Whenever one is about to depart this earth to enter the realm of the unknown, people give their undivided attention to that person's last words. Often, the last words of a loved one about to pass from this life become very precious to those who are left behind. A criminal who is about to face death sometimes confesses to the crimes of others, or blames the system for his demise. People want to hear his final words. When very important people die, we want to know their last thoughts. Alexander the Great's last words were of sadness because there were no more worlds left for him to conquer!

The Bible records the last words of some. Moses' final blessing upon Israel before his own death (Deuteronomy 33); Jacob's last words to his sons (Genesis 49); David's last words to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:1-9); Stephen's last words as the Jews stoned him (Acts 7). Toward the end of his sojourn here, Paul, writing his last book, gave words of encouragement that offer us great hope today (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Yet, to a child of God, no words should mean more than the words Christ spoke from the cross as he hung suspended between heaven and earth. These were precious words for all mankind to meditate on and consider seriously. Christ spoke from the cross! Our Lord spoke seven times from that cruel cross. When we consider who He is, and why He was on that cross, what he said becomes even more meaningful. This man, the most important man who ever graced this earth with His presence, the Jews brought, on trumped-up charges, to the Romans to die between two thieves. He was declared innocent, even by the one who gave Him over to be crucified. "When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."{Matthew 27:34} His death was not instant; it was accompanied by suffering, anguish, and torture. His speech was labored as He died the death reserved for the vilest of evil men; yet, He was not guilty of one sin! He was a perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. His death would forever change the course of the world. Christ could have spoken words of scorn, bitterness, vengeance, wrath, and ingratitude; or He could have condemned this injustice! BUT HE DIDN'T! What did He say? His words were of FORGIVENESS, HOPE, CONCERN, SACRIFICE, HUMANITY, ACCOMPLISHMENT, and UNSHAKABLE FAITH. Let us study these words. Maybe we can gain a deeper appreciation for this suffering and loving Savior.

FORGIVENESS. "Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' And they divided His garments and cast lots."{Luke 23:34} These were not words of self-pity, dejection, bitterness, or rebuke for those who treated him unjustly. He understood that it was God's will that He die."...Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."{Luke 22:42} He suffered as an innocent man. Why not ask God to pour out His wrath on those who were taking His son's life? What would you have said? Did Christ allow the injustice He suffered keep Him from doing the Father's will? He purchased salvation, not for Himself, but for his enemies. Greater love has never been shown. What Jesus preached during His life, he lived and exemplified in His death! "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." {Matthew 5:44} "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."{Romans 5:6-8}

Did this mean that these men were forgiven automatically, with no action needed on their part, no repentance required? What people were first offered the blessings brought about by this death? "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."{Acts 2:36} He gave His life that they might have this opportunity! By this gracious statement, Christ demonstrated his love for sinners. If He could show this much love for those who nailed Him to that cross, can we love less those around us who seem to have no time or regard for God in their lives? Christ's love for mankind knew no boundaries, not even in death!

HOPE. "But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'" {Luke 23:40-43} Christ gave the thief hope beyond the grave! Both were dying, and both would be in Paradise that very day! This shows that life does not end at the grave. Man's spirit returns to God's realm. Why should the Lord be concerned for this lowly thief? Who did He come to save? "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." {Luke 19:10} God can see the inner man; we cannot. God could look into this sinner's heart and know whether his repentance was based on true godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:8-11). Does this give us hope for being saved like the thief? Is Christ going to another cross? Is He coming to this earth again? Remember, Jesus saved this thief. "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins..." {Matthew 9:6} Christ's words surely offered him HOPE. Hope is precious to all of us. Only through Jesus Christ do men have the hope of overcoming the grave. Do we understand how important this hope is in our own lives today?

CONCERN "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son.' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home." {John 19:26,27} A mixed multitude watched the crucifixion. Some wanted His blood. Others were just curious. Some mocked and cursed Him. But some watched weeping, despising what was happening. Among those at the foot of the cross were several women. His teaching had touched them. "And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!'" {Luke 23:27-29}

Four women stood among those at the cross. Mary Magdalene, who loved, and was devoted to, Him, had seven devils cast out by Him. "And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons." {Luke 8:2} Mary the wife of Clopas, mother of James the less and Joses. James the younger, one of the apostles, was her son. Salome, sister to Jesus' mother, mother of Zebdee's sons, the apostles James and John. Mary, the mother of Jesus. What kind of character did these women have--thankful love which was deep and sincere; gratitude for all that He had done for them; they would not leave Him in His darkest hour. They were deeply devoted to Christ; they didn't offer him just lip service. Did they understand why all these events were taking place? Probably not. Yet, they believed in Him. They exhibited great courage, approaching the cross, standing at its foot. They felt no shame; nor did they offer excuse. They wanted to be there--ready-minded and willing to serve in whatever capacity.

