- “Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing …” (Lk. 23:34)
- “Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43)
- “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear women, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother”. From that time on, this disciple took her into home’” (Jn. 19:26,27)
- “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46, Mk. 15:34)
- “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said I am thirsty” (Jn. 19:28)
- “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished’. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (Jn. 19:30)
- “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’. When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Lk. 23:46)
These seven words may be condensed as follows. First three words are for men – for those who crucified him, for those crucified with him and for his mother. Next two words are for himself – why you have forsaken me, I thirst. Out of the next two words one points to the past (it is finished) and next one points to the feature (into your hands I submit my soul).
Three words are prayers to God. Next three words are dialogue with men, one with the world. In the same way it is also interpreted that Jesus is speaking to the father above and the men below through this seven words. The first and the last are prayers towards the father, the second, an answer to the thief on the cross and the fourth one is a prayer towards God. In the same way out of the eight prayers of Jesus in the Gospels, the last one is the prayer on the cross. Mathew and Mark record only one word out of the seven. Luke and John record three words each.
1. “Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots” (Lk. 23:34)
In the Lord’s Prayer also the request for forgiveness is very powerful (Matt. 6:12, 14, 15). The famous writer Robert Louis Stephenson of South Sea Island went out of the occasion of the family prayer, when Lord’s Prayer was recited. He responded that he has no moral courage to say the words ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others’. The reason was that he had not forgiven to many others. The poet Alexander Pope has said, “To err is human but to forgive is divine”. The parable of the forgiving of the 10,000 talents is to be remembered here (Matt. 18:21-35). Jesus instructs to forgive before prayer and before sacrificing (Mk. 11:25, Matt. 5:23, 24). The Apostles also taught to forgive one another (2 Cor. 2:7, Eph: 4:32). Remember that you will be forgiven only when you forgive.
2. “Jesus answered him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43)
Even at the point of great agony, Jesus is sharing the gospel with another person. ‘Today’ is the voice of faith. Today I will stay in your house; today salvation has come to this house. Today is the day of salvation; such words are of great importance (2 Cor. 6:2, Lk. 19:5, 19:9). Jesus is reaffirming the thought that prostitutes and tax collectors will enter into the Kingdom of God before you (Matt. 21:31), through his promise of paradise to an accused criminal crucified along with him. We cannot separate anyone from entering into the kingdom of God. Jesus has said, ‘many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first’ (Matt. 19:30; 20:16; 22:14). The same concept is depicted through the character of Andrew Saviour in the writing of Perumpadavam called “Aroopiyude Moonaam Prave (The third dove of the Holy Spirit)”. This is the hope of any sinner.
When we analyze the repentance of the thief on the cross, there are certain visible progressive steps (Lk. 23:39-43).
- He feared God.
- He agreed that he is a sinner.
- He declared the innocence of Jesus, praised Jesus.
- He witnessed a king in Jesus.
- Requested for eternal life.
This word gives the message that the Lord will forgive all men those who repent and request for forgiveness at all times.
3. “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear women, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother”. From that time on, this disciple took her into home” (Jn. 19:26,27)
This is the statement of Jesus who gives everything belongs to him for others. Here Jesus is handing over his mother to John. The thought that the mother is to be worshiped is not here. She is the blessed lady among women (Lk. 1:42). When the people say that the womb that bore you is blessed, the words which Jesus says that those who obey the word rather than hearing it is blessed (Lk. 11:27,28, 8:19-21, Matt. 12:46-50, Mk. 3:31-35). The thought to take care of the mother is very strong here. The only commandment with a blessing is ‘respect your father and mother’ (Eph. 6:1-4). Today the concern for the elderly is a growing need. The word of Jesus from the cross also underlines the need of showing consideration towards the elderly in our society.
4. “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34).
This verse is reported by both Mathew and Mark. This verse may be a completion of Psalm 22:1. It is a prayer in a mixed language pattern of, Aramaic and Greek, ‘Eli Eli…’ Some of the critics of this prayer say that it is an unclear prayer. A.T. Robertson explains it as “My power, my power why have you forsaken me”. But Racco A. Errico & George M. Lamsa explains this verse as follows: “My God, my God, for this purpose I was spared” or “For such a purpose have you kept me”. Another explanation says that God the father completely abandoned his son at the cross. That is to say God has trusted the total iniquity of humanity upon his son. God gave healing and peace for humanity by the stripes of Jesus (Is. 53:6, 1 Pet. 2:24).
5. “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said I am thirsty” (Jn. 19:28)
Jesus was 100% God as well as 100% man. Here the thirst of Jesus may be a physical one. Some of the Old Testament words point to this incident as a prophecy (Ps. 22:15, 69:3). They gave wine to Jesus, mixed with gall. Jesus tasted it but did not drink it (Matt. 27:34, Mk. 15:23). If he would have drank it, he would faint. But deciding to take up the pains of the cross upon himself he has avoided the wine mixed with gall. Luke says that ‘they offered’ him wine vinegar (Lk. 23:36). John only says that Jesus ‘received the drink’ (Jn. 19:29, 30). This thirst is also explained as a spiritual thirst, a thirst for the salvation of the perishing human kind.
6. It is finished (Jn. 19:30)
The statement of Jesus at the cross, ‘it is finished’ points to many truths. Jesus has fulfilled the law (Matt. 5:17). He has fulfilled the Prophets and the Scriptures. He has ‘bought with a price’ the human kind from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:14). He has shattered the works of satan and evil for ever (1 Jn. 3:8). A theologian has said about the death of Jesus as follows: “The debt of humanity to God is canceled and written off”.
Cross is Christological. Its importance lies in the salvation that has been earned through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Therefore, it is said that the word of the cross is the power of God for those who are saved (1 Cor. 1:18). Those who oppose the gospel would become the enemies of the cross (Phil.3:18). But gradually the cross of Christ became a matter of praise. Thus, the word of the cross became the gospel of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19). The wall of separation has been broken down (Eph. 2:14-16). Peace has been sought through the sheding blood of Jesus on the cross (Col. 1:20). The writing against us through the law has been nullified (Col. 2: 14). What was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks was transcended into the divine wisdom for the believers (1 Cor. 1:18, 23:24). Therefore, it is said that he has finished everything.
7. “Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father; into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Lk. 23:46)
Some people appreciate the death of Jesus as the most peaceful the world has ever seen, a death with self confidence and satisfaction as he submitted his soul into the hands of the father. It is a prayer that the Jewish parents every night pray along with their children – “Father into thy hands I commit my spirit”. They all sleep well and get up in the morning. With such a confidence refreshing nature Jesus has submitted his soul into the hands of the father. Jesus knew that ‘there is a morning of resurrection’. At the time of the death of Jesus there happened many super natural incidents. The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom into two. The earth was shook. Many rocks were broken. Many tombs were opened. Many bodies of the holy men were resurrected (Matt. 27:51-53).
The curtain that was dividing the common worshipper and the high priest has torn into two. Now they all can come to the Holiest of Holies and to the throne of Grace (Heb. 4:16; 10:19-21). The Apostle says that Jesus has torn down the curtain which is his body. In Christology, resurrection is an important matter. Jesus has already prophesied that he would rise from the dead on the third day (Mk. 8:31, 9:31, 10:34). Death was not able to comprehend Jesus under its power (Jn.5:26, Acts 2:24, Rom. 1:5).The message of the resurrection of Christ accelerates the importance of Christian message (1 Cor. 15:14-17). We find a hope of life beyond death in this verse.