The 7 Sayings of Jesus Christ on the Cross

We will look at the last seven sayings of Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross because they show us the heart of God toward us. These are in what most scholars agree is the proper sequential order that Jesus said these things.

1. "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 

King David prophesied about the Messiah about one thousand years before Christ was born. He said that the Messiah would utter these words one day in the future. 

Matthew 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 

Matthew's gospel recorded this saying of Christ from the cross. This is the first of seven sayings and it is beneficial for us to examine them. First, we see the direct fulfillment of Psalm 22. 

Why did Jesus utter these heart rending words? Because He was hanging on the cross, forsaken by His Father. The reason for Jesus saying this is that Christ bore our sins in his own body on the cross. Therefore, our sins separated Jesus from His Father. Our Father had to turn away from His beloved Son because He could not tolerate sin in His presence. 

This is why an unsaved sinner cannot be admitted into the presence of God. He is infinitely holy and will not tolerate sin. However, He will robe us in Jesus Christ's righteousness when we turn to Jesus in repentant faith. He welcomes us as His children, adopted into the family of God. Jesus endured the forsaking by His Father in order to save us and bring us into fellowship with the Godhead!

2. "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do"

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

Salvation means forgiveness of our sins by God because Christ paid our penalty for our sins and our faith brings a full and complete salvation. The word "forgive" means that God will pardon our transgressions and sins and treat us as if we were not guilty. The word "forgive" means to send the offense away. The Hebrew word translated "forgive" is "nasa" which means to lift up the burden and carry it far away. 

This is what Jesus did at His cross. He lifted my sins from off me and nailed it to His cross. Jesus blotted out my sins and this means my sins are all gone! Hallelujah! Thus, God is free to forgive us when we turn in repentant faith to Christ. 

3. "Verily I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." 

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 

It is not an accident that right after Jesus asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him, He turned to the thief. This malefactor recognized his sins and he asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. These are the words of Jesus to a sinner who turned to Him. Jesus gave him the promise of salvation and of receiving eternal life. Jesus will save any and all who call upon Him in repentant faith.

4. "Woman behold thy son."

John 19:25-27  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 

The moment when Jesus would fully finish paying for our sins was fast approaching. He would lay down His life for us. Before Jesus did this, His mother Mary and His disciple John, stood near the cross. The law required male children to care for a widowed mother. 

Therefore, Jesus turned to John, the disciple whom He especially loved (John 13:23; 20:2; 21:7) and said to His mother Mary, "Woman behold thy son." This meant that Jesus was telling John to care for His mother as if she was his own parent. John displayed instant obedience and did as Jesus said to do. 

5. "I thirst."

Joh 19:28-29  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 

Jesus reached the point where He knew that all necessary things to pay for our sins and provide eternal life to all who believe on Him, had arrived. All things said about Messiah in the scriptures were now fulfilled. Mankind's redemption was complete. 

Jesus suffered horribly over the previous 24 hours. The scourging alone would have resulted in loss of blood and severe dehydration. This is seen in the fact that Jesus was weakened and needed help carrying the cross. 

Now, after enduring separation from the Father, multiple beatings and heaps of verbal abuse and after hanging on the cross in great pain and agony, Jesus cried out "I thirst!" Someone put a sponge full of vinegar onto a hyssop branch and put it to Christ's mouth. 

The use of a hyssop branch is especially important. This connects back to the first Passover in Exodus 12:22 where God commanded that the blood of the lambs sacrificed be spread on the door posts and lintels with hyssop branches. Jesus the Lamb of God (John 1) was given vinegar by a hyssop branch. His blood would be shed at the cross and only those who have their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus can enter the kingdom of God. 

6. "It is finished." 

John 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

"The work His Father had sent Him to do, which was to teach the Gospel, perform miracles, and achieve reconciliation for His people, was fulfilled. The debt of sin was paid. Jesus is saying in “It is finished” that the debt owed by man to his Creator on account of Adam’s sin is finally and forever dealt with. Jesus, with “it is finished,” is saying not only does He take away man’s sin, but now He removes it as far as the east is to the west, for is finished, done, signed, and sealed because of the blood of Jesus. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) He brought about the completion of all the Old Testament prophecies, symbols, and foreshadowing about Himself." (Excerpt from The Meaning and Significance of "It is Finished", by Dave Jenkins)

It is finished means that my sins and your sins have been fully paid for, and the way to heaven is now open through the door, Jesus Christ. We who are born again are saved by the power of the Lamb of God! Praise God, Praise God! Jesus is the only one as God and man to deal with the sin issue fully and perfectly. 

7. "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Luke 23:46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 

This is the last saying of Jesus on the cross. All of His work was complete. All of His life on earth was a work of perfection according to God's holy standards. He did good to all and always sought what was best for all of the people that He interacted with. Jesus prayed for those who persecuted Him and offered forgiveness to all who turn to Him in repentant faith. 

Psalm 31:3-5  3  For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 4  Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 

This saying of Jesus also was foreshadowed in the book of Psalms by King David. David told us that Messiah would commend His Spirit to the Lord God of truth (Jehovah El Emeth). Jesus' work was done. He was finished. He was now ready to lay down His life for His sheep. 

John 10:14-18  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

This is the glory of the cross. It is the glory of our salvation. It is the glory for each believer who is born again. The sweet words of that hymn "Jesus paid it All." Praise God, Hallelujah. Amen.

Lord Jesus we are not worthy of anything but death and Hell and eternal condemnation. Yet, you loved us even when we were wretched sinners. You gave your life after enduring hideous torture. You shed your blood to permanently redeem us from our sins. We praise you, rejoice in your work and have hearts full of anticipation of your coming to call us home. May we be ready witnesses of your power to save.

Bob