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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.? ? ? ?
?© 2004 Roger Campbell
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May your day be blessed
Bob Johnston |
