The First Word:

Father, forgive them, for they dont know what theyre doing.
(Luke 23:34)
Reflection
It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness.
Thats the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so that we might be forgiven for our
sins, so that we might be reconciled to God for eternity.
But the forgiveness of God through Christ doesnt come only to those who dont know
what they are doing when they sin. In the mercy of God, we receive his forgiveness
even when we do what we know to be wrong. God chooses to wipe away our sins, not
because we have some convenient excuse, and not because we have tried hard to
make up for them, but because he is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are
new every morning.
As we read the words, Father, forgive them, may we understand that we too are
forgiven through Christ. As John writes in his first letter, But if we confess our sins to
him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness
(1 John 1:9). Because Christ died on the cross for us, we are cleansed from all
wickedness, from every last sin. We are united with God the Father as his beloved
children. We are free to approach his throne of grace with our needs and concerns. God
has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Ps 103:13). What
great news!
Questions for Reflection
Do you really believe God has forgiven your sins? Do you take time on a regular basis
to confess your sins so that you might enjoy the freedom of forgiveness? Do you need
to experience Gods forgiveness in a fresh way today?
Prayer
Gracious Lord Jesus, its easy for me to speak of your forgiveness, even to ask for it
and to thank you for it. But do I really believe Im forgiven? Do I experience the freedom
that comes from the assurance that you have cleansed me from my sins? Or do I live as
if Im semi-forgiven? Even though Ive put my faith in you and confessed my sins, do I
live as sin still has power over me? Do I try to prove myself to you, as if I might be able
to earn more forgiveness?
Dear Lord, though I believe at one level that you have forgiven me, this amazing truth
needs to penetrate my heart in new ways. Help me to know with fresh conviction that I

am fully and finally forgiven, not because of anything I have done, but because of what
you have done for me.
May I live today as a forgiven person, opening my heart to you, choosing not to sin
because the power of sin has been broken by your salvation.
All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for your matchless forgiveness! Amen.
First Word
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23,34)
Lesson: To teach us of God who went to his death carrying a cross rather than go
throughout life carrying a grudge.
People who have been hurt many times try to get even, or pout, or sulk, or seek
sympathy in some form or other. But with Christ it was different. His love for man was so
intense that sulking or pouting, or grieving excessively had little influence in his conduct
toward them. This love of Christ for man took its expression when he spoke his First
Word from the Cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." This
forgiveness was offered to those present who had in any way taken part in the anatomy
of a murder that was to be talked about for centuries. Forgiveness to the clever lawyers
who wove the plot that brought him to bear a cross. Forgiveness to the authorities who
were involved in duplicity and intrigue that saw him practically beaten to death.
Forgiveness to those who spit on him, to the two High Priests who twisted the
Scriptures to prove him blasphemous. Forgiveness to the teenage girl, the maid
servant, who by the power of her words seduced one of his apostles to deny him.
Forgiveness to the soldiers who were at that moment gambling for his garments.
Forgiveness to the fickle who on Palm Sunday cried out, Hosanna to the Son of David,
and were now crying out, Crucify Him.
This compassion of Christ for others, this willingness to forgive was not just the last
display of a man who did not know what he was doing. This was not just a chance
utterance that came to the lips of Christ. All throughout his public ministry Christ gave
examples of forgiveness to others. He told his apostles that they must be willing to
forgive no matter what was done to them. On one occasion Peter approached Christ
and said to him, "Master, do you know what the Jewish law says about forgiveness? Do
you know that it says we must be willing to forgive seven times a day?" Christ turned to
Peter and said, "but Peter, the law that I am going to give to you is a more demanding
one. You must be willing to forgive not only seven times a day, but seventy times seven
times." In other words, there is to be no limit to the number of times you forgive those
who hurt you. And it was this same apostle, Peter, who learned that Christ meant what
he said. For after his denial of Christ, Peter received a glance of forgiveness from

