7 Last Words Of Jesus on the Cross

The 1st of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross (April 15, 2022)—Louie Sallong

Everyday there are news reports of death caused by pandemic, war or calamity.

Have you personally seen a dying person who consciously says that he is about to die? Have you ever seen a dying person giving instructions on his “Last Will and Testament?”

This is not to scare you, but think about it! If you were on your death bed and you sense that you were about to die anytime, what specific statements are you going to say?

Let’s learn from the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross.” It summarized the ministry and the very purpose why Jesus was born, lived and died on earth as human being.

The first three of his “7 Last Words on the Cross,” Jesus practically exhibits care for his creation. The 4th and 5th of his “7 Last Words on the Cross,” Jesus clearly exposed his human limitation. The 6th and 7th of his “7 Last Words on the Cross,” Jesus had assured us that whatever he started in our life, he faithfully accomplishes and completes it, and that’s for certain!

In the 1st of his “7 Last Words on the Cross,” Jesus was very much concerned particularly about those who were torturing and crucifying him. Jesus prayed earnestly in Luke 23:34… 34“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Even as he endured torture pains, Jesus Christ interceded for his cruel tormentors. All human beings are alienated from God. All of us have sinned. We need Christ to save us from sin.

Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified him because they had no idea of the consequences of what they were doing; they did not know that Jesus is their own Creator.

His tormentors were just following orders; they were acting upon their leaders’ instructions.

That is a picture of the spiritual condition of humans who do not have the Holy Spirit of Christ.

Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit of God is dead spiritually and prone to follow sin. Spiritually dead people never wish to obey God; they follow commands of their sinful instinct. The dead person has no concern; he has no interest about anything in world of the living.

Those who do not have the Spirit of God are spiritually dead. They are not concerned about anything in the spiritual realm; they have no interest about anything in the spiritual world.

The Lord gives his Holy Spirit to believers who, by faith, put their trust in Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit regenerates us, he transforms us into new person. Believers are spiritually alive and concerned with spiritual matters. We desire God’s forgiveness. The forgiveness we receive from God is the same forgiveness we use to forgive others.

Pause for a moment…Think of the person you do not like or you hate the most. Think of that person who hurt your feelings lately or in the past. Now! Ask God to pour out forgiveness in your heart. Ask God to help you forgive that person.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. Forgive all my sins, Lord… please, let me sense personally your forgiveness and help me forgive those who hurt my feelings just as you have forgiven my sins. Let me practically sense the joy of my salvation that you gave me. In your most precious name, Lord Jesus, I pray… Amen!

The 2nd of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross – Naaman Tolentino

In the 2nd of the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross,” Christ has promised salvation to the crucified thief who believed in him as the Christ–the Savior–the Messiah. He declared in Luke 23:43… 43“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus Christ is the Son of God; he is the Truth. anything he declares will certainly come true.

The thief acknowledged that he deserved punishment because of the bad things he did. But he hoped to be accepted in God’s kingdom. He pleaded for Christ to remember him. It narrated in Luke 23:39-42,  39One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Faith in Christ is the key to open the gates of heaven and repentance is practical proof of faith in God. The repentant thief did not deserve God’s forgiveness as we also do not deserve God’s forgiveness.

When the repentant thief acknowledged that he deserved to be punished for what he did, he personally displayed a repentant heart. To repent is to acknowledge that we are sinful.

It is not human instinct to repent. Repentance is transformational work of the Holy Spirit in us.

When God’s grace transforms us through the Holy Spirit, we realize our need of forgiveness.

Can you accept that anything initiated by our human efforts falls short of godly standards of righteousness? Meaning: With human effort, we cannot please God. Do you agree?

When the Holy Spirit transforms us, we practically sense godly desire to repent of our sins.

How do we logically know that God has forgiven us when we repented of our sins?

When we forgive others, it indicates the amount of forgiveness we received from God.

It says in Colossians 3:12-14 12As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

When the Holy Spirit transforms us, God’s compassion prevails in us so that we can forgive others. Do not deceive yourself. God knows the person who believes in him.

The repentant thief on the cross was repentant and expressed his faith in Jesus openly.

We do not need to wait for our last moment for us to testify of the transformation that God has done in our life. Are you ready to testify of the changes that Christ did in your life, yet?

Let’s pause for a moment: Let us give thanks to the Lord for the eternal life he has given us.

Let us pray that God fills and empowers us with his Holy Spirit to testify about Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for the eternal life you’ve given me. Fill and empower me with your Holy Spirit. Lord, help me sense it clearly when you lead me to the person you want me to witness to about your love. Please remove any doubt, hesitation from my heart and fill me with full assurance that I will be living with you in your heaven eternally… Amen!

