The children of a woman nearing the end of life were gathered around her hospital bed listening to her final faint whispers.  Standing with them, I sensed their sorrow and the significance of the moment.  These tearful ones were intent on seizing each sacred second in order to hear their mother??™s last words.

While last words of loved ones are often treasured and remembered by family members, none are as well known as those spoken by Jesus from the cross.  For centuries, His final words have furnished themes for untold numbers of sermons and songs that have found their way into Easter week services.

The seven last words of Christ were actually seven statements:

            ???Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.???
            ???Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.???
            ???Woman, behold thy son!  Behold thy mother!???
            ???My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me????
            ???I thirst.???
            ???It is finished.???
            ???Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.???

The first of these passion pronouncements reveals forgiveness is available and teaches us we can forgive all who wrong us.  This prayer for the forgiveness of the crowd at the cross must have angered those who had called for Christ??™s crucifixion. He had been known for welcoming those who needed forgiveness, no matter what they had done.  ???This man receives sinners,??? His critics had said of Him.  Now, with death near, He called for forgiveness of the undeserving one more time, giving hope to us all.

The second word from the cross offered comfort to a dying criminal who chose faith while others doubted.  Copernicus, the noted mathematician, asked that the following words be placed on his tombstone: ???I do not seek a kindness equal to that given to Paul, nor do I ask for the grace granted to Peter.  But that forgiveness which thou didst grant to the robber, that I earnestly crave.???

The third word, spoken to Mary and John, reminds us of the importance of the family.  In His dying hour, our Lord spoke of motherhood and sonship.  These had always been important to Him.  He had stressed the sanctity of marriage and had time for children.

The fourth word from the cross may be the most mysterious.  Martin Luther once set time aside to study this strange statement, finally exclaiming, ???God forsaken of God!  Who can understand that????  But some lessons from the fourth word are clear: It was spoken from the darkness that we might have spiritual light.  It spoke of separation from God that we might never be separated from Him.  It described the agony of one forsaken that those who believe might never be forsaken.

The fifth word, ???I thirst,??? revealed the humanity of Christ, showing He felt what we feel: hunger, thirst, fatigue, grief.  He understands our pain and gives grace to endure it.

Many leave life with their tasks unfinished, but the sixth word from the cross announced our Lord had completed His work of redemption.

The seventh word, ???Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,??? expressed absolute assurance that the One being crucified knew where He was going after death.

So can we!  And, though some may doubt our confidence of eternal life through faith alone, the One on the cross gave the last word on it.   

?© 2005 Roger Campbell