7 Last Words (Expressions) of Jesus
By Thomas Thorne
McDowell County
Jesus was crucified to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins, because of His love for us. As recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus was mocked, scorned, and tortured beyond recognition. He was brought to Calvary, nailed to the stake, and hung between common criminals. Here are the seven last “words” or expressions of Jesus before His crucifixion as recorded in Scripture.
THE FIRST WORD – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Jesus of Nazareth was looking down while suspended by nails between two criminals. He saw the soldiers who mocked, scourged, and tortured Him, and who had nailed Him to the stake. He probably remembered those who sentenced Him – Caiaphas the high priest, and the Sanhedrin. But was Jesus also thinking of His Disciples and companions who had deserted Him? Was Jesus also thinking of us, who forget Him far too often in our lives?
Yet, at the height of His physical suffering, Jesus’ Hesed love (Hebrew for steadfast and eternal love, loyalty, devotion) conquered and He asked His Father to forgive! Jesus asked His Father to forgive, yet it is by His very Sacrifice that mankind can be forgiven! Right up to His final hours on earth, Jesus preached forgiveness. He taught forgiveness in His sample prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). When asked by Peter, how many times should we forgive someone, Jesus answered seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22).
He forgave the paralytic at Capernaum (Mark 2:3-12), the sinful woman who anointed Him in the home of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:37-48), and the adulteress caught in the act and about to be stoned (John 8:1-11). During the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples to drink of the cup: “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28).
THE SECOND WORD – “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
It was not just the religious leaders or the soldiers that mocked Jesus, it was one of the criminals as well. The lawbreaker on the right side of Jesus spoke up for Him, explaining that although a just reward was being given to the others, “this man [Jesus] had done nothing wrong.” Then, turning to his side, he asked Jesus to remember him “when you come in your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). What amazing faith this repentant sinner had in Jesus. Ignoring His own state and suffering, Jesus responded with mercy, living out His teaching on the mountain, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
The second word was again about forgiveness, this time directed to a sinner. Jesus showed His divinity by opening heaven for a repentant sinner. This expression offers us hope for and assurance of salvation. For if we turn our belief and hearts to Him and accept His forgiveness, we will be with Jesus forever.
THE THIRD WORD – “Jesus said to His mother: Woman, behold your son … He said to the disciple, Behold, your mother.” John 19:26-27
Jesus and Mary are together again, as at the beginning of His ministry in Cana, and now at the end of His public ministry at the Cross. John is the only Evangelist to record Our Lord’s mother Mary at the Cross. The Lord refers to His mother as woman at the Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2:1-11) and in this passage, recalling the woman in Genesis 3:15, the first Messianic prophecy of the Redeemer. “And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it (the woman’s seed) shall bruise thy head, and thou (Satan) shalt bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15 KJV). What sorrow must have filled Mary’s heart! I don’t know if we can imagine how she must have felt meeting her Son as He carried the cross and was nailed to it. A “sword” pierced Mary’s soul as well.
The loved ones of Jesus were with Him in John’s Gospel: Mary his Mother, John, the disciple whom He loved, His mother’s sister the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. He addresses His third word to His mother Mary and John, the only eyewitness of the Gospel writers. Jesus again rises above the occasion as He demonstrated true love for the ones who loved Him. The good son that He was, Jesus was concerned about taking care of His mother. He was showing outgoing concern for others even up to the point of death. As Mary’s husband probably died before Jesus’ public ministry, He entrusted John to care for her.
THE FOURTH WORD – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34
Both Gospels related that it was in the ninth hour (3:00 in the afternoon) that Jesus cried out this fourth word (expression). After the fourth word, Mark related with a horrible sense of finality, “And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last” (Mark 15:37).
One is struck by the anguished tone of this expression in contrast to the first three words of Jesus. He feels separated from His Father. This cry is from the painful heart of the human Jesus who must have felt deserted by His Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus must face death without the Father.
There was not a more shocking moment in the history of man. Jesus, who came to save us was being crucified. He realized the horror of what was happening and what He was enduring. He was about to be engulfed in the raging sea of sin. But did this have to happen? Did this have to occur for Jesus to save us? It is in defeat of His humanity that the Divine plan of His Father is completed. It is by His death that we are redeemed. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all” (I Timothy 2:5-6). “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). More important than physical healing is spiritual healing.
The seven last words/expressions of Jesus demonstrate the incredible love that God the Father and His Son Jesus have for us. The last three of Jesus’ final words will be shared next month. May the LORD bless you and keep you.
Shalom,
Tom Thorne
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Tom Thorne and his wife (Amy) moved to Marion from Denver, NC almost a year and a half ago. Thomas and Amy are fellowship leaders of a small congregation of Believers called “Servants of the Most High God.” Tom can be reached at servantsotmhg@gmail.com
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