The 3rd of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross—Abby Lozada (vice Christianne Hope Lim)

The 3rd of the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross” were very specific instructions directed to John, the beloved disciple, and to Mary, the woman who gave birth to him as young virgin.

Let’s read John 19:26-27 ….26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27and to the disciple,  “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Jesus was surrounded by those who truly cared for him and also those who were hostile to him.

Likewise, wherever we are situated, there will be those who would oppose and agree with us.

Jesus personally showed his concern both for the hostile and those who truly cared for him. Virgin Mary and the disciple whom Jesus loved were not related biologically, but why did Jesus declare that Mary and John were mother and son?

Because of their faith in Christ, Mary and John became related like mother and son.

Well, Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30…29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”

Have you observed when you trusted in Christ, there are believers whom you feel like they were your father or your mother, and even, closer to you than your very own brother or sister?

Have you ever experienced that when you get involved actively in church ministries, you would instinctively treat young people as if they are your sons, daughters, brothers or sisters?

The Holy Spirit of Christ living in our life binds us closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ; he enables us to care for each other because we are vital parts of the body of Christ, the church.

After Jesus died and buried, John the beloved took Mary into his home and provided for her practical needs. Mary became a beloved mother to John, and John became a beloved son to Mary. That reality illustrates love and care that the Lord wants his church to practice.

Someone said that life is like a book. The Lord has written the first and last pages, our birth and death. In between the first and last pages are blank pages that we will fill out. If others read your book of life, what would it be? We would like others to learn that obedience and respect to parents bring blessings, that siblings can be challenging adventure, friends, classmates and officemates can add to memorable escapades and thrilling experiences as well. But most of all, our testimony on how God had transformed us eternally, should highlight our story.

Let’s pause for a moment: Let’s thank God for our biological family—father, mother, children, siblings. Pray that God would help us love our biological family and the family of God.

Shall we pray: Dear God, thank you for my brothers and sisters in the church, for my parents, for my siblings, and for our children. Lord, let your gracious love overflow in my life so that I would spontaneously love them unconditionally just as you love me unconditionally.  Bless me greatly so that I can be generous and ready to help others even brothers and sisters in Christ… Amen!

The 4th of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross—Mark Millet

The 4th of the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross” expressed his intimate fellowship with God the Father.  He cried in Matthew 27:46, 46 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

On the verge of his death on the cross, Jesus shouted his agony, seeking for godly comfort.

He did not complain about painful torture, nailed hands and feet or the crown of thorns on his head but he grieved that he was abandoned by his very own Father. He felt left alone.

Christ Jesus is the most precious, most beloved One and Only Son of God the Father. But since our gracious and loving God has grand design of salvation for the wicked humanity, he turned his back and closed his eyes when Jesus was crucified and died.

Did God feel sad?

God has forsaken and abandoned his most precious Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ suffered the punishment needed and required for the penalty and payment of sins of all human beings.

Most often, when difficult situations overtake us, we also feel like God has abandoned us, right? When you had problem about employment, finances, relationship or health, were you frustrated or disappointed? Did you feel like that God, our heavenly Father, didn’t care for you at all?

Let us remember Christ Jesus, the Son of God felt forsaken also by his very own Father.

When you have urgent prayers, you wish that God answer right away. So much so that when you have to wait for extended time for answer, you feel like God has ignored and abandoned you!

Can you accept that God our Creator has intelligently planned the best for us his creations? Surely, we have personal plans but God’s purposes for us will happen eventually. Proverbs 19:21 says, 21Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Let’s take Prophet Jonah for instance. God instructed Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh to preach about repentance. Jonah knew that God will forgive the Ninevites if they repent. Instead of obeying God, Jonah went aboard a ship going to the opposite direction. God however, sent a violent storm that caused Jonah to be thrown into the sea and be swallowed by a big fish!

It narrated in Jonah 2:1-2, 1From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

Prophet Jonah felt abandoned inside a stinky belly of a fish after he disobeyed the Lord.

Have you ever suffered like you were abandoned inside a stinky belly of fish? Thank God!

Are you having some kind of frustrating or disappointing problem lately? Pray and thank God!

The wonderful design of God for you may not be necessarily pleasing to your eyes or opinion. God’s magnificent grand design of salvation had caused Christ felt abandoned at the cross. Struggles that God allows are essential part of his grand design for us and may include grief. Even if we don’t understand, even if we don’t agree with it, the plan of God is still best for us.

Pray to be filled with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and you may be enlightened.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you endured torture at the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. Please, help me that, I submit to your Lordship from now on until eternity. Be my Lord always even in times when I am not aware of it. Fill me with your Holy Spirit always… Amen!

