04/04/2026
Good Friday (Holy Friday)
Introduction:
The 7 last words of Lord Jesus on the cross are a powerful expression of His love and sacrifice. As a sinner, reflecting on these words can touch your heart and bring you to tears, considering the Savior took on the sins that deserved our death. Jesus fulfilled the Father's plan to be the sacrifice on the cross. Truly, Jesus is God and a loving Lord.
Main Topic: Explanation
Here are the 7 last words of our Lord Jesus:
1. A Plea for Forgiveness: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" - Luke 23:34. This shows His mercy towards those crucifying Him. Despite all the suffering and crucifixion, He prayed for those who didn't accept Him, didn't believe in Him, and hurt Him, asking for their forgiveness as they didn't know what they were doing.
2. A Promise of Salvation: "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise" - Luke 23:43. Used as a classic proof of justification by faith alone. The thief who believed in Jesus, even without being with Him, was saved through his faith. Jesus promised he'd be taken to paradise, and it happened.
3. A Provision for His Mother: "Woman, behold, your son!" and "Behold, your mother!" - John 19:26-27. Showing care for earthly relationships even in suffering. By using "Woman" instead of "Mother," Jesus was signaling a change in their relationship. He was no longer just her son according to the flesh, but was now primarily her Lord and Savior.
4. A Petition to the Father: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" - Matthew 27:46. Explained as the moment He bore our sins, and God turned away. The Father's "turning away" was a literal, judicial separation caused by Jesus bearing the full weight of human sin. It's described as a "sovereign departure" or "divine abandonment," where God the Father—too holy to look upon evil—separated Himself from the Son during the atonement. Despite the severity of sin, the Father's will had to be fulfilled through the Son to redeem humanity from sin.
5. A Plea for Relief: "I am thirsty" - John 19:28. Fulfilled Scripture and highlighted His physical suffering. "God cannot be thirsty," so this cry proves that Christ was truly a man who experienced real, physical agony. He points out that this thirst was the result of a long, brutal day involving multiple trials, a scourging, carrying the cross, and hours of hanging in the sun. By experiencing this, Jesus became a "merciful and faithful high priest" who can sympathize with all human suffering. Jesus did not say this just because He was thirsty, but specifically "that the Scripture might be fulfilled". He points to Psalm 69:21, which prophesied that the Messiah would be given vinegar for His thirst.
6. A Proclamation of Victory: "It is finished!" - John 19:30. Completed the atoning work; nothing can be added. The word "tetelestai" is from Greek, and in English, it's more accurately translated as "It is finished" or "It has been completed". In business, Tetelestai was written across a debt certificate to mean "Paid in Full". Spiritually, this means the "debt of sin" is canceled forever for those who believe. Jesus paid the debt of sin, and the Father's will was accomplished through His Son's death on the cross, paying it in full.
7. A Prayer of Consummation: "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" - Luke 23:46. A deliberate act of sovereign will, yielding His life quietly and submissively. Our Lord Jesus' return to addressing God as "Father" after crying out "My God, My God" shows the restoration of communion within the Trinity, indicating the separation caused by bearing the Father's wrath was over. Jesus' perfect Sonhood, as He remained submissive and obedient to the Father's plan until His very last breath.
Conclusion:
Lord Jesus gave it up willingly as the only mediator between God and man. This one-time sacrifice was sufficient to satisfy divine justice and pay the ransom for sin in full.
I'm a sinner, deserving of that death, but Jesus took it upon Himself, gave His life for me, and paid the debt of my sin in full.
So, to you reading this, I urge you to surrender your life to Jesus. Ask for forgiveness, repent, acknowledge you're a sinner, and tell Him you need salvation, because He is the Author of salvation. Believe in Jesus, love Him, accept Him as your Personal Savior and Lord, for He is eternal life.
May the love of God the Father, and the Holy Spirit dwell in your heart, in the Glory of God, in Christ Jesus Name. Amen.
Here is the prayer:
Our Father in Heaven, Thank You for Your love, You sent Your Son Jesus into the world to redeem my sins. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the cross, for saving me, for ascending to heaven, and sending the Holy Spirit through You. The Holy Spirit dwells in my heart.
To those who read this,
May they surrender to Jesus, confess their sins, ask for forgiveness, repent, and accept Jesus as their Personal Savior and Lord, receiving eternal life. The Holy Spirit will enter, pierce, and dwell in their hearts, making them children of God.
Thank You, Holy Spirit, continually fill us. I exalt You, Jesus, my Lord and Savior.
Your grace, Lord Jesus, in the love of the heavenly Lord almighty Father and in the fellowship of the Lord Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Nj Nicolas
Associate Pastor Of
Know God & His Words Ministry USA