“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…”
The Lord’s first saying was also the most surprising: Dying at the hands of wicked men who knew He was innocent, He cries out for their pardon—
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. Jesus sets the example once again-he prays for those who have done Him wrong-He prays for us! The New Testament declares that Jesus “ever lives to make intercession for us.” (Hebrews 7:25)
Song: “Ah, Holy Jesus”
“Today you will be with me in paradise…”
These words of Jesus were spoken to a penitent thief; a man who had lived his whole life in sin is now redeemed by Jesus. How comforting,”where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5:20).
The sinner cries out for mercy, and Jesus offers mercy with a promise – to die in faith, and awaken in Christ.
Song: “I Can Only Imagine”
“Dear woman, here is your son.” “Here is your mother.”
The Lord’s third word was made up of two parts. First, to his mother, and then to John, the disciple whom Jesus loved.
- His words to Mary was that she would now look to John for support and care.
- To John, his words of instruction were to care for her and treat her with love and respect as if he was the first born son.
Even in his time of suffering, Jesus puts the needs of others above himself, a quality not just to be admired, but to be imitated.
Song: “Lamb of God”
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me…?”
In speaking these words from Psalm 22, Jesus was now experiencing the pain of separation from God. Because Jesus became sin, the Father turned away. Habakkuk 1:13 declared of God, “You are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on the wickedness with favor.” God turned his back when Jesus was on the cross because He could not look at sin.
Jesus died on the cross as a substitute for the sins of the world-for yours and mine. “He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
This separation from God is far too deep for us to fathom. Jesus cried out these words not in anguish of the physical pain, but from the painful separation with His heavenly Father that His becoming sin had bought.
Song: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”
“I Am thirsty…”
This word of Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament. John says, “after this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled said, “I thirst.”
John, in writing this down for us, helps us to recognize the significance of these words. Not just for us, but also for the people who were there. By saying these words, Jesus was telling us all that He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. In other words, that He is the Messiah.
Other prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus, so here once again with his dying breath, Jesus fulfills another prophecy (Psalm 69:21 and many others).
Song: “Agnus Dei”
“It is finished…”
This word spoken by Jesus on the cross is a single Greek word- a word that is “comfortable and comprehensive.” Comfortable because it means that these words produces a great comfort in the believer. Comprehensive means that it covers all.
Comprehensive: “It is Finished.” Sin is finished, For anyone who wants to be rid of sin and guilt, there is salvation in the cross. It is finished means the believer is now acceptable to God.
It is finished: That is the earthly life and ministry is finished. It is finished – The ceremonial law is abolished How mindful and thankful we ought to be for these words.
Song: “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”
“Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit…”
These last words as well as the first words that were shared with us were directed to His Heavenly Father. The other ones were to his friends, family and enemies. These words were once again from scripture. Jesus’ words on the cross show us how to live, and how to die, and how to live in him. May this be our prayer at the foot of the cross.
Father, into whose hands your son Jesus commended his spirit, grant that we too, following His example, in all of life, may we in life and death, O Lord Abide with you.
Song: “Jesus Paid It All”
Palm Sunday is usually viewed as a joyous time of celebration; the King is arriving into the Holy City. But we quickly discover that the Holy City rejected and crucified this King instead of celebrating and worshiping Him.