 

The 5th of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross—Christianne De Leon

Can you strongly agree that Christ was born in flesh as fully human in this world? The 5th of his “7 Last Words on the Cross,” expressed his humanity. He said in John 19:28, 28 “I am thirsty.”

Jesus Christ did not hide his thirsty feelings; he expressed it audibly. What is the need to let observers hear that Jesus was thirsty? Did he imply that he needed to satisfy his thirst? Was he asking for water to satisfy his thirst?

He did not literally say that he needed something to drink but when Christ said that he was thirsty, it signaled that the prophecy written about him in the Scriptures has been fulfilled. A prophecy written in Psalm 69:21 was fulfilled in the next verse in John 19:29, 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it,  put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.

Do you know that there are hundreds of significant events happened in his life on earth that were predicted and written many centuries before Christ was born in flesh as human being?

Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross; he was helpless. He cannot help himself to get something to drink. He could have easily called onto God to pour out rain from heaven to satisfy his thirst.

When Jesus said, “I am thirsty,” it practically exhibited that he is 100% human until he died. It should preclude or pre-empt the argument that “Jesus was not human and did not die.”

God cannot be thirsty, right? But when Jesus said, “I am thirsty,” it manifested his humanity. If you are really very thirsty, you will earnestly and sincerely quest for water to satisfy your thirst.

Christ’s disclosure of his thirsty feeling helps us know that we can trust him for human needs. He understands; he knows it particularly when we are in our great need to be satisfied.

Life on earth is a never-ending-thirst for human needs. Christ knows specifically what we feel. Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God came, lived and died as human being on earth. He experienced hardship, hunger, thirst and anguish that we (humans) experience every day.

As believers, we tried to live as good children of God the best way we can but we often fail. We may try with our best efforts to find contentment in our life. We may experiment many practical things we can think of just to find satisfaction in life but still we find no contentment.

Personal experience is memorable lesson to understand the intensity and severity of problems. Christ was thirsty, not just during his crucifixion. He was also hungry, which means he precisely knows and understands the severity of human difficulties that we struggle every single day.

Let us put our trust in Christ because he can accurately help us in our daily struggles on earth. Life eternal is far more valuable than life on earth. By faith, God gives us eternal life.

If we have faith in God for our eternal life, we should trust him for material needs on earth.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, help me strongly believe that you know and understand all my struggles in this life. Draw me nearer to you, O Lord, and please, keep reminding me to trust you in everything I need. Keep filling and empowering me with your Holy Spirit that I may continue to grow deeper in my understanding and obedience to you, Lord… Amen!

The 6th of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross—Ramius Sy

Let’s read the 6th of the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross” in John 19:30…30 “It is finished.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ declared the fulfillment and completion of his mission purposes on earth.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he declared that he had paid in full, the penalty of our sin.

The penalty for sin is death – beginning from the sin of Adam, the first created human, to the last person to commit sin. Jesus Christ had paid them all. Christ suffered the most humiliating death on the cross in proportion to the penalty of sin required by God’s law.

In the original manuscript, the phrase “It is finished” literally means, “It is paid in full.” Jesus had declared that every single sin of humans against God is completely “paid in full.”

After we believe that Christ has paid in full our sins, what is included? Apostle Paul explained rhetorically in Romans 6:16, 16Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

We were once slaves to sin; sin was our master when we gave in to the temptation of sin.

When we believe that Christ paid for the penalty of our sins on the cross, God freed us from the slavery of sin so that godly righteousness has become our new master that we should obey.

Water baptism symbolically illustrates how sin had been washed away from our life. When we are immersed during water baptism, it serves as public testimony of our obedience to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Of course, water cannot wash our sins away. By faith, we believe that only the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross washed our sins away.

It says in Romans 6:3-7, 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

When believers are immersed into the water and come out of the water, what does it mean?

During water baptism, immersion into the water symbolizes burial or death to sin. Coming out of the water symbolizes freedom from sin and resurrection to new life in Christ.

Friends: Have you died to sin and have you consciously experienced freedom from sin?

Many are baptized but they still follow the same sin as their master over and over again, why?

We have to seek help from our Lord to consciously surrender all aspects of our life to him.

When the Holy Spirit reveals a particular sin, pray that God removes that sin and its influence in your life. Keep praying until that manipulative sin go away and disappear completely.

Shall we pray: Lord Jesus, perform your authority over my life even when I am not conscious about it. Please help me to live a lifestyle free from sin. Help me faithfully submit to your lordship and that by your help, I may become consistently obedient to your instructions. Amen!