Surely, Jesus saw the grief and hurt on His mother's face as she watched her son die this horrible death. Jesus did not address her in a cold, unloving manner. In the simplest way, He acknowledged their relationship. She knew well that Jesus was much more than her son. "Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.' Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.'" {Luke 1:30-34}

Then Jesus turned His attention to John, telling him that Mary was now his mother. Why? He understood His duty to care for her. He had always shown her respect. (Luke 2:51,52). Even in death, He did not seek to escape His duty to preserve her wellbeing. John would provide for her when Jesus was no longer able to do so. What a wonderful, moving lesson! Even though in intense pain and suffering, His concern was for His mother! He showed such concern all during His life here on this earth. Why would it change now as He hung dying?

SACRIFICE. "Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" {Matthew 27:45,46} Jesus went to the cross at the third hour, after He had been scourged and had suffered great blood loss, with his body in a state of shock. Feet and wrists were nailed to a wooden cross--not to a piece of nice, sanded wood--but to rough, splintered wood. They used five-to-seven-inch spikes, not nails, with shafts 5/8" square. Death could take anywhere from one to four days. It was by suffocation. One smothered to death on the cross. Speaking would have been the most difficult thing. It involved pushing oneself up to relieve the pain, then getting wind in the lungs. The pain was intense! No angel came to deliver Him; no miracle freed Him from the pain!

From the sixth to the ninth hour, the earth was covered in darkness. God veiled the sun, covering the light, because the light of the world was being snuffed out! The temple was torn in two; the graves opened; and there was a great earthquake. Could all this be happening to tell mankind that something terrible was occurring? What was His greatest discomfort? Withdrawal from His Father as He became sin for us! Did He feel alone? He suffered utter despair for the world's salvation! Did His words express absence of all hope? Never! He knew God was there. Yet, for this moment He faced emptiness. Jesus was truly alone. "Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered." {Hebrews 5:7,8} Read Psalms 22:6-21. The suffering was terrible-but He endured it! Had man ever witnessed such love? Will we witness such love in our lifetime?

HUMANITY. "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst!" {John 19:28} Yes, Jesus was the SON OF GOD. He came from heaven to do his Father's will. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." {John 1:1-3} Yet, while He lived on earth He was a man. Many times the Scriptures refer to Him as the SON OF MAN. This did not diminish His deity. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." {1 Timothy 2:5} Why is He the perfect mediator? Being Deity, he understands God's realm; and having lived as a man, He understands man's realm. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."{Hebrews 4:15}

His physical suffering was severe. There had been no food or water since He ate the Passover feast with His disciples. His intense thirst, brought on by great blood loss, was ignored. He endured six trials, was up all night, and now hangs on the cross for six hours. For whom did he utter these words? Not for Himself, he had been tempted to drink earlier. "The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine." {Luke 23:36} "They gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink." {Matthew 27:34} "Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it."{Mark 15:23} Why? Because the drink was given to deaden His pain. He took the full measure for our sins. He paid sin's debt in full! Why did He utter these words? To fulfill the Scriptures. "My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death."{Psalm 22:15} "Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."{Psalm 69:20,21} Christ will never thirst again, and neither will we if we accept the "life giving water" he freely offers us. "And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."{Revelation 22:17}

ACCOMPLISHMENT. "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."{John 19:30} What was finished? The law and the prophets' words have now been fulfilled. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." {Matthew 5:17,18} Jesus had finished drinking the bitter cup. "But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:22,28}

He came to earth with a mission. All along, He knew that it would end at Calvary's cross. While here, He continually told them he was sent to do His Father's will. "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."{John 17:4} Jesus finished so we could start! Christ's death on the cross enabled men to avail themselves of the benefits of the blood shed on that cross. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." {Ephesians 1:7} "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission."{Hebrews 9:22} "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." {2 Corinthians 5:17,18} Christ finished the work His Father sent Him to do; have you begun so you can finish your work?

UNSHAKABLE FAITH. "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last." {Luke 23:46} These were His last words. What happened next? He died. Jesus willingly gave His life as a supreme sacrifice for our sins. He went to the realm of the unseen. His body was still on that cross, but His spirit had gone back to God's care. "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it." {Ecclesiastes 12:7} Jesus' body did not see decay. "I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."{Psalm 16:8-10}

Christ died having unquenchable trust and faith in His Father. Satan, it seemed, achieved a stunning defeat. But soon, Satan's joy would give way to God's greatest victory over him! Jesus overcame death and Hades! "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." {Revelation 1:18} In life, Christ believed and trusted in His Father; in death, He continued to do so. What do these seven statements tell us about Christ? He will not let us down, and he is trustworthy!!!