Jesus’ 7 sayings from the cross

This is a day of remembrance for all Christians to consider what Jesus did to pay for the sins of all of mankind. We call this day Good Friday. I have heard some sermons that focus on the specifics of the torture and physical sufferings of Jesus. Jesus did suffer and his death was one that few other people if any have needed to endure. The physical pain, the spiritual darkness he endured, and the shame he was put through are such that words cannot describe how bad and how evil it was. Yes, we need to think about how badly Jesus suffered for us, but I do not believe that should be the focus of what we talk about today. Jesus dis suffer terribly and then died a death that was reserved for only the worst of criminals. It is a Good Friday because we as sinful people with no hope to save ourselves were saved through the death of Jesus in the place of our eternal death apart from God. God the Father looked on the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of mankind with favor and approval. The sacrifice was only Jesus’ to give as he was without any sin in his life. No other person could make that claim, only Jesus. This morning, as we remember Jesus in his sufferings, I would like to share with you the 7 things that Jesus said during his crucifixion and before his death. There is a lot that is said about the events surrounding Jesus’ trial and his dying on the cross. But, these are the recorded words of Jesus as written in the Bible as he hung on the cross. Did he say more? It is likely, but these are the recorded words of Jesus that God wanted us to know about.

Hearing a sermon about each of the 7 sayings of Jesus was often the practice of our Christian churches when we were living in Bangladesh. There would be 7 different men each giving a full sermon about each of the 7 sayings.

Tell story of no power in hot season and sitting for hours in church. This was typically done during the hours which Jesus would have been suffering on the cross. I wanted to share a similar message to what I heard in Bangladesh with you all thogh I will not take 3-4 hours to do it!

The seven sayings of Christ is not something that has any mystical or ultra-spiritual meaning, but I know that there is meaning behind the words. These 7 sayings are recorded intentionally, and I believe that they have value for us as we consider the last things that Jesus said before his death. In several of these saying of Jesus, he is quoting a line from different Psalms. Three of the sayings are only written in the gospel of John, and three other of them are written in the gospel of Luke. The last saying appears only in the gospels of Matthew and Mark. It is not known for certain what the order of these says are, but the order that I am presenting them is the generally accepted order.

1. “Father, Forgive Them, for They Do Not Know What They Are Doing” (Luke 23:34)

There is some question about if this statement was said or not because it is only talked about in the book of Luke and some of the earliest Greek manuscripts do not include it. I believe though that this phrase is included in most Bibles because it is aligned with the heart of Jesus. Jesus knows why he is on the cross. He knows that the sacrifice of his life is the only way that sinful people can approach a holy God. Even with all the wickedness and evil that is being done to Jesus, his heart is still one of love, compassion, and forgiveness. Even in the events leading up to his crucifixion with him weeping over Jerusalem and the healing of the servant of the high priest whose ear was cut off, it is clear that Jesus looks on people with compassion and with pity for their ignorance. Jesus makes this plea to God the Father to forgive the people who are most hurting the Son of God Jesus. Though they are malicious in their actions, they do not understand the deep evil that they are doing by putting to death God in the flesh Jesus. Jesus told his followers in Luke chapter 6 to “love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you.” Well… Jesus is certainly living by example as he asks the Father to forgive them. The Apostle Stephen when he is being martyred speaks a similar phrase as Jesus when he says, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Stephen paid attention to the words and actions of Jesus and we ought to do the same. My first reaction when people are cruel to me is not compassion but to defend my rights. I need to take my cues less from the American spirit and more from the heart of Jesus.

2. “Truly I Say to You, Today You Will Be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)

This saying is only recorded in the book of Luke, yet it carries one of the promises that we as Christians hold so dear. That is when our life on Earth ends, we will be brought right into Heaven to be with God. As encouraging as that is, the emphasis of this section is not on so much on the destiny of dead people, but on the simple faith shown by the criminal. Even at the last minute, this man was near to death and his thoughts were bringing him to express a simple expression of faith. He was making this choice while he is resting in the shade or while he was observing the miracles of Jesus, but in the middle of his time of great suffering. The gospels of Matthew and Mark both state that both of the criminals being crucified next to Jesus insulted him. Yet, Luke shows us that one of the criminals also stops and makes an expression of faith in Jesus and who he is. Jesus’ response of giving this dying thief the promise of paradise again shows Jesus’ compassion and love for others even in the midst of his suffering. We have this same promise that if we abandon our own way of trying to get to God and put our faith and trust in Jesus as our saviour, we have the hope of Heaven as well.

