The story of Jesus Christ is one that almost anyone—Christian or non-Christian—would know. He was born to a virgin, lived a perfect life, died a horrific and excruciatingly painful death on the cross to save us from our sin, and rose again three days later.
Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior. For many who study the death of Christ—or find comfort in His devotion—reflecting on His Seven Words on the cross is one of the greatest ways to see Jesus’ undying love for us.
The Seven Last Words of Jesus
Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Jesus is the teacher of forgiveness. In our human-ness, we fail God daily. But by His grace and mercy, we are forgiven. In the same way, Jesus taught us to bless those who persecute us, and to forgive our debtors (the Lord’s prayer).
Right up until His final moments on earth, Jesus never ceased to preach and pray for forgiveness. On the cross, He prayed for those who were tormenting Him, while dying for them at the same time. Through forgiveness, God provides supernatural peace.
Luke 23:43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Jesus says this to the sinner on the cross beside Him—the robber, who is being justly crucified for his actions. He asks Jesus to remember him, and becomes the only person at the scene of the crucifixion to openly confess Jesus as “Lord.” Christ’s response was again one of forgiveness.
John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
In His own unimaginable pain and suffering, Jesus cries out—not for relief from the pain He’s experiencing, but for the pain and suffering of His earthly mother, Mary. Jesus speaks words of blessing and care over her, and looks to His beloved disciple John to provide for her like a son.