Read: Luke 23:32-33; 34; 43; 46; John 19:26-27; 28; 30; Matt 27:46
Luke 23:32-33 – Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Pilate, under pressure from the Jewish leaders, delivered Jesus to be crucified. He was mocked; he was beaten; and he was lead to Golgotha – The Skull – to 
be crucify him. As he hung on the cross, Jesus spoke seven times. All four gospels record Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In each account we get information on what happened during the last hours of Jesus’ life. Below are the seven last words of Jesus on the cross. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrection, we consider first the agony of his death.
The first time, Jesus prays for those who were crucifying him:
1. Luke 23:34 – And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Jesus prays for all who participated in his crucifixion. Most obviously, the Romans who obeyed Pilate’s orders, nailed him to the cross, and gambled for his clothes. He also prayed for the criminals on either side of him. One taunted him while the other believed. He prayed for the religious leaders who were watching and mocking him along with the crowd that uttered blasphemy.
In his agony, Jesus prays for their forgiveness. Not all received it. Without repentance and faith in Jesus, forgiveness would not come. But in Jesus’ prayer, he shows the deep mercy of God. Even those who would crucify the Messiah; who would mock the Son of God; even they could be forgiven.
Jesus was able to forgive those who killed him, who mocked him, who abandoned him. He died that we might experience forgiveness as well. Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive?
2. Luke 23:43 – And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
While one of the thieves mocked, the other believed. He knew he was rightly condemned and Jesus had done nothing wrong. Perhaps hearing Jesus’ prayer and seeing the peace he had on the cross, He rebuked the other thief and asked Jesus to remember him when he entered his kingdom. He believed in Jesus as the Messiah, the King. Jesus promised him they would be together in Paradise.
Even on the cross Jesus was leading people to Paradise. Ask God who you can share the hope of heaven with this Easter. Will you be faithful to share?
3. John 19:26-27 – When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, there is a small group of friends and family near him. Seeing his mother weeping, heartbroken…he is moved. She is a widow. Her eldest son is dying. Her other children do not believe in Jesus as she does. In love, he makes sure she is cared for.
Even as he suffers, Jesus thinks of others first. He shows the love he had for his mother and even in death he takes responsibility for her well-being.
Is there anyone to whom you could show the love of Jesus? Perhaps it’s someone who has gone through loss or an especially difficult time. How could you show them love and care?
4. Matthew 27:46 – And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Darkness came over the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. Jesus cries out in agony. Some think he is calling Elijah, but he is calling to God. (Interestingly, this is the only place Jesus speaks to God in prayer instead of Father)
In his suffering, Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1. In his anguish, he feels completely abandoned. God laid our sins on Jesus. He bore our penalty. On the cross, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. We see the incredible love of the Father and Son and the incredible lengths they went to bring forgiveness to us.
5. John 19:28 – After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
In his final moments, Jesus thirst. Someone brought him a sponge with sour wine on it and held it to his mouth. John tells us this fulfills the words of Psalm 69:21. In Jesus’ thirst, we are reminded of his humanity and the suffering he endured.
6. John 19:30 – When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Throughout John’s gospel Jesus says his hour has not yet come. Finally, in John 12:23, after some Greeks ask to see him, Jesus declares that his hour had come. Throughout his ministry, Jesus had told his disciples that he would die. Now as he hangs on the cross, he makes a cry of triumph. He has completed his mission. He has done the will of the Father.
Jesus lived a life of purpose and obedience. He was willing to suffer rather than disobey. Do you live with purpose? Are you willing to sacrifice and suffer to be obedient to God’s will?
7. Luke 23:46 – Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Luke tells us the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Knowing his work was finished, knowing he had been faithful to the end, Jesus commits himself to God. It is a word of surrender. It is a word of trust. They were words included in the evening prayer by devout Jews.
Jesus breathes his last. He gives up his spirit. He commits himself to the Father and then surrenders himself. He lets go of his earthly life. He entrusts himself to God.