The seven last words of Jesus Christ on the cross are some of the most important phrases said in human history. These short statements, each only a few words long, are the final teachings that Jesus gave before he died. Each of these seven statements is incredibly powerful and worth careful consideration.
Here, I'll break down what each of these seven last words means and how we can use them as inspiration for our own life.
1. Jesus Speaks to the Father (Luke 23:34) - Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
This was one of the most poignant moments in the Bible--Jesus was dying on the cross and he didn't have long to live. And yet, the first thing that came out of his mouth was forgiveness. It's no secret that Jesus was forgiving--he even forgave Judas for betraying him! If we can live our lives even half as forgiving as Jesus did, we'll have done pretty well for ourselves. Imagine if we could all have this attitude when dealing with those who have hurt us. What a beautiful example of love and forgiveness!
2: Jesus Speaks to the Dying Thief (Luke 23:43) - Jesus said to the thief on the cross beside Him, "Today you will be with me in paradise."
The thief on the cross had no chance to do anything good. He was dying. But he had heard of Jesus and knew who He was. He asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. And Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in paradise". We can rest assured that all we have to do is reach out to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness and He will give it. No matter how messed up our lives become; no matter what we have done or left undone, all we have to do is call out to Him in humility and repentance and ask for His grace and mercy and it shall be ours.
3: Jesus Speaks to Mary (John 19:26-27) - Jesus said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and then He said to John "Here is your mother."
Jesus acknowledged the importance of family. He was letting His mother know that she would be cared for. When he talked to John, He was entrusting him to take care of His mother when He wasn't able to anymore. This moment highlights how important it is for us to let our loved ones know that they are cared for and not just in the good times, but also in difficult ones too. It also shows us how important it is to be there for our loved ones when they need us most.
4: Jesus Cries Out to the Father (Matthew 27:46) - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
This is most likely the hardest to understand of Jesus’ seven last words. I don’t think anyone really understands why Jesus would ever feel forsaken by God. But it’s important to note that this was not a time of abandonment. Rather, it was a time of separation. When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was taking on our sins, and as a result, experiencing the separation from God that our sins deserve. So we can rejoice in knowing that because of Jesus and His sacrifice for us we never have to be separated from God again!
5. Jesus Is Thirsty (John 19:28) - Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty."
It's important to remember that Jesus said this not as a common man, but as God—the source of all life and sustenance. He was thirsting for us, so that we could be refreshed, healed, and redeemed by his gift of life.
We can take this as inspiration for our own lives: when we feel worn out or used up, the best path forward is to keep giving ourselves away. When we do this, we find ourselves renewed and re-filled in ways we never could have anticipated.
6. It Is Finished (John 19:30) - ... he said, "It is finished!"
He has completed His mission — He has accomplished exactly what He was called to do by God the Father. And that should be an inspiration to us: while we may never achieve the same level of perfection as Jesus did in our own lives, each of us have been called by God to fulfill our own unique purpose here on earth. We are each uniquely equipped to accomplish certain tasks in ways that no one else can.
7. Jesus' Last Words (Luke 23:46) - Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
These powerful words are a reminder that we are not in control of our own lives—God is. When we entrust ourselves to God and accept his salvation through Jesus Christ, we can find peace in knowing that he is ultimately in control over our lives. As Jesus' disciples, we are called to trust in the Lord for all things, including the circumstances of our own lives.
So here are the seven last words of Jesus Christ and what they can mean to us personally. As you now know, the seven last words is a rich tradition with a source in the book of life. While every story about these words has a different lesson for us, we don't have to look far to find inspiration and motivation in them. Let these stories be reminders of what's truly important — let them remind you of your own life. And most importantly, share those stories so that they can inspire others to do the same.
With all of these in mind, let's take some time to reflect on our daily lives. How are we putting others first, living for today or preparing for tomorrow? With an understanding of the seven last words of Jesus Christ, it's possible to increase our faith and be more aware that there is a power greater than ourselves that works through us. Let's continue to praise God and love one another.
Happy Easter Everyone!
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