The First Word: Luke 23:34
33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[b] And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Dr. Luke is very matter of fact, telling us the where and what. There at the place of the skull, they crucified him. Two criminals with him, one on the right, one on the left. It’s almost stunning in how tersely he puts it, “there they crucified him”, as if this might happen every day.
But even more stunning is Jesus’ first word. Was it a word of agony or self-pity? Was it an exclamation of, “why me, O Lord?” Or even a cry for help? Perhaps you or I would have even cursed our tormentors, hoping they get what they deserve, and more.
But not Jesus. His first word is his first priority. Others. Us. Those who crucified him. We weren’t swinging the hammer or driving the nails, of course. But our sins were. And that precisely is the point. Jesus comes to this cross that we might be forgiven. He prays for our forgiveness, even as he does what it takes to win that forgiveness.
They know not what they do. Who can know his errors? Who can know the depth of his own sin? But as deep as it goes, so much deeper goes Christ’s love, and Christ’s forgiveness.
The Second Word: Luke 23:43
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
What a study in contrasts, these two criminals. One defiant till the end, mocking and scorning even as he justly dies for his crimes. The other, humble and trusting, even in the face of death and doom.
Jesus has no word for the mocker. But for the penitent, a kind, a comforting, a blessed word of promise that echoes for all who share his posture of repentant faith.
The thief humbly asks, not to be saved, not to be forgiven, not for much at all, but to be remembered by Jesus. And Jesus’ second word promises so much more. Just as he so often answers our prayers with even more grace than we can ask.
After death, for the Christian, comes paradise. Just as Jesus’ spirit is committed to the Father’s loving hands, so is ours, through Christ. So we can die in peace, and rest in peace, knowing that Jesus remembers you and me, and all his promises to us.
The Third Word: John 19:26-27
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Again, not for himself, but for others he speaks. This time, his dear mother and dear disciple and friend, John. They would suffer the scene of torture before them, but also the earthly loss of Jesus’ bodily presence. But he would not leave them alone, rather he left them with each other.
Christ has also left us, but not alone. He sends us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who calls and gathers the church, our Christian brothers and sisters, not by blood, but by the bonds of faith. Christ could say much the same word to us today, were we to look at each other, “behold your son, your father, your brother, your sister” We are united with Christ and therefore with each other.
And so we love one another. We regard each other as Christ would have us. We see, in our fellow Christians, our family. One body, one holy Christian church, united in Jesus Christ for eternity.
The Fourth Word: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
You might think this word, a quote from Psalm 22, was finally one he spoke for himself, but no. Even in his deepest cry of agony, he speaks for you. He shows here, that he bears the brunt of it all, the wrath of God, the disapproval and disavowal of the Father, as Jesus has become sin, and so God forsakes him. It is this poignant moment in which Jesus bears the very pangs of hell for you, for me, for all.
But his cry is not for himself. It is for you. To show you that he bears all this for you. He is forsaken so that you are not. He is punished, so that you go free. He bears hell, that you might experience paradise, and an eternal home in the mansions of the Father.
The Fifth Word: John 19:28
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
In the fourth word, he spoke of his spiritual suffering, being forsaken by the Father. Here, he speaks of his very real bodily suffering, his thirst. Losing so much sweat and blood through his ordeal, it’s no surprise that Jesus was dehydrated. Thirsty.
He speaks the fifth word to fulfill Scripture. Most likely it is Psalm 22 which he has again in mind,
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
But he gives voice to his bodily suffering here to fulfill Scripture. Scripture must be fulfilled because God’s word is always true. Scripture must be fulfilled because Jesus leaves no detail undone. His work is perfect, even his suffering and death leaves nothing out.
And he needs that little moisture to prepare his tongue for a final declaration, which we are about to hear.
The Sixth Word: John 19:30
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Again he speaks for us, as he dies for us. “It is finished” is a declaration, a proclamation, an announcement that his work is done. The price is paid. The atonement is accomplished.
Nothing more needs to be added, indeed what could be added to this perfect life and death? Surely not your works, your will, your merit or worthiness. Only Jesus can suffice, only the blood of Jesus can pay the price. And he has. And it is finished.
With this word of finality and totality, a sweet promise is spoken. Your sins are finished. The devil is finished. Even death itself is finished. For by his death he has destroyed death. It simply has no more sting.
The Seventh Word: Luke 23:46
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Finally a word for himself? No, even his last word is for us. He commends his spirit to the Father’s loving care. Having paid the price and accomplished his great mission, the Father has no more scorn or wrath for the Son, but receives his spirit gladly.
And where Jesus goes, you and I will go. When we die, we can say the same, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit” in a sure confidence that he will receive us through Jesus Christ.
Death becomes for us, who are in Christ, no longer a punishment, no longer the sad and final separation from our Creator. Rather, we see in death the gate to eternal life. We see in death a rest and a peace. We know that for us, like for Jesus, it is only temporary. We too shall rise. And until we do, our spirit is like Jesus’ own spirit, safe in the Father’s keeping.
Thanks be to God for the blessed suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. And thanks be to God for the precious words he uttered from his cross, words all spoken for us, for our good and blessing.
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