Jesus' 7 Last Words

1. Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them...” Forgiveness is the point of the cross - how easily do we forgive people even before they have repented? Can we forgive even when others cause us supreme pain?

2. Luke 23:43 “Today you will be with me in Paradise” Paradise is a description of a beautiful garden where we walk and talk with God - will we be there with him too? Can we forgive when others show no fruit other than a request for forgiveness?

3. John 19:25-27 “Woman here is your son...here is your mother” Are we in the church a family - are we brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to each other? Do we arrive early and stay late at church?

4. Matthew 27:45-46 “Why have you forsaken me?” At that point when Jesus represented sin, he was abandoned by God so that we may not be.

5. John 19:28-30 “I am thirsty” Jesus took on physical discomfort that we might be comforted.

6. John 19:28-30 “It is finished” Do we live as if Christ has finished the work of salvation, or do we think that we must still work for it?

7. Luke 23:46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” Have we committed our spirits to God as well?

Cross facts (John 18-19)

How long were the nails used to kill Jesus? Nails for crucifixions averaged about 6 inches (15 cm). How many nails were used? Three or four. Some authorities say there was one nail for both feet, but recent archaeology shows that some crucifixions used one nail for each foot, driven through the heel. What shape of cross was it? There were two common kinds of cross used in those days, a Latin cross is the one more familiar to us. It was shaped like a lowercase t. Another kind of cross was the Tau. It was shaped like a capital T. Where were the nails driven? Artists have depicted Jesus as having nails in what we call the palms of his hands. The wrist was also considered to be part of the hands and archaeology shows nails in the wrists.

Political comparisons

This world’s powerful people love to make comparisons between political parties and even between countries and their different forms of government. Such comparisons make this or that party look good to their constituents. John 18-19 makes a different comparison, the difference between God’s government and this world’s. We notice that even religious leaders can get seduced into worldly leadership as a temple official slaps Jesus in the face. Our political leaders are not much different than Herod and Pilate, gutless people bowing to public pressure rather than doing what is right. Like Pilate, many would ask, what is truth? Politicians make decisions based upon popular opinion or what is convenient rather than what is right. Anyone who tries to stand up for what it morally and ethically right about abortion, poverty or other human rights is shouted down, “Crucify him!”