The seven last sayings of Jesus on the cross, also called the seven last words of Christ, are some of the most touching and meaningful moments in the Gospel. These final words uttered by Jesus as He hung on the cross reveal His humanity, divinity, and the depth of His love for humanity.
This article examines the background, meaning, and lasting importance of Jesus’ final words. It provides a detailed look at why these words still matter to believers around the world.
Understanding the Context of Jesus on the Cross
Before looking at the seven last sayings of Jesus, it’s important to understand the backdrop. The crucifixion of Jesus was one of history’s most significant and harrowing events. After being betrayed, arrested, and falsely accused, Jesus endured a brutal trial and was sentenced to death on the cross. This Roman method of execution was as humiliating as it was torturous.
The Gospels describe these events in great detail. They focus not just on the physical pain but also on the deep spiritual importance of what was happening. When Jesus hung on the cross, He bore the weight of the sins of the world. Prophecies, like those in Psalms and Isaiah, were fulfilled as the Lamb of God took His place as a sacrifice for humanity’s redemption.
What were Jesus’ Seven Last Words? A Breakdown of Each Saying
1. Prayer of Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus’ first words on the cross were about forgiveness. This shows his endless compassion and perfect character. Even while enduring excruciating pain, Jesus pleads for mercy for those who crucified him.
He didn’t revile them or curse them. Throughout His life, Jesus lived by every one of His teachings, even the hardest ones. For example, He taught, “love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you” (Matthew 5:44).
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1 Peter 2:23: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
This extraordinary act of forgiveness sets the tone for his remaining sayings.
This act of forgiveness resonates with the core of Christian teaching – love for enemies and extending grace even in the face of injustice. It challenges us to examine our own capacity for forgiveness and to extend it to those who wrong us.
2. Assurance of Salvation: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
This is an assurance of salvation offered to one of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus. The penitent thief, realizing Jesus’s innocence, repents and acknowledges him as Lord. Jesus’ response highlights the accessibility of salvation, even in the final moments of life. The term “Paradise” speaks to the hope and promise of eternal life with Christ.
This conversation between Jesus and the thief shows how faith and repentance can change a person’s life. It reminds us that salvation is available to anyone who turns to Christ, regardless of their past actions.
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Romans 10:13 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
These words of Jesus further reveal His divine nature. While others looked upon Him with pity and scorn, shaking their heads, He extended the promise of eternal life to the repentant thief.
3. Words of Compassion: “Woman, behold your son! … Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27)
In a touching act of love, Jesus asks his close disciple John to take care of his mother, Mary. This act demonstrates Jesus’ concern for his mother’s well-being, even amidst his own suffering. It also reflects the importance of community and caring for one another within the family of faith. The seven last words of Jesus reveal his humanity and compassion, even as he faces his own mortality.
This act extends beyond a simple familial arrangement. Many people see this as a symbol. It means Jesus was giving the Church the responsibility to care for all believers. It also encourages Christians to support and help each other.
4. The Cry on behalf of Humanity: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
This cry of anguish, quoting Psalm 22, is perhaps the most difficult of the seven sayings. While interpretations vary, it reveals the depth of Jesus’s suffering, both physical and spiritual. Some scholars think this was the moment Jesus took on the world’s sins. They believe it caused a brief separation between Jesus and God the Father.
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Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
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Isaiah 53:4 – “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”
Jesus is sinless. He had no sin. He never committed any sin. On the cross he bore the sins of many. So he was abandoned on the cross by God the Father.
This moment of apparent abandonment deepens the mystery of the crucifixion of Jesus. This shows the deep loneliness and pain Jesus felt. He was carrying the weight of all humanity’s sins.
5. Humanity: “I thirst.” (John 19:28)
This simple statement demonstrates Jesus’s human vulnerability and physical suffering. It’s a powerful reminder that Jesus, fully divine, was also fully human. It’s a stark illustration of the physical agony of crucifixion, where dehydration was a significant part of the suffering.
This statement fulfills prophecy (Psalm 69:21), further emphasizing Jesus’s identity as the Messiah. It also underscores the reality of his human experience.
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Psalm 69:21 – “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”
6. Words of completion: “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
With these words, spoken with a loud voice according to John’s gospel, Jesus cried out a declaration of triumph. “It is finished” signifies the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission. He has fulfilled the scriptures and accomplished the work of redemption.
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Matthew 20:28 – “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The very purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth was to suffer and die for the sins of many. This pivotal moment marks the climax of Jesus’s ministry and the fulfillment of his purpose. It signifies victory, not defeat, as Jesus completes the work entrusted to him by God the Father.
7. Words of surrender: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
Jesus’s final words are an act of surrender and trust in God the Father. These words reflect Psalm 31:5. They show Jesus’s trust in God the Father and His calm acceptance of death. They offer comfort and reassurance to believers, reminding us that even in death, we are held in God’s loving embrace. These are powerful and comforting amongst the seven last words of Jesus.
These words also remind us of what He had told about His death –
John 10:17-18 – For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
This final act of surrender demonstrates that Jesus remained faithful to God until his last hours. It models for us a posture of trust and submission to God’s will, even in the face of death.
Reflecting on the Seven Last Words
The seven last sayings of Jesus on the cross aren’t just historical artifacts. They are living words that continue to speak to us today.
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Prayer of Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) – Jesus models radical forgiveness, even in his most agonizing moments.
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Assurance of Salvation: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43) – Jesus offers the promise of eternal life to all who repent and believe in him, regardless of their past.
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Words of Compassion: “Woman, behold your son! … Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27) – Jesus’ care for his mother highlights the importance of familial and communal bonds.
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The Cry of behalf of Humanity : “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) – Jesus’s words demonstrate both his divine power and his human vulnerability.
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Humanity: “I thirst.” (John 19:28) – Jesus’s words demonstrate both his divine power and his human vulnerability.
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Words of completion: “It is finished”, (John 19:30) – signifies the accomplishment of Jesus’s redemptive mission.
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Words of surrender: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) – Jesus’ final words show complete surrender and trust in God the Father, even in death.
The words of Jesus offer guidance, comfort, and hope in the face of life’s challenges. As we reflect on these powerful pronouncements, may we be inspired to live lives of greater faith, love, and forgiveness.