In the Bible, the four Gospel writers record the story of the last days of Jesus life’, his execution by crucifixion, and his return to life. This ‘passion narrative’ is recorded in Matthew, chapters 26 to 28; Mark, chapters 14 to 16; Luke, chapters 22 to 24; and John, chapters 13 to 21. (These 18 chapters could be read aloud in less than two hours!)
The four Gospels record seven things that Jesus said while he was hanging on the cross. These last words of Jesus have resounded throughout history. His final sayings have been a powerful resource for meditation, devotion, liturgy and countless Easter sermons over the twenty centuries since the original events, and still speak to us today.
- Matthew and Mark both record Jesus crying out in despair; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46, Mk 15:34)
Luke records 3 sayings of Jesus. - As Jesus was being nailed to the cross, He prayed “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34)
- When the criminal being crucified beside Jesus appealed to him for mercy, Jesus promised him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23: 42, 43)
- As Jesus was dying, he called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Lk 23:46)
John also records 3 sayings of Jesus on the cross. - As Jesus saw his mother standing near the cross, he commissioned the disciple John to take care of her. ‘He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.’ (John 19:26, 27)
- Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Then he was offered a sponge soaked in wine vinegar. (John 19:28)
- ‘When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ”It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’ (John 19:30)
What was crucifixion?
Crucifixion was the barbaric method of public execution used throughout the Roman Empire. It combined extreme, prolonged physical cruelty, with total public humiliation, and formed a terrifying visible warning against any resistance to the Roman occupation.
What happened to Jesus?
After the Last Supper, the Gospels record how Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his own disciples. Late at night, he was arrested in the garden, and put on trial by the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin. He was interrogated by the High Priest, and convicted of blasphemy. He was sent to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate judged him to be innocent, but under strong political pressure he condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion as ‘The King of the Jews.’ He was humiliated by the soldiers, and flogged. He was made to carry his cross from the Governor’s palace, the Praetorium, to ‘the place of the skull’, outside the city wall. (This 600-metre route through the narrow streets of Jerusalem is still followed by pilgrims today, as the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Suffering.) When he could no longer carry the cross, a man from the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, was compelled to carry it for him.
At the place of execution he was stripped naked, and fastened to the cross with nails hammered through his wrists and feet. While he hung on the cross for six hours, he was mocked by the crowd, the religious leaders, the soldiers and the two thieves being executed with him. Apart from John, all his disciples abandoned him. His mother, and ‘the women who had followed him from Galilee,’ were the only supporters who remained there to watch his death.
He was stripped naked, and fastened to the cross
with nails hammered through his wrists and feet.
For three hours, the sky went dark until he died. As he died, the curtain of the Temple, separating the Most Holy Place from the rest, was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
What did Jesus say about his death before it happened?
Jesus had tried to warn his disciples that this was the death he would die. He described it in detail. “The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matt 20:18, 19) They did not understand his words, until after these events had happened.
He taught his disciples that his destiny was to ‘give his life as a ransom for many.’ (Matt 20:28) Other images in his teaching included; The Good Shepherd. (“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10: 11.) and ‘the friend.’ (“Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.)
He accepted the declaration by John the Baptist; “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1: 29.)
At the Last Supper before his death, Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples, and gave them a new picture of the meaning of his death, as he set up the Christian sacrament of Holy Communion. He used the bread and wine as images of his death. “This is my body, given for you. This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt 26:26-28, Luke 22:19, 20.) (See also https://whatdidjesussay.com/crucified-for-you-jesus-52/)
The seven sayings examined.
Here are some comments on the last words of Jesus.
1 A lesson in forgiving!
As Jesus was being nailed to the cross, he prayed “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34.)
Here, even in this extreme situation, Jesus was dramatically putting into practice his own teaching, demonstrating his willingness to forgive even his enemies. In the ‘Sermon on the Mount’, Jesus taught; ‘Love your enemies and pray for them.” (Matt 5:44, See also Jesus’ saying 14.)
When Jesus taught his disciples about prayer, he gave them the model prayer which we know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’ In this prayer, Jesus set out the demanding standard for them, (and us!) that as they pray for forgiveness for themselves, they must forgive those who have wronged them! (Matt 6:14, 15. See also Jesus’ saying 18)
He was willing to forgive even his enemies.
He sets us the example for us to follow.
