EASTER 2026 - 7 STATEMENTS FROM THE CROSS

Now God sends His first born to die for our sins but not just die - conquer death by rising from the dead. That is what we celebrate here this morning.

While on the cross Jesus didn’t use many words, but He made 7 statements from the cross. Isn’t it ironic that it is 7, not 6, not 8, but 7? The Holy Number by Hebrews representing God, completeness, wholeness. God created in world in seven days,

Are they historically relevant or eternally relevant?

Let Us Pray!

Statement One

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34

He lived out Matthew 5:43-45 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Divine Mercy played out –

All of our sin – nailed Him to the cross – (Mel Gibson filming nail scene)

He is extending His divine mercy to all of us – nothing but ourselves and our pride can keep us from it

Exodus 34:6-7 – The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

ACTS 5:31– God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

ACTS 10:43– To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

ACTS 13:38– Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

Ephesians 1:7– In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Hebrews 9:22– Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 10:18 – Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Who do you need to extend the same kind of forgiveness to?

Statement Two

“Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

One mocked – one recognized Jesus’ divine authority

Did not ask to be saved from pain, death – recognized his guilt

Just to be remembered – God does not require perfection but repentance

Alister Beggs video

John 14:2– In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Matthew 25:46 – And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

John 6:47 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:51 – Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

Today you will be with me in paradise – do not stop no purgatory

2 Corinthians 5:6 – 8 – So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

How does the promise of heaven affect your daily walk?

Statement Three

“Woman, behold your son. hen he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” John 19:26-27

Jesus is concerned for us and provides for all of us. Even in His agony – He still cared

Jesus asks John to care for His mother – family extends beyond biology but the spiritual family is as important.

John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1 Timothy 5:8– But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Looking at how Jesus, while hanging on the cross was still concerned about the welfare of His family and friends, how does that affect you and your relationship with Him? How does this affect your relationship within your biological family? Spiritual family?

Statement Four

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

Not weakness but obedience!

Jesus was forsaken so we don’t have to be. Sin separates us from the Father – it was at this moment Jesus was completely removed from the Father’s presence so all past, present and future sin could be poured out on to Him so we didn’t have to carry it anymore!

Jesus us quoting Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? (read ps 22 v 1, 7-8, 14-18 – 7 prophecies here)

Ezekiel 9:9– Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.’

Forsaken – to turn His back towards and no longer see

Isaiah 62:4– You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.

2 Chronicles 24:20 – Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’”

2 Corinthians 4:9 – persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

Jesus bore our sins and has separated from God so we don’t have to be. Jesus was completely removed from the presence of God at this moment as our sins were poured out on Him. How is your faith affected knowing that we will never be separated from God’s presence?

Statement Five

“I thirst!” John 19:28

Psalm 22:15, Psalm 69:21b – They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

This personal statement reminds us that Jesus is not only God, but He also was man. Full humanity – He suffered for our sin – yet Jesus identifies with our needs.

Matthew 4:1-2, 11– Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

John 1:14– And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matthew 8:24– And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but Jesus was asleep.

Matthew 14:23 – And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Jesus, fully human and fully God; He slept, He ate, He thirst – He was tempted – He suffered

While hanging on the cross His human body suffered and felt every pain and anguish that the crucifixion was intended to produce. He endured and felt exhaustion, hunger, thirst, pain – He was scourged and whipped – huge amounts of blood loss – He was crucified – He was dehydrated –

His suffering connects to us because we have all endured pain – emotional, mental and physical pain – He connects to us through His suffering

(ie the loss of a child – who can know but another parent who has lost)

How does this change your view of the crucifixion?

Statement Six

“It is finished!” John 19:30

Jesus paid for our sins, and sin’s control over our lives is broken! Redemption is now complete

Not about what you do – if your good deeds out weigh your bad –

Not about more sacrifices

Not about rituals

The cross did what none of us could -restore broken humans to God

Greek word Jesus said was tetlestai – meaning PAID IN FULL! (our car loan example)

Isaiah 59:2– But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

But Hebrews 9:22– Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Romans 6:23– For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 53:6– All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 5:12– Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Ephesians 2:12-13 – remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 9:11-13 – But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

God’s plan is now complete – the bridge over the gap our sin created between us and God has been laid – everyone who accepts Jesus, has access to cross that bridge – who in your life needs to know that it is never too late to accept the free gift God has given us?

Statement Seven

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46

Full surrender – absolute total surrender and trust in the Father

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.”

His death – this death was foretold over thousands of years and over 300 prophecies –

Isaiah 53:10 – Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

John 6:40– For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 6:23– For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You can entrust your life into God’s hands.

Psalm 9:10– And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Closing Idea

From the cross, Jesus spoke words of forgiveness, promise, care, sacrifice, humanity, victory, and surrender—each one revealing not only what He was doing, but why He came. These were not just final words; they were eternal truths. The cross was not the end—it was the fulfillment of God’s plan, where mercy met justice and love paid the price. The question now is: How will we respond to what Jesus has already finished for us?

Final Summary

Jesus’ words from the cross reveal His heart and mission—forgiving sinners, offering salvation, and completing redemption.

He demonstrated divine mercy by forgiving those who crucified Him, showing us how to forgive others.

He promised eternal life to the repentant thief, proving salvation comes by grace through faith.

He showed personal care and compassion, even in suffering, reminding us of the importance of spiritual family.

He was forsaken so we would never be, bearing the full weight of sin and separation from God.

He fully experienced human suffering, identifying with our pain, weakness, and need.

He declared victory—“It is finished”, meaning the price for sin was paid in full.

He modeled complete surrender to the Father, entrusting His life fully into God’s hands.

The cross calls for a response—to receive forgiveness, trust in Christ, and live in the freedom He secured.

Have you given your life to Christ?

Is He both your Lord and Your Savior? If not – how come?

Pray now to make that happen -

If yes – then - What area of your life do you need to commit to God; turn over and let Him be in control of?

Are you walking today in the freedom of forgiveness? Has unforgiveness shackled your freedom? Who do you need to extend forgiveness to today, the same forgiveness that Jesus extended to you?

How does the promise of Heaven walk the Christian walk here on earth? How does the hope of heaven help you in times of trials or suffering?

How does the fact that while nailed to the cross Jesus was still concerned for individuals? How does that fact bring you comfort?

We are no longer an enemy of God, forsaken by Him, how does that truth resonate in your life? How does this affect the way you live your life?

Jesus was fully human, fully God, even while hanging on the cross, His human body still needed what our bodies need. His body felt every pain the crucifixion was intended to inflict, what does this fact mean to you in your life?

There are no more animal sacrifices needing to be made so your sins can be forgiven. Jesus already paid the price, His perfect blood washes away sin where lamb blood just covered sin, hiding it. The Passion of Christ with Jim Caviezel in it was rated R because of the violence. The real portrayal of scourging and crucifixion gave it an R rating. It was not nice, easy, or pleasing, looking at the gravity of what Jesus went through for you, individually, He did it for you, how will that affect how you live your life?

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.