Jim McDonald

We cherish the last words which loved ones speak to us; they are of special worth. Jesus’ last words before His death are significant because they give us an insight into His concerns. He had physical concerns — His provision for the well-being of His mother and His human needs. He had spiritual concerns — the  spiritual needs of man and His role in providing those needs.

There are seven different things Jesus uttered while He was on the cross. These are recorded in the four accounts of His life. The number seven indicates completeness and one sees several “sevens” recorded in the Scriptures: the days of creation (Genesis 1-2); the seven ones (Ephesians 4:4-6); the seven graces (2 Peter 1:5-7), and the seven churches (Revelation 2-3). Whether the Holy Spirit’s record of just seven sayings from Jesus on the cross has special significance we do not know. But whether deliberate or incidental, the words are significant because they were uttered by Jesus in His actual act of making the supreme sacrifice that would make possible the forgiveness of the sins of the world.

Of these sayings, only one is duplicated by another writer. The single exception are the words Matthew records: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). These same words are also recorded in Mark 15:34. It is the common opinion of most scholars that Mark wrote his gospel first, so Matthew’s statement was a duplication of Mark’s. Luke and John both contribute three unique sayings each that Jesus uttered. Luke records that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (23:34). He also recorded that Jesus said, “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise” to the thief on His right side who was also crucified with Him (Luke 23:43). Finally, Luke records, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). To these four sayings recorded by the first three writers, John added, “Woman, behold thy son” and to the beloved disciple, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27). He also recorded, “I thirst” (John 19:28) and, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

Crucifixion is one of the most inhuman forms of execution known to man. It was extremely painful and often took many hours before death finally resulted. Jesus was crucified about the sixth hour (12:00 pm) and died in the ninth hour (3:00 pm). And yet, although He had spent three hours in agony, Pilate “marveled” that he was already dead when Joseph of Arimathea requested of him that he allow him to remove Jesus’ body and bury it. It was only after Pilate had learned from the centurion that Jesus was really dead that permission was granted to Joseph so he could bury the body of Jesus (Mark 15:44f).

The first three statements Jesus spoke relate to His care for man which had brought Him to earth. Likely the first of His sayings was spoken while the soldiers were actually in the process of nailing Him to the cross, then fixing it in an upright position. Jesus’ words at this time were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). While it would be very difficult for men to so pray for those who were executing them, Stephen, a disciple of Jesus who suffered martyrdom for his professed faith in Jesus, prayed essentially the same words. He prayed for those who stoned him, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60). To the thief on His right who prayed, “Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom,” Jesus responded, “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). When He saw His mother standing near Him, as well as the “disciple whom he loved,” He said, “Woman behold thy son” then to John He said, “Behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27).

Next, Jesus reflected His humanity. Having been on the cross for some time, He said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). When He first had been put on the cross, He had been offered wine, mixed with gall. But when He tasted it, He refused (Matthew 27:34). Later, as the hours passed, He requested something to quench His thirst.

Finally, shortly before His death Jesus asked the mournful question, “My  God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Of course, the Father had not forsake Him, but the cup His Father gave Him to drink was a bitter one. Yet it was one which was necessary, for He was bearing the sins of the whole world on His shoulders. Shortly thereafter, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The work of providing redemption for fallen man was done, and in just a moment later He would utter His last words: “Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). His suffering was then done. He had paid an awesome price so that you and I might be washed in His blood and cleansed of our sins.

Actually, these sayings of Jesus were not the last things He said. They were His last words before His death. But thanks be to God, that while death for us marks the end of our earthly life, it did not for Jesus. He was raised from the dead! He is at His Father’s right hand where He forever lives to make intercession for us! Jesus’ last words to us are those the Holy Spirit recorded to the apostles and prophets. They were written after His death and resurrection, and those words were written that we might believe and know what we have to do to be saved. There are also very important words that we must follow to stay saved. Those last words are His New Testament. May all cherish and obey the words of Him who died so shamefully long ago that we might share in His glorious exaltation and dwell with Him in the place He promised to go to prepare for us (John 14:1-2). But that promise did not conclude with His promise to go and prepare a place for us. It continued “and if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself that where I am there ye be also” (John 14:3). How blessed and comforting are these words of Jesus to us!