The Seven Last Words

Introduction

John 19:16–18 KJV 1900

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

Body

The recorded words of Jesus between the time He was crucified and the time He died. These seven sentences are not recorded in any one Gospel, but are found severally throughout. The first two and the seventh occur only in Luke, the third, fifth, and sixth only in John, and the fourth in both Matthew and Mark. The order is traditional in that it is uncertain in which order they really came.

Jesus hung on the cross from approximately 9:00 AM (Mark 15:25 - the third hour) to around 3:00 PM (Mark 15:34 - the ninth hour)

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)

They people weren’t entirely ignorant of what they were doing, but in the broader context, they were almost perfectly ignorant.

Jesus lived His own teaching and prayed for them that were crucifying Him - Luke 6:27-28 “27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

Jesus showed more concern for others than for Himself

Luke 22:50-51 “50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”

Luke 23:28 “28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.”

Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)

This demonstrates to us again God’s response to faith

The Centurion

Matthew 8:5–13 KJV 1900

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

The Canaanitish woman

Matthew 15:21–28 KJV 1900

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Woman, behold your son!…Behold, your mother! (John 19:26-27)

Jesus had already cared for His enemies and a new convert. How He sets His own house in order

John portrays Jesus as being clearly and fully in control of the situation.

Jesus focuses on the needs of others, completely ignoring His own suffering.

Jesus is concerned with our legitimate natural needs as well as our spiritual.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

It is now hours later into the crucifixion than the first three sayings.

This is known as the “cry of dereliction”

He is quoting the first words of Psalm 22.

Various explanations offered

A statement of disappointment that God did not deliver Him

A citation of the whole psalm with its triumphal ending being intended

An expression of separation from God because He was bearing sin.

II Corinthians 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

I Peter 2:24 “24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

God became sin in our stead that He might bear the full weight of His wrath against sin upon Himself.

This scripture can only be understood in light of New Testament salvation.

I Thirst (John 19:28)

At the beginning of the crucifixion Jesus was offered a drugged wine to deaden His pain. He refused (Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23)

This is perhaps where we see the humanity of Jesus most starkly.

Psalm 22:15 “15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.”

Psalm 69:21 “21 They gave me also gall for my meat; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

This drink would serve to sharpen Jesus’ senses and to give Him a bit of strength

It is finished (John 19:30)

In the Greek this is a single word

Possibly Jesus is expressing relief that the suffering is about to end

The much greater context though is that God’s plan of restoration had at long last been completed

From Adam to the cross, we were separated from a Holy and a Righteous God

God instituted means whereby we could approach unto Him, but they were never sufficient to completely restore our relationship with Him

Hebrews 10:11-14 “11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

This was His whole reason for being in the world. The scriptures had been fulfilled. The final act of obedience accomplished. It was indeed finished!

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46)

Perhaps this is the “loud cry” recorded in Matthew 27:50 “50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” and in Mark 15:37 “37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.”.

Jesus quotes Psalm 31:5 “5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

Jesus remains in complete control unto the very end, not laying down His life until He was ready to do so.

Even in this Jesus becomes our example. We can commend ourselves to God wholly and completely with absolute assurance and confidence in Him.

Conclusion

It is finished!

6,000 years of man’s history from Adam to you and me

6,000 years of God’s progressive revelation of truth

6,000 years of God dealing with mankind. Working with him. Wooing him. Leading us back to our original state

6,000 years ago, we fell into sin and broke covenant and relationship with our Creator

2,000 years ago, God came in the form of a man and He fixed it once and for all

It is finished!