Good Friday: The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross
One of the most powerful practices we can participate in during Good Friday is reflecting on the Seven Last Words of Christ on the cross.
I’ve arranged them below chronologically, as Jesus spoke them.
We can allow each word, each sentence, spoken by our Savior to pierce our hearts with awareness of our sin and of God’s great forgiving grace. “Where sin abounds, grace superabounds” (Romans 5:20).
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’: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).
Join the Conversation
How are the Seven Last Words of Christ, spoken nearly 2,000 years ago, impacting you today?
“Father, forgive them … they know not what they do.” – an awesome prayer I pray instead of picking up an offense when others seem so uncaring.
“My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – Jesus knows EXACTLY how I feel some days – and He walked through that rejection so I never have to! PTL
“I thirst” – I crave the Holy Spirit’s refreshing in my heart minute by minute – I want to know Him deeper and have a deeper desire for Him each day!
“It is finished” – Everything I owe is paid – every pain is answered – every tear is dried – every heartache is mended – every question is answered. Jesus was “finished”, but I’ve only just begun to live in Him!
“Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” – each situation I face, no matter how painful and hard, is in His hands and from His hands. I can commit everything to Him knowing it is safely carried by His nail-scared hands.