he was falsely accused of blasphemy. He was then sent to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, who sentenced Him to crucifixion at the demand of the chief Jewish religious leaders. Jesus was led to Calvary, where He was crucified between two thieves. He hung on the cross for six hours, during which time He spoke seven last words. The Seven Last Words of Jesus, spoken from the cross, offer profound insights into his humanity, divinity, and sacrificial love, urging reflection on forgiveness, faith, and the ultimate triumph of redemption.

1. "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

2. "This day you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

3. "Woman, behold your son." (John 19:26-27)

4. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46)

5. "I thirst." (John 19:28)

6. "It is finished." (John 19:30)

7. "Into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

The First Word - Jesus Speaks to the Father- "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34

In his excruciating suffering, the heart of Jesus focused on others rather than himself. Here we see the nature of God’s agape love—unconditional, selfless, redemptive, sacrificial, steadfast, and serving love. It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness. That is the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so we might be forgiven for our sins; so we might be reconciled to God for eternity. Because Christ died on the cross for us, we are cleansed from all wickedness, from every sin. The wonder of this Word from the Cross is that there is forgiveness for the disciples who forsook Jesus and fled in the night, forgiveness for the evil ones who drove Him to the Cross, forgiveness for the soldiers who nailed him to the tree, forgiveness for the bitter hearts of his religious enemies, the priests and teachers, and forgiveness for every person who has ever sinned or made a mistake. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

Jesus practiced what He preached. One day, Jesus preached on the mountain, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.” When Peter asked how many times we should forgive someone, Jesus answered seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). Needless to say, it is much easier to talk about forgiveness than to forgive. But what Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount, He practiced on the grim hill of Calvary. The Bible says, “Be ye therefore kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another” (Ephesians 4:32). We have been freely forgiven; therefore, we should freely forgive.

The Second Word Jesus Speaks to the Criminal on the Cross- "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."(Luke 23:43)

On that fateful day in the history of the world, it happened that there were two thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus. This fact isn’t just recorded to give a bit of colour to the dark scene. It’s not just to round up the story, but as a piece of evidence that what was happening was part of God’s plan of salvation. It was conceived before the world existed and revealed through God’s messengers’ centuries before. The prophecy that was being fulfilled is recorded in Isaiah 53 where, among many other predictions, the prophet declared that the coming Suffering Servant of the Lord was he who "was numbered with the transgressors" (53:12). Now it is not just the religious leaders or the soldiers that mock Jesus, but even one of the criminals. But the criminal on the other side speaks up for Jesus, explaining the two criminals are receiving their just due, and then pointing to Jesus, says, “This man has done nothing wrong.” One of the criminals who was crucified with Christ recognized who Jesus was and expressed faith in him as Savior. Then, turning to Jesus, he asks, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

No man is beyond hope of redemption in whose soul still lingers some fear of God. And as he spoke, faith rose in his soul, and he blurted out his appeal, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." It was a plea that did not fall on deaf ears. The response was immediate, "Truly, I tell you, and today you will be with me in Paradise." It was more than immortality that Jesus promised the penitent thief. He promised the honoured place of a companion of the garden in the courts of heaven. "You will be with me," said Jesus. Jesus yet again ignores His suffering and responds with His second word. Here we see grace poured out through faith, as Jesus assured the dying man of his forgiveness and eternal salvation.