Introduction: As Jesus Christ was suffering, bleeding, and literally dying on a cruel Roman cross for a crime He did not commit, but because of our sins, He uttered these words. Please take time to ponder them, process them, and appropriate them.

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34

2. “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43

3. “Woman, behold thy Son.” — John 19:26

4. “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” — Mark 15:34

5. “I thirst.” — John 19:28

6. “It is finished.” — John 19:30

7. “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” — Luke 23:46

Let’s take a closer look at the meaning of these last words of Jesus while nailed to the cross.

1. Words of Mediation!
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34

Imagine. Forgive them instead of kill them.

2. Words of Salvation!
“Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43

Notice the word today. Not in a million years.

3. Words of Delegation!
“Woman, behold thy Son.” — John 19:26

When suffering in agony and pain during life’s most difficult time, yet did you notice our Lord Jesus showed compassion and concern for His mother and disciple?

4. Words of Substitution!
“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” — Mark 15:34

While having all the sins of the whole world being placed on Him, even though there was no sin in Him, Jesus Christ though He was God, experienced what hell would be like for all of us. This is hard to comprehend.

5. Words of Asphyxiation!
“I thirst.” — John 19:28

The physical torture of being nailed to a cross results in an inability to breath without experiencing excruciating pain. Lungs of the victim would fill up with fluid exerting pressure on the heart and body. But it appears ultimately, He died of a ruptured heart. Evidence of this was witnessed by those standing by including John who wrote after the spear was thrust into His side.

“34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
(John 19:34)

6. Words of Submission!
“It is finished.” — John 19:30

All that man lost in the garden by falling into transgression was won back by Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

7. Words of Completion!
“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” — Luke 23:46

The Spirit leaves the body at death. That is why Paul said these words,

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2Cor 5:8)