“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”
Luke 23:46

The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus.

I mentioned last week that every time Jesus chose to speak from the cross it was a significant event. A man being crucified could barely breathe. The effort required to take even a small breath was incredibly painful. But any speech requires air in the lungs. So seven times Jesus hoists himself up on the cross, pushing against the nails, in order to make Himself heard. These “seven last words” of Christ, as they are traditionally called, are as follows:

  1. A prayer of forgiveness for his enemies in Lk 23:34
    “Father, forgive them for they don’t know not what they do!”
    Even pinned to a cross, his mercy still flows to His enemies.
  2. The Assurance of salvation to the repentant criminal in Lk 23:43
    “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”
    What assurance! What grace!
  3. A Caring Concern for the welfare of His mother in Jn 19:27
    We looked at this last time. Jesus commends her to John’s faithful care.
    Even in death His mind is on the good of those He loves.
  4. His cry of abandonment. “Eloi, Eloi. Lama Sabachthani” in Mk 15:34
    “My God, My God why have you forsaken me” a quote from Psa 22:1
    It is at this point Jesus is bearing the curse of death for our sin.
  5. He cries out “I thirst” in Jn 19:28
    We will look further at this today, but here we clearly see his humanity.
    We also see his self-consciousness of fulfilling the Scriptures (Ps 69:21)
  6. His declaration of triumph as He cries “It is finished” in Jn 19:30
    Many of you will know this is the cry of “tetelestai” = Paid in Full!
    Jesus declares that his work of redemption is finished, as we’ll see today
  7. “Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit” in Lk 23:46.
    His work complete, Jesus bows his head and dismisses his spirit into His
    Father’s loving and faithful hands. Jesus begins his three day rest.

My goal in giving you these “seven words” is more than informational. It is my hope that you may take time between now and Easter to think about these passages. What do they mean? What is Jesus saying that you need to hear?

Christ died for our sins, that in Him we may have life!

Pastor Scott