Seven Last Words of Christ
Reflection 1 – When Jesus says, “Abba forgive them”, he is not just talking about those who are crucifying him.
Because it is such a horrific act of cruelty, we tend to get tunnel vision on the crucifixion.
But Jesus’ prayer for God to forgive is not just an invitation to absolution for individuals.
It is a once-and-for-all, change in the order of things.
Jesus does not simply forgive his executioners.
He forgives all of us.
He forgives the disciples for not understanding his mission.
He forgives James and John for asking to be on his left and right hands.
He forgives Peter for denying him.
He forgives our greed.
Our pettiness.
The myriad ways that we fail to love God and love our neighbor.
And we receive forgiveness from God.
Not because we deserve it.
Not because we won’t need forgiveness again in the future.
But because we are beloved of God.
We are recipients of God’s abundant grace.
Over and over again.
Not because of anything we say or do.
But because of who God is.
Reflection 2 – Our God is a God of creation.
Crucifixion and death are the antithesis of creation.
Crucifixion and death are destruction.
By saying “today you’ll be with me in paradise!”, Jesus is saying no to death and destruction.
Jesus is saying that he has power over death.
Not in the future—but today.
Paradise is the new creation that is realized through Jesus’ resurrection.
The new creation where all people are fed—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
The new creation where all are included—where everyone is welcome and no one is outcast.
The new creation where all are forgiven—without exception.
The new creation where all are transformed—transformed to the fully authentic selves God created us to be.
The new creation where all are healed—healed of every physical, emotional, and spiritual injury.
Reflection 3 – Watching a loved one die from disease or lose themselves to dementia is difficult.
Watching a loved one die by the horrific violence of crucifixion—well, we can only imagine how heartbreaking and traumatic that would be.
But that was what was happening to Mary and John.
They were watched their beloved Jesus die.
Die an excruciating death.
The man they knew to be the Messiah was being humiliated.
Jesus was stripped and beaten.
He was mocked with a robe, a crown of thorns, and a sign that said, “King of the Jews”.
Jesus was tortured and he was dying.
But his thoughts were not on himself.
His thoughts were on his mother and his beloved disciple.
How could he relieve their pain?
How could he heal their trauma?
By doing what Jesus had always done.
He loved them.
When Jesus said, “Here is your son” to Mary and, “Here is your mother” to John, he was not creating a new family—at least not in the traditional sense.
He was welcoming them into community—into his Kin-dom.
There are some who believe that John and Mary were the first church—the first members of the Body of Christ.
I love that image.
Reflection 4 – There is debate amongst theologians about when Jesus knew he was the Son of God.
Some claim that he knew from childhood.
Others, when he was resurrected.
Still others at various points in between.
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” seems to speak of uncertainty.
I find that compelling.
A Jesus that goes to the cross not knowing what was on the other side is a powerful image for me.
A Jesus that is willing to proclaim the Kin-dom at the risk of his own life and without the safety net of knowing that you’re God—THAT is a leader that I would drop everything for and follow.
There is a powerful scene in the movie The Shack when God talks about Jesus’ feeling of being abandoned.
God says, “Don't ever think that what my Son chose to do didn't cost us dearly. Love always leaves a significant mark," showing God’s own nail wounds.
God continues, "We were there together. I never left him. When all you can see is pain, perhaps then you lose sight of me."
God is always with us—especially in our most vulnerable moments.
When we feel forsaken, it is our own limitation.
It is not God breaking God’s covenant to love us and always be with us.
Reflection 5 – Jesus was human.
He experienced thirst and hunger and pain.
God stepped into human form to be close to us.
To experience our mortality.
When Jesus said, “I am thirsty”, he was making it clear that he was experiencing the crucifixion in all its excruciating dimensions—thirst, hunger, exhaustion, and pain.
His divinity did not exempt him from those extreme sensations.
God stepped into human for to understand us better.
It’s one thing for God to say, “love your neighbor”.
When you’re a perfect spiritual being, it just makes sense.
When you’re fully human, you understand that some people are easy to love—and some people are not.
You understand that people will disappoint you.
Others will tick you off.
And still others will be so diametrically opposite to your values that loving them seems all but impossible.
“I am thirsty” says, “I am human too. I get it—I know what I am asking.”
And still Jesus’ commands remain: love God and love your neighbor.
Reflection 6 – Jesus said, “Abba, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
He put his trust entirely in God—he placed himself in his Abba’s hands.
He was saying he trusted in God’s justice.
Not Pilate’s justice—not the justice of empire.
Not the chief priests’ justice—not the letter of the law justice.
Jesus was trusting in the justice that can only be achieved by adhering to the spirit of the law.
Jesus did not just happen to find himself on the wrong side of Pilate’s court.
It wasn’t an act of chance that he found himself accused before the Sanhedrin.
In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “yet not my will but yours be done.”
He set his sights on Jerusalem.
He sought out the confrontation.
Because he knew he was preaching and teaching truth.
And he knew God was at his side.
That knowledge gave him the absolute confidence that he needed to place his physical wellbeing in jeopardy by proclaiming the Kin-dom.
And, when the time came, he was able to surrender his spiritual wellbeing as well.
Reflection 7 – Jesus said, “It is finished.”
Not “I am finished.”
It is finished meant his mission was complete.
The old world was obsolete.
Jesus’ death and resurrection mark the beginning of the new creation.
In Revelation 21, we read, “Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them. The Most High will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more, for the old order has fallen.”
Jesus’ mission was to abolish death.
By suffering death, his last human experience, Jesus has transformed death forever.
It no longer has any power over us.
Death remains part of our journey.
But it is a journey that we know Jesus travels with us.
When we pass through that veil of death, we can be confident that it is not the end—and that Jesus will be on the other side waiting for us.
Thanks be to God!