Last Words

Verses of the Day: Luke 23:34, Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:43, And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” John 19:26, When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Matthew 27:46, And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” John 19:28, After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” John 19:30, So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Luke 23:46, And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Today is both a sad day and a day to celebrate. Sad, because Israel, in not recognizing their Messiah, chose to have Him crucified. John 1:10-11 tells us, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Yet, this was right in line with God’s plan to bring us eternal life; that Jesus, His only begotten Son, would give His life for us. Jesus Himself said this in John 19:11, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” With that said, I would like us to reflect on Jesus’ last words on the Cross and celebrate the blessings of their significance.

1. “Father, forgive them…” This serves as a reminder for us that God’s forgiveness is available to us in Christ Jesus. Those who stood around Him mocking Him did not deserve His forgiveness, just as we do not deserve it today, but it is just as available to us today as it was on that day.

2. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” What did this thief do to deserve eternal life? Nothing! What have we done to deserve eternal life? Nothing! God’s salvation comes to us by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), and only in Jesus Christ. For He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. None of us can come to the Father, but by Him (John 14:6).

3. “Woman, behold you Son!” In His time of unimaginable suffering, Jesus was more concerned about providing and taking care of His mother than He was of His own well-being. Jesus promised that if we set our sights on the Kingdom of God first, He would take care of our every need. What are you worried about today, unnecessarily? Hold on to His promise and let go of your worry! (Matthew 6)

4. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Amazingly, we see the first time God the Father turned His back on God the Son. Why would He be willing to endure such suffering? He did it for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Yes, the wrath that we deserved was poured out on Jesus in order that we might have life eternal in Him. He was reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

5. “I thirst!” This was evidence of Jesus’ humanity. Jesus, the only Perfect Man to ever walk the earth, suffered as a human being and can completely relate to our sufferings. Hebrews 5:14-16 clearly tells us, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

6. “It is finished!” What exactly was finished? Jesus finished what He had come to do in accordance to prophecy and His Father’s will. His suffering was finish, and the devil was defeated. What was needed to open the doors to Heaven for us was finished. Receiving salvation does not need any of our works added. The work is finished and eternal life is now available by God’s grace alone.

7. “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.” The greatest demonstration of His love was announced in this statement. No one, absolutely no one, could take Jesus’ life. He voluntarily gave it up for us. In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

These last seven words of Jesus on the Cross are a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are as born again believers. It is also a reminder of the importance of our duty as God’s children to tell a lost and dying world about what our Lord and Savior has done for us, and the world.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13)