Jesus practised what he preached. He was willing to forgive even his enemies. He sets us the example for us to follow. If I am a follower of Jesus, how can I withhold forgiveness for those who have wounded me or those I love? (Lord, help me to forgive!)
2 The criminal appeals to Jesus.
When the criminal being crucified beside Jesus appealed to him for mercy, Jesus promised, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23: 42, 43)
Two Criminals were crucified beside Jesus. One of them hurled insults at Jesus. But the other recognised that Jesus was innocent. In spite of all appearances, he also recognised Jesus’ spiritual authority. He appealed directly to Jesus, saying; “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied with the authority of a King; “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23: 39-43)
Is this a joke?! What an irony! Here we have an account of a young Jewish teacher, convicted of blasphemy and insurrection, hanging naked in agony on a cross, with Pilate’s cynical sign above his head, mockingly describing him as the King of the Jews. He is having a serious discussion with the criminal beside him about his authority as a King to pronounce on life after death! They were both convinced that their lives would continue after their imminent deaths. There were many thousands of anonymous victims of Roman crucifixion. But today, twenty centuries after the event, we are still paying attention to this one execution which has become the turning point of human history! It can only be explained by the fact that Jesus returned to life after his death, vindicating all his claims.
We are still paying attention to this one execution which has become the turning point of human history!
What can we learn from Jesus’ promise to the criminal? The thief had nothing to offer Jesus. He had no wealth, status, rank or privilege. He was without merit, good works or achievement. He had no priest, advocate, confessor or intercessor. He was not baptised. He had no catechism, creed or confession of belief. He simply believed that Jesus was indeed the King, and appealed to him for mercy. Jesus exercised his authority over life after death in his promise to the criminal. Jesus’ resurrection confirms the credibility of his words!
The scene reflects Jesus’ teaching story about two men praying in the Temple. The religious man stood tall and proud. He explained to God what a good person he was, compared to other men. The other man knew he was a sinner. He humbled himself and asked God for mercy. Jesus said the humble sinner was the one who found forgiveness. (Luke 18:9-14 See also saying 3.)
Jesus invited all who were burdened to come for rest, and become his followers. Today, this encounter between Jesus and the criminal encourages us to accept his invitation! (Matt 11:28, 29. See also saying 32 and saying 33.)
The “Jesus Prayer” brings us into His kingdom;- ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
3 Jesus cares for his Mother.
As Jesus saw his mother standing near the cross, he commissioned the disciple John to take care of her. ‘He said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.’ (John 19:26, 27)
In spite of his own suffering, Jesus showed his care for his mother. He took responsibility to make sure she was provided for. He arranged for John, ‘the disciple Jesus loved,’ to take care of her.
His criticism of the religious leaders was that, for all their religious observances, they found ways to avoid their duty of care for their parents. (Matt 15:3-9)
In spite of his own suffering,
Jesus showed his care for his mother.
Once again, Jesus demonstrates in the most practical way what it means to put God’s rules into practice.
(In the early church, Mary was honoured simply as ‘the Mother of Jesus.’ Acts 1: 14)
4 Abandoned by God!
Matthew and Mark both record Jesus crying out in despair; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46, Mk 15:34)
On the cross, Jesus experienced not only the degrading public humiliation, and the extreme physical suffering, but the existential experience that he had not known before; a sense that God, his Father, had abandoned him. Jesus’ cry is a direct quotation from David’s psalm. (Psalm 22:1 This psalm describes details of Jesus’ experience on the cross many years before crucifixion had become a widespread method of execution!)
Hundreds of years before Jesus, the prophet Isaiah wrote about “a man despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. … Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:3-6)
“The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
John, the disciple who witnessed Jesus’ death, came to understand its meaning. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 2: 2)
Paul summarises the first creed of the Christian Church; “Christ died for our sin, was buried and rose again.” (1 Cor 15: 3-8)
The central concept of atonement is a substitution; my guilt is transferred onto Jesus. This thought is captured in the words of the modern hymn;
“Amazing love, Oh what sacrifice, The Son of God given for me.
My debt he pays, and my death he dies, that I might live.”
( ‘Amazing love,- My Lord, what love is this.’ Graham Kendrick, 1989.)
John summarises the Good News; ”God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
5 “I am thirsty.”
Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Then he was offered a sponge soaked in wine vinegar. (John 19:28)
These simple words express the reality of Jesus’ physical suffering.
