“Tell Me The Story of Jesus” — The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus on the Cross
Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.
In our last article, we discussed the emotional trauma as well as the physical torture Jesus endured before and during the crucifixion.
In this article, we want to fix our eyes on Jesus as He was lifted up on the cross and examine His last sayings before breathing His last.
These seven last sayings, according to Arthur Pink, express (1) Forgiveness, (2) Salvation, (3) Affection, (4) Anguish, (5) Suffering, (6) Victory, and (7) Contentment (Pink, 11-18).
It is my prayer that our hearts will be pricked and that we will be further motivated to live for the One Who died for us!
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Though He could have punished everyone in attendance and though He could have “called twelve legions of angels” (Matt. 26:53), He chose to pray for those who persecuted Him.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray for those who mistreated them, and now He was putting that into practice (Matt. 5:44). This shows the heart of Jesus and the fact that He put others before Himself.
God would answer this prayer on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached the Gospel giving those who murdered Jesus the opportunity to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:36-38, 41, 47).
“This day, thou shalt be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
On that hill stood three crosses.
On one was a man dying in sin.
On another was a man dying to sin.
In the middle was the One Who died for sin.
The man who died to sin was one who had knowledge about Jesus and His Kingdom (Luke 23:42).
Jesus, Who had the power on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10) was still alive when He uttered those precious words of confirmation to the thief on the cross, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
“Woman, behold thy son; son behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27).
Here we get a deeper view into the heart of Jesus.
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23), was entrusted with protecting and providing for Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus also entrusted His mother to look after John with motherly love.
Again, this shows how selfless and compassionate Jesus was.
This statement and the emotional turmoil Mary experienced was a fulfillment of prophecy (Luke 2:34-35).
“I thirst” (John 19:28).
This statement reminds us of the humanity of Jesus.
He experienced hunger, thirst, pain, as well as every other physical desire and human emotion we experience. Furthermore, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy (Psa. 22; Isa. 53:1-11), specifically, Psalm 69:21: “They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
Jesus took on the full “cup” of suffering and fulfilled prophecy; however, He did not give in to the painkiller:
“As a man, Jesus now longed for water to quench His thirst, not deaden His pain. So Jesus did not refuse the gesture of the soldiers” (Wacaster, 392).
“My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).
There is a lot of confusion and debate around this phrase, but after studying this closely, it is my conviction that the Lord was quoting Psalm 22 and fulfilling it before those witnessing His sacrifice.
I do not believe that the Father forsook His Son, but that Jesus, under severe turmoil, cried out the words of the Psalmist yet fully submitting to the One Who was with Him (John 8:29; 16:32).
Please consider Isaiah’s prophecy which shows that God saw what took place and was satisfied (Isa. 53:10-11).
“It is finished” (John 19:30).
Jesus knew that the mission was accomplished and that He did His Father’s will (John 8:29).
These three words signified the end of the Old Law (Col. 2:12-14), the end of the terrible suffering, and the end of His earthly sojourn and mission for it was now completed.
“Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
With these words, Jesus willingly submitted His spirit to the Father.
The first and last of the seven sayings were directed to the Father.
What a powerful, beautiful moment of humility and victory!
Truly, the death of Jesus was a monumental, unequivocal event. He died for you and for me. May we be motivated to live for and serve Him in view of His love for us!
References.
Pink, Arthur Walkington. The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross. Baker Books Publishing Group. Grand Rapids, MI. 1984. Print.
Wacaster, Tom. The Magnificence of Jesus. Vol. 2. Pg. 392. Electronic.
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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