Good Friday: The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross
One of the most powerful practices you can participate in during Good Friday is reflecting on the Seven Last Words of Christ on the cross.
I’ve arranged them below for you chronologically, as Jesus spoke them.
Allow each word, each sentence, spoken by our Savior to pierce your heart with awareness of your sin and of God’s great forgiving grace.
The First Words
“Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).
The Second Words
“And Jesus said unto him, ‘I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43).
The Third Words
“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’” (John 19:26).
The Fourth Words
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is, being interpreted, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34).
The Fifth Words
‘After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, ‘I thirst’” (John 19:28).
The Sixth Words
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished’”: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).
The Seventh Words
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit’” (Luke 23:46).
Join the Conversation
How are the Seven Last Words of Christ, spoken nearly 2,000 years ago, impacting you today?
Thanks Bob, a great reminder on this day.
Blessings
BH
Super Bob. Reading your articles and hearing what you say, makes me think of the animated character on TV called Bob the builder. I love that your focus is always on the Lord and how we can better relate to his word.
You asked how these words are impacting us today. Knowing you I believe you want this blog to actually be an expression of God’s Kingdom of Grace, so I’m going to answer your question:
In nearly 40 years I’ve never felt like I understood Good Friday the way I do today. Several of Jesus “words” really resonate with me today.
‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ – Sometimes “the harms we have done and the harms done to us” are done in ignorance. Yet they don’t wound any less because of that. Father knows, father forgives. The cross maximizes my sins and my wounds and also maximizes the glory of forgiving and be forgiven and makes both possible for me. May he make all of that real for me today.
‘Woman, behold thy son!’ – Never had I read this apart from the context. It struck me, was Jesus just telling Mary to look to John as her son, or was he calling her to look on her son, slaughtered for the sins of humanity and her own sins, and let the sword pierce her own soul as Simeon had prophesied 33 years earlier? I need to face the sword that pierces my soul, but I have to do it Coram Deo – looking at the Son of God lifted up.
‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is, being interpreted, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ – I know I can never really understand this cry. It is the cry of infinite pain, infinite “betrayal”, infinite rejection. I can taste a bit of it, but I’ll never really get it. Thank God he has suffered and is therefore able to help those who suffer.
‘I thirst’ – Yes, I do. Deeply. Lord God, may I and those I love learn how to quench our thirsts in the Spring of Living water rather than our broken cisterns.
‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit’ – Whatever I’m feeling, whatever I’m experiencing, I can’t fix it. I can’t fix my own “suffering spirit”. I have to commend it to my Dad and know that he will receive it, now and forever.
Thank you for being available to God.