Christ. This forgiveness of Christ started Peter on the road to his own crucifixion and on
the road to holiness.
Carrying a cross to Calvary was more compatible to Christ than carrying a grudge
throughout life. Today we can unite ourselves in spirit with the God who died for us.
Today we can become other Christs, offering absolution as Christ did from the Cross. All
of us who have hurt Christ at some time in our lives have heard the consoling words of
Christ in confession, I absolve you from your sins. Today Christ is asking you to become
other Christs, who will repeat with Him the words, Forgive them for they know not what
they do.
First Word
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23,34)
Lesson: To teach us of God who went to his death carrying a cross rather than go
throughout life carrying a grudge.
People who have been hurt many times try to get even, or pout, or sulk, or seek
sympathy in some form or other. But with Christ it was different. His love for man was so
intense that sulking or pouting, or grieving excessively had little influence in his conduct
toward them. This love of Christ for man took its expression when he spoke his First
Word from the Cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." This
forgiveness was offered to those present who had in any way taken part in the anatomy
of a murder that was to be talked about for centuries. Forgiveness to the clever lawyers
who wove the plot that brought him to bear a cross. Forgiveness to the authorities who
were involved in duplicity and intrigue that saw him practically beaten to death.
Forgiveness to those who spit on him, to the two High Priests who twisted the
Scriptures to prove him blasphemous. Forgiveness to the teenage girl, the maid
servant, who by the power of her words seduced one of his apostles to deny him.
Forgiveness to the soldiers who were at that moment gambling for his garments.
Forgiveness to the fickle who on Palm Sunday cried out, Hosanna to the Son of David,
and were now crying out, Crucify Him.
This compassion of Christ for others, this willingness to forgive was not just the last
display of a man who did not know what he was doing. This was not just a chance
utterance that came to the lips of Christ. All throughout his public ministry Christ gave
examples of forgiveness to others. He told his apostles that they must be willing to
forgive no matter what was done to them. On one occasion Peter approached Christ
and said to him, "Master, do you know what the Jewish law says about forgiveness? Do
you know that it says we must be willing to forgive seven times a day?" Christ turned to
Peter and said, "but Peter, the law that I am going to give to you is a more demanding
one. You must be willing to forgive not only seven times a day, but seventy times seven
times." In other words, there is to be no limit to the number of times you forgive those

who hurt you. And it was this same apostle, Peter, who learned that Christ meant what
he said. For after his denial of Christ, Peter received a glance of forgiveness from
Christ. This forgiveness of Christ started Peter on the road to his own crucifixion and on
the road to holiness.
Carrying a cross to Calvary was more compatible to Christ than carrying a grudge
throughout life. Today we can unite ourselves in spirit with the God who died for us.
Today we can become other Christs, offering absolution as Christ did from the Cross. All
of us who have hurt Christ at some time in our lives have heard the consoling words of
Christ in confession, I absolve you from your sins. Today Christ is asking you to become
other Christs, who will repeat with Him the words, Forgive them for they know not what
they do.

THE FIRST WORD

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Gospel of Luke 23:34
Jesus of Nazareth is looking down from the cross just after he was crucified between
two criminals. He sees the soldiers who have mocked, scourged, and tortured him, and
who have just nailed him to the cross. He probably remembers those who have
sentenced him - Caiaphas and the high priests of the Sanhedrin. Pilate realized it was
out of envy that they handed him over (Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10). But is Jesus not
also thinking of his Apostles and companions who have deserted him, to Peter who has
denied him three times, to the fickle crowd, who only days before praised him on his
entrance to Jerusalem, and then days later chose him over Barabbas to be crucified?
Is he also thinking of us, who daily forget him in our lives?
Does he react angrily? No! At the height of his physical suffering, his love prevails and
He asks His Father to forgive! Could there ever be greater irony? Jesus asks his Father
to forgive, but it is by His very Sacrifice on the Cross that mankind is able to be
forgiven!
Right up to his final hours on earth, Jesus preaches forgiveness. He teaches
forgiveness in the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). When asked by Peter, how many times should we
forgive someone, Jesus answers seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). At the Last
Supper, Jesus explains his crucifixion to his Apostles when he tells them to drink of the
cup: "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for
many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). He forgives the paralytic at

Capernaum (Mark 2:5), and the adulteress caught in the act and about to be stoned
(John 8:1-11). And even following his Resurrection, his first act is to commission his
disciples to forgive: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:22-23).

1. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34).
Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy that He would make intercession for the
transgressors (Isaiah 53:12). To whom was He speaking? In reality, all of us. As Peter
explained weeks later, all the house of Israel crucified Christ (Acts 2:36). Then Peter
told everyone in the temple that they killed the Prince of life (Acts 3:15). Paul
expanded the list of sinners to every human being (Romans 3:23).
But Peter went on to say, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers
(Acts 3:17). So does God lower His standard of righteousness to our level of ignorance?
No! Ignorance is not innocence, so Peter urged them to repentturn from the sins that
Christ had to die forand be forgiven.
Although because of sin we, too, were enemies of God, He never turned cold-hearted
toward us, as Jesus words here so powerfully demonstrate. Can we, therefore, do
anything less than strive to 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)?

The Last Seven Words of Jesus

Related Media
The last words that a man or woman pronounces before dying come directly from the
heart. Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French general, is reported to have said as he
lay dying, I am dying before my time and my body is going to return to the earth. This
is the fate of the man we called Napoleon the Great. On his death bed, Voltaire, the
French writer, is said to have confided these words to his doctor : I have been
abandoned by God and by men! Ill give you half my fortune if you extend my life by six
months. Jesus also, during the last six hours of his life, hanging between heaven and

earth, enduring great suffering, pronounced seven statements revealing the richness of
his inner being.
Crucifixion was a form of torture that literally knocked the wind out of a person. The
weight of the body suspended by the arms caused immediate pain in the chest,
paralyzing the pectoral muscles and making breathing extremely difficult. The person
being crucified could inhale but had great difficulty exhaling. To exhale he had to push
on his feet and straighten his legs to release the pressure exerted on his arms and
chest. But the pain that this caused to his feet was so excruciating, because of the nails,
that he would immediately cease any such effort. Death usually occurred within two or
three days. But when the Romans wanted to shorten his agony, they would break his
legs. So, unable to straighten himself with the help of his legs, the man would suffocate
rapidly. The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves crucified with Jesus to hasten
their deaths, but Jesus legs were not broken because he was already dead (John
19:3133). Thus was accomplished a prophecy from Scripture saying that none of his
bones would be broken (John 19:36). It is in this context, while he was fighting for his
every breath, that Jesus uttered his last words.
While they were nailing his hands and feet to the cross, or a little later, when they were
putting up the cross, Jesus cried out, Father, forgive them for they do not know what
they are doing. (Luke 23:34)
The majority of bandits and criminals, defiant and furious, would yell curses and insults
while being nailed to a cross, but Jesus, filled with an amazing calmness and an
inexplicable love, interceded with the Father for the forgiveness of his torturers. As J.C.
Ryle, the famous Anglican Bishop of Liverpool expressed so well, While the blood of
the greatest sacrifice started to flow, the greatest of all high priests started to intercede.
Jesus, since he was God in the form of man, could have condemned his torturers or
destroyed them with his breath. But then what would his sufferings have accomplished?
He came to save and not to judge. He preferred to die for the guilty, which required of
him even more strength and courage.
Praying for ones torturers is not human. Jesus was able to do it because of his intimate
relationship with the Father. By so doing, he accomplished the words of the prophet
Isaiah, He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah
53.12)

Touched by the repentant attitude and the faith of one of the thieves crucified with him,
Jesus turned towards him and declared, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me
in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
The story of the repentant thief demonstrates that an attitude of humility pleases God.
The crowd, the magistrates, the soldiers and the other thief crucified with Jesus all
mocked him (Luke 23:3539). Because they were absorbed with themselves, they were
unable to see who Jesus really was. But the one thief had a completely different attitude
(Luke 23:4043). Recognizing his own crimes and the justness of his punishment, he
realized the innocence of Jesus (v. 41) and recognized him as being the Messiah (v.
42). Moved by his attitude of repentance and faith, Jesus promised him more than he
could ever have imagined. The thief asked Jesus to remember him the day, in ten or
fifteen or fifty years, that he would come back to establish his kingdom. But Jesus
assured him that he would take him that very day to paradise. The term paradise is a
Persian word that means a garden of delights. The word is used in the Septuagint, the
Greek translation of the Old Testament, to describe the Garden of Eden. It also refers to
heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:34 and in Revelation 2:7. We see by the story of the
repentant thief to what extent Jesus takes pleasure in forgiving. Therefore, let us, with
humility, come to Jesus for forgiveness, healing and an assured place in Gods
paradise.
Even while dying, Jesus was preoccupied with others. He thought of his mother, among
others, and made arrangements to ensure that she would not lack anything. When
Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to
his mother, Dear woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, Here is your mother.
From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:2627)
When we suffer, we become so completely absorbed with our suffering that we forget
everything else. All it takes is a little toothache or a headache to make us irritable and
quick-tempered. It is therefore amazing to see Jesus here, suspended on a cross,
making arrangements for the care of his mother. Mary, Marys sister, Mary Magdalene
and John were there at the foot of the cross and Jesus would have loved to console
them. Despite his sufferings, his increasingly difficult breathing, the agony and sadness
in his soul, he could not remain insensitive to the distress of those who had followed him
up to that moment and who had no fear of identifying themselves with him. In fact, we