 

The 7th of the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross—David De Leon

The Last, the 7th of the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross” in Luke 23:46, he said,

46“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

After Jesus has declared that every single sin of humanity was completely paid in full, he signaled that his death has come; he surrendered his Spirit into the care of his Father.

Jesus Christ died right after he gave up his Spirit into the hands of his Father.

His death had been verified and narrated in John 19:33-34, 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

The soldiers who were assigned to crucify prisoners were expert in verifying when one is dead. Why did the soldier pierce Jesus’ side with a spear? He wanted to make it sure that he has died.

The soldiers carefully verified his death and other witnesses personally saw the sudden flow of blood and water. Jesus Christ had actually died on the cross; there is no doubt about it.

Are you scared of death? You are not alone!

Why do people don’t like the idea of death?

With very limited idea about life in heaven, many individuals prefer to live on earth.

Christ never rejected the idea of death. He suffered and was tortured but he did not express any hint that he still desired to extend his life on earth for just a little longer. According to Bible scholars, Jesus Christ had died at an earthly age of thirty three (33).

Perhaps many individuals feel like thirty three years of age is very short span of life. Would you not desire to live a little bit longer? Why many would love to live longer?

We have no clear idea how beautiful, wonderful, satisfying and glorious life in heaven is.

After Jesus Christ has completed his mission of paying in full the penalty of our sins, he did not waste a moment. He simply surrendered his Spirit into the hands of God, and died.

Of course, we cannot forget that three days after his death, Jesus Christ had resurrected. He appeared to his disciples, gave his final instructions, and afterwards he ascended to heaven.

In the Last, the 7th of the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross,” 46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” he exemplified how we should surrender our life into the hands of God.

If we have surrendered our life to the Lordship of Christ, he should have authority over us.

Life is more precious to us than any of all the material things we may own or have. Right?

Our life, dreams, future, decisions, feelings, thoughts, actions, words and all aspe cts of our life, God wants us to surrender them to him.

To surrender to God everything we own practically exhibits that we receive and accept Jesus Christ completely, 100% as our personal Lord and Savior – by faith!

We can only surrender every aspect of our life to God only by faith.

Complete obedience to the Lordship of Christ is complete submission to God.

Many believers hesitate to submit completely to the authority of Christ because of their limited understanding, or because they have no idea at all about the beauty of God’s design for everyone.

As we grow mature in our faith, we also grow more dependent upon the Lord so that we keep submitting and obeying him. And the more Christ performs his authority over our life, the more he reveals to us about the amazing beauty of glorious life waiting for us in heaven.

Many individuals, even church-goers, find it hard to understand why God allows struggles in life.

We believe that Jesus Christ had been persecuted and tortured to death, yet He did not complain. Why? Christ had fully understood that everything, including pleasant and unpleasant experiences he had on earth, was intelligently designed by God for his glory.

Faith in God is practically displayed when we can peacefully and joyfully accept that God has designed a series of good or bad situations and events that may come our way.

People may understand explanations why God allows difficulties in life, but understanding them can never stop a person from complaining nor remove the attitude of complaining.

Pray for increase of faith! As we grow mature in our faith, we can learn to rely more upon the Holy Spirit of Christ. The more we become more dependent upon the Lord, the more we experience love, joy, peace, patience, and fruit of the Spirit.

When we experience more joy, peace, patience, fruit of the Spirit, there will still be struggles, difficulties, or persecutions but they cannot manipulate us to complain anymore.

Can you strongly accept that complaining attitude displays absence of the fruit of the Spirit?

Apostle Paul advised us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18… 16 Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Reflect with me: Can we rejoice always? Do we pray continually? Are we giving thanks in all circumstances—difficult situations or trouble-free situations?

May the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross” help us understand that we can completely rely upon the Lord Jesus Christ in every circumstance we may face in this earthly life!

In the “7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross,” he practically exhibited his concern for us, his creation; he apparently exposed his humanity. He personally exemplified his absolute obedience and submission to the grand design of our gracious and loving heavenly Father.

Together: Let’s pray for the Lord to help us submit wholeheartedly to his grand design for us. Let’s commit one more time every aspect of our life to the absolute authority of Christ.

Shall we bow down and express our gratitude that Jesus Christ had sacrificially died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Let’s also express our gratitude to God for the hope of living with him in his heaven. Let us ask him that eternal faith, unending gratitude and absolute obedience to the grand design of God be a reality in us now and forever and ever.

Shall we pray!

><((‘> .. ><((‘> … ><(((“> tmec\2022 <“)))>< … <‘))>< .. <‘))><

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