When Jesus was alive, his followers and the public asked themselves, “Who is this man? He teaches with a voice of authority. He calms a storm with his words, he proclaims forgiveness for a paralysed man and then makes him physically whole, he heals lepers, gives sight to the blind, and raises the dead. ” After the resurrection, they must reboot their answer to this question, to take account of his return to life! They were forced to reprocess their understanding of the words and actions of Jesus, to incorporate this new perspective.
They came to understand the true nature of Jesus’ identity, as both the One who was equal with God in the beginning, and the one who was truly human; God in human form. As the early church wrestled with the enormity of this question, they came to understand that Jesus was at the same time both fully God, and fully human. At Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we contemplate the incarnation; God becoming human.
It was John, who late in his life, wrote, “In the beginning was the Word. … And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1: 1-14) It was this same John, the disciple who observed at close quarters Jesus on the cross, who recorded Jesus saying, “I am thirsty.” Jesus was not a mirage, God pretending to be a man, unable to feel the reality of human suffering. His physical suffering was real!
Jesus was not a mirage, – God pretending to be a man. His physical suffering was real!
Another early Christian writer wrote, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity, that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil. … For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Heb 2:14, 17)
Paul summarised the incarnation this way; “He had equal status with God…when the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that – a crucifixion. (Phil 2:6-11 The Message.)
The saying, “I am thirsty!” reminds us that Jesus accepted the limitations of being truly human. He suffered the reality of pain, thirst, hunger, physical exhaustion and anguish, just as we do.
“Come to me, and drink!“
Behind Jesus’ call for something to drink, we hear an echo of Jesus’ call to those who are thirsty! John records two episodes where Jesus pictures himself as the answer for those who have a desperate thirst for spiritual life.
‘On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive, Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.’ (Jn 7:37-39)
“If anyone is thirsty
let him come to me and drink.”
Similarly, when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, he said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. … Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4: 7-15)
Jesus invites us to come to him as the Source of true spiritual life.
6 “ It is finished!”
‘When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ”It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’ (John 19:30)
In the upper room at the last supper, Jesus shared the bread and wine. “My life I am laying down for you. The New Contract for forgiveness is signed in my blood!”
In the Garden of Gethsemane, he faced the fearful anticipation of the death which he saw as his destiny, and reconciled himself to voluntarily submitting to his Father’s will.
On the cross, after the torture of the crucifixion had reached its conclusion, he could say; “It is finished.”
Here, Jesus declares the completion of the task which was his destiny. Jesus said he had come to do the Father’s will, to seek and to save the lost, to give his life as a ransom for many. Here he says that his work is complete, his suffering is over, his job is done, his mission is accomplished, his task is finished.
Jesus declares the completion of the task
which was his destiny.
New Testament scholar Tom Wright observes that the term is the same word that was used to write on an invoice, “paid in full!”
7 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
As Jesus was dying, he called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Lk 23:46)
Like a child saying an evening prayer, Jesus lets go of his life, committing himself into the safe hands of his Father. He echoes the words of the Psalm (Ps 31:5)
The Roman Centurian, overseeing these three crucifixions, was impressed by watching the way Jesus died, and confessed, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39)
“Surely this man was the Son of God!”
Among the people at the cross, where do I stand?
There is Pilate, the Governor, trying to wash his hands of his responsibility for sending Jesus to his death.
There are the Religious Leaders, resisting Jesus’ authority, actively opposing his message, scheming for his death, and mocking him on the cross.
There are the bystanders, carried along by the mob, and going with the crowd to reject Jesus.
There is Mary his mother, John the disciple and the women, quietly watching the horrific events, grieving for their ruined expectations for Jesus as the Messiah.
There is the Centurian, the hardened executioner, recognising that Jesus is unique.
Then there is the criminal on the cross beside Jesus, recognising Jesus as King, and casting all his hope on Jesus’ mercy.
“..recognising Jesus as King,
and casting all his hope on Jesus for mercy.”
… Where do I stand?
In John Bunyan’s famous allegory, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” he pictures Christian, the Pilgrim, arriving at the cross, carrying a heavy burden of sin and guilt on his back. As he reaches the cross, the load on his back is released, and rolls away, disappearing forever into a grave at the foot of the cross.
Christian is met by three angels who grant him forgiveness, a set of clean clothes to replace his dirty rags, and a brand and a document, like an identity and visa, for his entry at the gate of the Celestial City
Leave your heavy burden at the cross!