His Seven Last Words

["Click here for Matthew's account"]
["Click here for Mark's account"]
["Click here for Luke's account"]
["Click here for John's account"]

"Father Forgive Them"

["Click here for Luke 23:34-38"]

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Lets remind ourselves what they had done.

1. They had made a farce of the religious and the civil courts of the land.
2. They had falsely accused Him of creating havoc in the Temple and teaching false doctrines.
3. They had scourged and wiped Him.
4. They had mocked Him.
5. They had crucified Him.
6. They had stole His garments and cast lots for them.
7. They made fun of His mission and His Kingship.
8. They offered Him vinegar and gall to drink instead of wine.

And for this, Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." These sins which they had committed might well have been unpardonable, but this was the purpose of the cross, to purchase pardon and forgiveness for sins.

Its a good thing that "crucifying Christ" is not an unforgivable sin. Many people, from time to time, do this. Any time we add or take away from the "work of the cross", we crucify Christ again. Moses did this when he struck the rock. The Lord told Moses to "tell" the rock to bring forth water. Moses did as the Lord had told him and then felt the need to do something for himself and struck the rock. God's plans do not need any improving from us. Salvation is by faith alone, those who feel that they must work for theirs are crucifying Christ again.

Notice, these people did not know what they were doing. We tend to frown on that excuse, but Jesus said, "they know not what they do." Matthew Henry says, "There is a kind of ignorance that does, in part, excuse sin." "Ignorance brought about by lack of the means to gain knowledge or the lack of the capacity to receive knowledge." Those who crucified Christ were ignorant either because they were incapable of understanding or because they had not the opportunity. Many, like Paul, believed that they were doing God a service.

Thus Christ taught us to forgive and pray for our enemies. Those who, because of ignorance, say all manner of evil about us, at least for now, they won't crucify us.

"Today..with Me in Paradise"

This was the promise made to the "Penitent Thief" by Jesus, in answer to the thief's request to be remembered by our Lord when He came into His Kingdom. We discussed this at great length in the last lesson (He is Crucified). I would suggest that you go back and review this lesson.

"Woman..Thy Son"

We can surly understand why John remembered to record this event and the others didn't. He was the one into whose care, Jesus gave His mother. He was the one who wrote a Gospel of Love and this was an example of the love that Jesus had for His mother.

Standing close to the cross on which Jesus was crucified, were four women and one man. They were Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary's sister, Salome, the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John, Mary, the mother of James the less, and Mary Magdalene. Three, of the six Mary's mentioned in the Bible, were there at the cross. Also there, was the Disciple John, apparently the only Disciple present.

It would appear that these five were close to the cross at first and were later forced by the soldiers to stand some distance away (Matt. 27:55). Notice these five were not kept away by the angry crowd nor did they appear to be in fear of their lives. We can only guess the pain and agony that they must have gone through as the watched the crucifixion of one they loved so very much.

Obviously, Joseph had been dead for some time and Jesus, being the oldest, had assumed the head of the family. But now he was dying and He must provide for His mother's support. The question often asked, why didn't He turn her over to the care of her other sons, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Tradition has it that they to were involved in the ministry of Jesus. We know from the Book of Acts that James was the early leader of the Christian Church at Jerusalem. So John, the youngest of the Disciples and apparently the only one that was not martyred, was chosen.

"Woman, behold thy son..." We wonder why Jesus called her "woman" and not mother. It is suggested that the distance that Jesus established early in His ministry between Himself and His mother was done to prepare her for this very moment in an effort to lighten her burden of grief.

"John, behold your mother." Notice there does not appear to have been any previous suggestion to John that this is what Jesus planed to do at His death. This was a demonstration of the confidence that Jesus had in John. It was an honor that He put upon John. A testimony of John's character and dependability. It was an honor that John cheerfully accepted and he took her into his home.

"My GOD, My God, Why..."

