I first heard the song “Last Words (Tenebrae)” by Andrew Peterson back in 2018. It inspired me to reflect on each of what has been called the last seven sayings of Christ on the cross. I shared these on Facebook at the time, but thought it would be good to compile them and post them all together here.
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34
As the soldiers were piercing his flesh with the nails that would hold him on the cross, he asked for their forgiveness. Our sin led to the death of the son of God. And because of it we find forgiveness. As He was wounded, we were healed.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
You will be with me in paradise
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
We don’t know why those two men were hanging on a cross that day. But one confesses his guilt for being there and then asks Jesus for mercy. The criminal had no case, he had no reason to justify his request. But he believed Jesus could grant his request and he humbly asked. And even as he hung there, Jesus grants grace and forgiveness.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3
Here is your son
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27
He was “obedient even unto death,” which means he took those beating and was nailed to a beam because it was God’s plan for our redemption. But, he was also obedient in death, as he was dying, he continued to care for his mother.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12
Why have you forsaken me?
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34
“suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.”
When we say these words from the Apostle’s Creed, I don’t think these words are necessarily giving us the chronological order of the events. I have always understood hell not as a place, but rather an existence without God. Even as he was still alive, Christ truly experienced hell on earth. Then he died. His temporary separation from God before death saves us from eternal separation from God after our own death.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1
I am thirsty
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28
Its hard to understand how Jesus can be both God and human at the same time. As fully God, Jesus was the living water, as a human he could hunger and thirst. As God, he had the power to satisfy his human desires, but he “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” Philippians 2: 6
But he humbled himself and in his humanity, he suffered, and if we believe in Him, in both his humanity and his divinity, we will satisfied with living water and never thirst again. (John 4:13).
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35
It is finished
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
I do not have to worry about earning my salvation. It is finished and Christ had done it.
They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! Psalm 22:31
Into your hands
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46
The work was done. Christ had been obedient to death on the cross. He had done everything that was necessary and now he was giving up his spirit in ultimate surrender God. But as the son of God he would have the power to rise from death to live again. In doing so, he gives us the promise that someday we would be able to do as well. What a great source of hope! We can stand at the graves of our loved ones and say I believe in the resurrection of the dead. We can live our lives in this truth which should remove all fear because we belong to him in life and in death.
He is not here; he has risen, Matthew 28:6
He has risen! He is not here. Mark 16:6
He is not here; he has risen! Luke 24:6
Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. Psalm 31:5
While we call these his last words, the irony here is that death did not have the “last word” because He defeated death, and lived again on Sunday.
Happy Easter!
A Long Intentional Walk 