see in the Gospels that Jesus always manifested great sensitivity and compassion
towards those with whom he came in contact. (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34)
Mary, his mother, distressed by seeing her son scorned and tortured like a lawbreaker,
would have gladly taken his place if it had been possible. She had suffered much
because of him and he was conscious of that. When Simeon held the baby Jesus in his
arms, thirty years before, he had declared to Mary that her child would one day be like a
sword that would pierce her own heart (Luke 2:35).
Since Mary was a widow, Jesus, her firstborn, had the legal responsibility to see that
she did not lack anything. But for Jesus, it was more than an obligation. He was
sensitive to Marys pain and attentive to her wellbeing. Hanging there between heaven
and earth, he made the best possible arrangements for her. He entrusted her to the
care of John, his disciple and best friend (John 13:23). He knew that John would take
care of Mary as he would his own mother (John 19:27).
Are our hearts filled with compassion as was the Masters? Are we willing to share the
suffering of those around us? We often hear that we should not burn ourselves out by
helping others, but that we must keep our energy for ourselves and avoid being too
sympathetic. But beyond precautions to prevent a breakdown, are we not all called to
spread a little more love in this chaotic world?
After five and a half hours of agony, at the peak of his pain, the Lord cried out, My God,
My God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)
Reporting these words of Jesus on the cross, Matthew the evangelist emphasized that
Jesus suffered the separation from God for which we were eternally destined. Never
before had this deep, intimate fellowship between Jesus and his Father ever been
broken. The feeling that Jesus had been abandoned by the Father was only too real.
The Father had literally abandoned and turned away from Jesus because of our sins.
This occurred just as the prophet Isaiah had predicted several hundred years before
(Isaiah 53:46 / New Living Translation)
4Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sickness that weighed him down. And
we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! 5But he was
wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was

whipped, and we were healed! 6All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left
Gods paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
God turned away from Jesus and poured out his anger on him while he was bearing our
sins on the cross. We cannot measure the suffering that this rupture caused him, but we
get a good idea from the extreme agony that he suffered in the garden of Gethsemane
(Mark 14:33;Luke 22:4144).
Jesus said, while he was still with his disciples, greater love has no one than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) The apostle John repeated the same
idea in his first letter when he wrote, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ
laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 John
3:16)
Giving our lives for others is far from being easy. But maybe even before thinking of
giving our lives, we could give a little more time, attention and love to those around us.
As he was on the point of dying, Jesus, with parched lips, cried out I am thirsty. (John
19:28)
Jesus was God. God the Son died on the cross for our sins. But Jesus was also
perfectly human. As a man, like us he felt hunger, thirst and fatigue, and did not hesitate
to say so. By crying out on the cross that he was thirsty, Jesus fulfilled a prophesy found
in the Psalms (69:21). Who would have thought that the one who came as a source of
living water for all men would one day suffer from thirst?
Because Jesus, as a human being, suffered hunger, thirst, solitude and many other
hardships, he is able to understand us and sustain us. He is able to console us and
comfort us in our moments of suffering (Hebrews 2:18 and 4:1516).
Just before giving up his spirit, Jesus cried out, It is finished. (John 19:30)
Three of the Gospels mention that Jesus cried out just before dying, but only John
reports what Jesus said. Usually a crucified person at the point of death did not have
the strength to cry out but rendered his spirit with a moan. Jesus gave out a loud cry.
His cry was not a cry of death but a cry of victory. He had just won the greatest victory
ever. By his life of perfect obedience to God and his death on the cross, he had just