These words were cried out with a loud voice at the ninth hour, 3 PM., and we studied them at great length in the last lesson. I would suggest that you go back and review this page. We wonder why Jesus spoke these words in the Syrian tongue. We have only one incident recorded where Jesus ever went into Syria. Most scholars believe that He did this to confuse His enemies, which He certainly did for we read that they thought He was calling upon Elijah to help Him.

"I Thirst..."

Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, and in order to fulfill scripture, said, "I thirst." Christ was careful to see that all scripture was fulfilled and Matthew was careful to see that it was recorded. This was done that the Jews would be without excuse. Scripture even prophesied what they would give Him. Strong wine was customarily given to people who were crucified, Jesus was given Vinegar. A sponge was soaked in vinegar and placed in His mouth. A drop of cool water would have done more good. Heaven had denied Him "presence" and "light" and earth had denied Him a drop of water.

"It is Finished."

Everything was finished. The work of Judas, the work of the courts, the work of the Pharisees, the work of Pilate and the Roman Soldiers. All the prophesies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah were fulfilled. All that He had come to do, was finished. The ceremonial law was abolished. The burden of sin was abolished. The Lamb of God was sacrificed. The sin of the world was atoned for. His sufferings had come to an end. His earthy human life was finished. The fatal blow to Satan had been cast and redemption was now a reality not just a promise. Grace was now available and it was sufficient for our needs.

"Father, into Thy Hands"

The seventh and last words of Jesus from the cross are found only in the Gospel of Luke. These words were followed by 3 hours of darkness over all the land. It started about 12:00 noon and ended about 3:00PM.

Three reasons are given for this darkness:

1. During this time, Christ fought the powers of Evil (darkness) on their own terms.
2. The darkness signified the dark cloud under which the soul of Jesus was under when He became sin for us.
3. During this time, Jesus gained victory over Satan and the powers darkness.

Notice what this accomplished:

1. Salvation was purchased for mankind.
2. God, thru Christ, could now look upon mankind.
3. It was no longer necessary for the priests to intercede for us.
4. The veil of the Temple, that curtain that separated man from God, was rent asunder.

When Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commit my Spirit", He again, used the scripture to express Himself for it was the words of David as found in Psalm 31:5. At that very moment Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. By these words He offered up the only perfect sacrifice that ever was made. In essence, Jesus was saying, "I lay down my life, Father, except it instead of the lives and souls of the sinners that I die for."

Matthew Henry says, "The freewill of the one who offered the sacrifice was pre-requisite to God's acceptance of the offering." This should tell us something about anything that we offer to God. It must be offered freely. With these words, Christ commended His Spirit into the Father's hands to be received into Paradise, showing us that we to must freely give up our spirit and firmly believe that God will receive us also into His presence.

"And having said these words, He breathed His last."

Then Luke records for us how different people were affected by His death. The Roman Centurion, perhaps the same one who was involved in the casting of lots for his cloths, when he saw and heard what had taken place phrased God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." Elsewhere, Matthew and Mark believe that he also said that Jesus must have been the "Son of God". We can only believe that this Roman soldier was led of the Spirit to know the identity of the Man he had crucified.

Then there was a group of disinterested spectators, some, perhaps, were the very ones who had cried out to crucify Him. Luke says, "When they saw what took place, they went home beating their breasts." It would appear that their mouths stopped and their conscience started. The beating of the breast was symbolic of bereavement and change of heart. But this did not appear to last very long for none ever showed any indication of conversion. Many, like Herod, were "almost persuaded".

The third group were friends and followers of Jesus. Four women and one man. They were Mary, His mother, Salome, John's mother, Mary the mother of James the Less, and the Disciple John. Luke says that they were required by the soldiers to keep their distance, perhaps they thought that they might cause some trouble.

Thus it came to pass, the prophecy of Simeon, the aged and pious man who was at the Temple when Jesus was dedicated. He recognized the infant Jesus as "The Messiah" and foretold of the thoughts of many who would be moved by His crucifixion.

Previous Chapter

Return to Outline

Ask Questions

Next Chapter