Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross

Introduction

The Apostle Paul said, “the message of the cross…to us who are being saved is the power of God.” He later said, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The writer of Hebrews said

“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Puritan Thomas Watson wrote:

“I thank thee from the depth of my being

for thy wondrous grace and love.

in bearing my sin in thine own body on the tree.

May the cross be to me

as the tree that sweetens my bitter Marahs,

as the rod that blossoms with life and beauty,

as the brazen serpent that calls forth the look of faith.

By thy cross crucify my every sin;

Use it to increase my intimacy with thyself;

Make it the ground of all my comfort,

And by it give me that rest without rest,

The rest of ceaseless praise,

Never let me wander from the view of that cross.”

Vance Havner approached the sayings of Christ at the cross from this position: “In His dying, Christ provided an example for my living.”

I. “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

He died forgiving those who sinned against Him.

Romans 5:6, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

We should be more concerned about God forgiving the sin of the one who has sinned against us.

Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

II. “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Jesus died bringing the truth of eternal life to a dammed soul.

III. “Woman, behold your son…behold your mother.” John 19:26-27

Jesus died expressing selfless love. He was never too occupied with His own pain that He lost sight of the needs of others.

IV. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Matt 27:46

Jesus died understanding the seriousness of sin

Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

V. “I am thirsty.”

He teaches us to live expressing the frailties of our humanity.

We have a sympathetic High Priest.

Hebrews 4:15-16, “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. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

VI. “It is finished.” John 19:30

He died completing the work God gave Him to do.

F.W. Boreham’s A Handful of Stars: Texts That Have Moved Great Minds.

“It is really one word, the greatest word ever uttered; we must examine it for a moment as a rare and costly gem.”

1. It is a farmer’s word. When, into his herd, there was born an animal so beautiful and shapely that it seemed absolutely destitute of faults and defects, the farmer gazed upon the creature with proud, delighted eyes. “Tetelestai!” He said, “Tetelistai!”

2. It was an artist’s word. When the painter or the sculptor had put the last finishing touches to the vivid landscape or the marble bust, he would stand back a few feet to admire his masterpiece, and, seeing in it nothing that called for correction or improvement, would murmur fondly, “Tetelestai!” “Tetelestai!”

3. It was a priestly word. When some devout worshiper, overflowing with gratitude for mercies shown him, brought to the temple a lamb without spot or blemish, the pride of the whole flock, the priest, more accustomed to seeing the blind and defective animals led to the altar, would look admiringly upon the pretty creature. “Tetelestai!”
He would say, “Tetelestai!”

4. And when, in the fullness of time, the Lamb of God offered Himself on the altar of the ages, He rejoiced with a joy so triumphant that it bore down all His anguish before it. The sacrifice was stainless, perfect, finished! “He cried with a loud voice Tetelestai! And gave up the ghost.”

5. This divine self-satisfaction appears only twice, once in each Testament. When He completed the work of Creation, He looked upon it and said that it was very good; when He completed the work of Redemption He cried with a loud voice Tetelestai! It means exactly the same thing. 

VII. “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit” Luke 23:46

Jesus died entrusting Himself to the promised care of God

Let’s finish looking at the cross by observing Who was there. If you look close you may find yourself at the cross.

Soldiers – they just administered the wounds which the sin of the world had caused.

● Just as they gambled away His garments, many today gamble away their gospel opportunity.

● If you are not a solider of the cross, you are a soldier at the cross.

Passers-by, who gave a passing glance to the cross.

● Just as some today, this group minimized His work and mocked His deity.

Priest, Scribes, Elders – No group behaved worse at the cross than the religious.

● Those that draw near to God with lips, but are far away with their hearts.

The Crowd that watched – they just looked on and did nothing.

● The only thing someone has to do to be lost…is nothing.

The Centurion.

● He feared greatly

● He confessed that Christ was righteous

● He called Him the Son of God

But you can do all of these and be lost.

The Thief – the lowest character at the cross, got the most out of it.
The group that loved Him.

QUESTION: Where are you in the crowd?