Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Luke 23:34
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Those who crucified Jesus were not aware of the full scope of what they were doing because they did not recognize Him as the Messiah. While their ignorance of divine truth did not mean they deserved forgiveness, Christ’s prayer in the midst of their mocking Him is an expression of the limitless compassion of divine grace
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" In this passage, Jesus is assuring one of the criminals on the cross that when he died, he would be with Jesus in heaven. This was granted because even at the hour of his death, the criminal had expressed his faith in Jesus, recognizing Him for who He was
Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. John 19:26–27
“Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” When Jesus saw His mother standing near the cross with the Apostle John, whom He loved, He committed His mother’s care into John’s hands. And from that hour John took her unto his own home. In this verse Jesus, ever the compassionate Son, is making sure His earthly mother is cared for after His death
"Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? that is,
My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34
These four words were uttered shortly before His death. This is the only passage where the original Aramaic language is preserved. Here, Jesus was expressing His feelings of abandonment. God placed the sins of the entire world on Him, which overwhelms the humanity of Jesus. His other eleven disciples, once at His side, are nowhere to be found. Jesus fully lived the human experience, and it was by His death that we are redeemed
"I Thirst." John 19:28
“Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst
Earlier in the Gospel, a drink of wine and myrrh was prepared for Jesus. It was customary in those days to give an anesthetic drink for those about to be crucified. To appease the soldiers Jesus took a sip, but not enough to deaden the pain. In this passage He prompted the guards for his final drink, this one consisting of vinegar and water. Among His seven last words, this is the only verbal expression of his physical suffering, even though he was scourged, crowned with thorns, walked the Way of the Cross, and was nailed to the Cross. However, Jesus’ thirst on the cross was more than a physical thirst; it was a thirst for souls for whom love compelled him to redeem
It is finished. John 19:30:
“Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is finished.”
Amazingly, Jesus is still conscious after hours of being on the cross. This expression, “It is finished”, did not simply mean that death was upon him, but rather that He fulfilled his mission, and, because he was God, willingly laid down his own life. His preaching, miracles, and finally His earthly suffering would soon be over. His ministry and resulting death would pay the debt of sin for all humanity
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46:
"And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.” These are the very last words Jesus spoke on the Cross before His final breath. Jesus is willingly giving up His soul to His Father in Heaven. Jesus has been perfectly obedient to His father’s will. It is here that the Lamb of God has been slain for our sins. By contemplating this, and all the last words of Jesus, we can better appreciate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Traditionally, these seven sayings are called words of 1. Forgiveness, 2. Salvation, 3. Relationship, 4. Abandonment, 5. Distress, 6. Triumph and 7. Reunion.
