The “Seven Last Words” of Jesus Christ from the cross are a deeply moving and profound part of Christian faith, reflecting Jesus’s final moments and the depth of His love and sacrifice for humanity. These “words” are actually phrases taken from the four Gospels in the New Testament. They have been a source of inspiration, reflection, and meditation for Christians around the world. Here, I’ll share these seven phrases, along with a brief explanation of each to help deepen our understanding of their significance.
1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
This first saying of Jesus on the cross shows His boundless mercy and forgiveness. Even in the midst of His own suffering, Jesus prays for the forgiveness of those who are crucifying Him, embodying the unconditional love and forgiveness He preached throughout His ministry.
2. “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Spoken to one of the criminals crucified alongside Him, this promise of Jesus signifies the grace and redemption available to all, regardless of their past, provided they turn to Him with genuine repentance and faith.
3. “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
In this moment, Jesus, even in His suffering, shows His care for His mother, Mary, entrusting her to the care of His beloved disciple, John. This illustrates Jesus’s humanity and His concern for the wellbeing of His loved ones.
4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)
This phrase, a quote from Psalm 22, expresses the depth of Jesus’s anguish as He bears the weight of humanity’s sins. It highlights the mystery of Jesus’s feeling of abandonment, taking on the full wrath of God for sin, yet it also points to His fulfillment of Scripture.
5. “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)
This statement underscores the physical reality of Jesus’s suffering and His fulfillment of Scripture. It reminds us of His humanity, experiencing physical pain and thirst, and fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 69:21.
6. “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
This triumphant declaration signifies the completion of Jesus’s mission on earth. Through His death, the debt of sin is paid, and the work of salvation is accomplished. This phrase marks the fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity’s redemption.
7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
Jesus’s last words before His death express His total trust in the Father. This is a profound expression of faith and surrender, signifying that His earthly work is done and His spirit is returning to God.
These seven last words encapsulate Jesus’s compassion, fulfillment of prophecy, provision for those He loved, profound suffering, and ultimate victory over death. They offer a powerful reflection on the depth of Jesus’s love and sacrifice, providing a source of hope, strength, and salvation for believers.
To accompany the profound theme of the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the cross, here are five Bible verses that resonate with the messages of forgiveness, redemption, care, forsakenness, and trust in God. These verses reflect the depth of Jesus’s sacrifice and the breadth of the love and salvation He offers.
1. Forgiveness
- Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
This verse encourages believers to embody the forgiveness Jesus displayed, even in His last moments on the cross.
2. Redemption
- Ephesians 1:7
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
Here, Paul speaks to the redemption Jesus secured through His sacrifice, a theme echoed in Jesus’s promise of paradise.
3. Care and Provision
- 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Just as Jesus cared for His mother in His final moments, this verse reminds us of Jesus’s ongoing care and provision for us.
4. Feeling Forsaken
- Psalm 22:1
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”
Jesus quotes this Psalm on the cross, expressing His anguish but also highlighting the fulfillment of prophecy and His deep connection with humanity’s suffering.
5. Trust in God
- Psalm 31:5
“Into your hands, I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.”
Echoing Jesus’s final words, this verse signifies total trust in God, serving as a model for our own faith journey.