3. “Woman, Behold Your Son.… Behold Your Mother” (John 19:26–27)

In this statement, we again see Jesus thinking about the needs of others even as he hangs on the cross in agony. It was foretold by Simeon in Luke chapter 2 during the presentation of Jesus at the temple after his birth that, 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” [1]Certainly Mary is experiencing grief like a sword in her to watch her own son be killed before her eyes, but this is done so that many will hear and know true freedom from sin. Jesus looks with love and care for his mother as he hangs on the cross and sees that she is cared for by John, the disciple that the Bible says that Jesus loved. Even in Jesus’ darkest and most desperate hour, he thinks of what is best for those he loves.

4. “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34)

This is the only saying of Jesus on the cross recorded in Matthew and Mark. The other sayings from the cross are recorded in Luke and John. At this point, Jesus had been on the cross for a while and this was nearing the end of his life. The hill of Calvary was covered in darkness. The despair and isolation Jesus is feeling now is deep deep darkness. Jesus cries out from the depths of his being in his heart language of Aramaic (though Matthew records the words in Hebrew). Eloi Eloi Lama Sebactanai! (My God my God why have you forsaken me). This is a desperate cry! We do not know exactly why Jesus calls out these words, but we know that Jesus is bearing all the sins of mankind on the cross. So, he is separated from the intimate fellowship of God the Father and from the Holy Spirit. This is perhaps for the first time. We need people when we are hurting. Pain in isolation is even more painful. The feeling of aloneness Jesus is feeling is tremendous to bear. Jesus is God himself, but as a man, he also knew the scriptures quite well. At this point in his tremendous suffering, he was certainly feeling the same despair that the Psalmist in Psalm 22 was feeling which is perhaps why he quotes a portion of the Psalm from the cross. Reading through the rest of the Psalm, it is clearly a messianic and prophetic Psalms to show what was being done to him during his crucifixion. Jesus was the living breathing fulfillment of Psalm 22! Other portions of the Psalm are calling on God for deliverance and ends with hope. Jesus here is willingly giving up his life for the forgiveness of all mankind. Though his death is certain and he feels alone, there is hope for all people and there is also hope for Jesus that his sacrifice will be accepted by God the Father and that his promise of resurrection on the 3rd day will be fulfilled.

5. “I Am Thirsty” (John 19:28)

Jesus was a real person. On the cross he felt real severe pain. He had real blood and during his torture and crucifixion he had lost a tremendous amount of his blood. He had been on the cross for about 6 hours at this point, so Jesus had a desperate thirst. Earlier Jesus had refused to drink a solution that included a pain killer so that his senses would not be dulled. Now he needed this last bit of fluid so he could finish his last few words on the cross. The phrase, “I am thirsty” is only one word in the Greek (Dipso) and this is the shortest of his sayings from the cross. In John’s gospel, he also sees it as the fulfillment of Psalm 22:15. Also, in Psalm 69:21, it talks about being given sour wine to drink, so this perhaps is also a fulfillment by Jesus of that Psalm as well. Jesus is both fulfilling scripture through his suffering and also giving us a true idea of his being a real breathing person.

6. “It Is Finished” (John 19:30)

Τετέλεσται, (Tetelestai). The phrase “It is finished” is the one word Tetelestai in the Greek. John says that Jesus dies after stating these words, so this is perhaps the last words of Jesus. This is not a cry of defeat, but of a victory cry. Jesus endured the cross and suffering and would soon be released by his death. Jesus says earlier that nobody can take his life (John 10:18) Jesus had complete control over what was happening at his crucifixion and now he lays down his life of his own free will. Jesus had come through his earthly ministry and now his suffering victorious. Jesus followed the will of the Father and his mission to his last breath and now he says that all he had come to do in his earthly life is done. “It is finished”.

7. “Father, into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit” (Luke 23:46)

The book of Luke records some different last words of Jesus. Matthew and Mark simply say that Jesus let out a “Great cry” and then died. By saying these words, Jesus is quoting Psalm 31:5. The Jewish person who was facing death could cling to the words of Psalm 31 and we as Christians can look to the example of Jesus. His last words were not ones of condemnation or desperation falling into darkness. Jesus instead calls upon the name of his father and willing lays his life down in the hands of the father whom he served during his earthly ministry and followed the will of the father to his last breath. We as Christians can follow the example of Jesus and in life and as we face death, we rest in God and trust our life and breath to him.

Many Bibles have the words of Jesus outlined in red. The words of Jesus are important, and we have spent a while this morning looking at the amazing last statement of Jesus before his death. But, we do not want to miss the main message of the cross. There are 8 truths that are essential to know that come from the Bible’s big story:

God

Man

Sin

Death

Christ

Cross

Faith

Life

Though thinking on the suffering of our savior Jesus is a sad thing, I want you to leave here today with hope and joy in your heart. We are a redeemed people. Jesus died that you can be a free and forgiven child of God. Live that way. Live with joy and with hope as one who has been brought from spiritual death to everlasting life.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version(Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Lk 2:35.