opened the doors of Heaven to men. He broke down the wall that separated men from
God and that deprived them of his good presence.
Now that the road to heaven is clear, what shall we do? Scripture says, He is able to
save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to
intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25) We can do nothing to earn a place in heaven
(Ephesians 2:8); Jesus earned it for us. Let us ask him simply to forgive our sins and be
reconciled today with the Father. Although we are not yet there, as of today we can
enjoy the delights of paradise (John 7:38).
At the moment of rendering his spirit, Jesus opened his mouth again and cried out with
a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46)
These last words of Jesus corresponded to the prayer that the Jewish mothers taught
their children to say before going to sleep. This prayer is an expression of total trust in
God. It comes from a psalm in which King David put his future into the hands of the Lord
God with the certainty that God would act in his favour (Psalm 31:16). By dying, Jesus
threw himself into the arms of the Father, because he knew that God had prepared
wonderful things for him. Actually, Jesus knew that after he suffered, the Father would
raise him from the dead and would lift him up above all else. When Jesus mentioned his
sufferings to come to his disciples, he always mentioned the glory that would follow
them (Matthew 16:21; 17:9; 17:2223). It is this hope of Glory to come that gave Jesus
the strength to suffer and to persevere to the very end (Hebrews 12:12).
What about us? In times of suffering, when all seems dark, when discouragement and
sadness overwhelm us, do we turn to God and surrender ourselves into his loving care?
Do we really believe that he reserves great things for us? Why not put our lives in his
hands today? He wants to bestow his favour on us and bless us. So why wait? Here is
what you could say to God in prayer:
Lord God, I recognize my faults. You could have condemned me because of them but
you chose to condemn Jesus in my place. Thank you for his sufferings and his death on
the cross. I pray that you forgive all my sins. Give me your Spirit, and enable me today
to start a new life in fellowship with you. I want to follow you, to be attentive to your
voice and to please you. Without waiting, I now put myself in your service. Amen!

Our Thanks to Laura Dytynyshyn, who translated the text from French, and to Jack
Cochrane who reviewed it.
Related Topics: Devotionals, Crucifixion

The final words of Jesus

are especially filled with meaning
for Christians.

When you account for each Gospel, Jesus uttered seven statements before He
died. I think seven is noteworthy, because God often works in a cycle of seven. And
because this is the Messiah, and everything He said was inspired, these final words of
our Lord are of great importance. Were going to take a brief look at these phrases and
explore their spiritual significance, considering why Jesus said what He said. I trust we
will learn these statements comprise a message special to each one of us.
I should mention that the exact order of Jesus final utterances on th across might
be impossible to prove. Ive tried to structure this list according to the Bible and inspired
commentary. I do believe we can be sure what His first words on the cross were and
what His very last statement was. But the exact sequence is not my purpose. My goal
is to remember them. The Bible tells us we are crucified with Christ, and so these are
words that should, in essence, be our words also. Father. Forgive them. Jesus
pleads, Father. Forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). These are
His first words, spoken shortly after the soldiers hoisted the cross into position. I believe
He was offering forgiveness for everyone, they entire human race, and not just the
Romans torturing Him. Why is that important for you and me?
With the exception of Adam and Eve, humans came into this world as slaves to sin.
Having been born in ignorance, we dont fully understand god. We have to learn who
He is. So Jesus speaks to us from the cross today and says, Father. Forgive them.
They dont know who You are. They dont know how they hurt You when they sin.
He was talking to you and me, wasnt He? You and I are responsible. He died
for our sins, so we directly or indirectly are responsible for Jesus making that
declaration. That should compel us to do the same. Colossians 3:13 says, Forbearing
one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as
Christ forgave you, so also do ye. God wants us to forgive as Jesus forgave us.

Thats often not easy for us. But Christ will give us the power, because He wants us to.
Remover that Jesus shed His blood for those who wound you.
Christ exemplified forgiveness at the cross. Jesus came for many reasons, but not
least of those is that He came to forgive us of our sins and to empower us to forgive
others. The love relationship that Christ tells us is mandatory for salvation is this love
relationship. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and thy neighbor as
thyself (Luke 10:27). And what is the best way that Jesus demonstrated His love for
us? He took our sins and forgave us. What is the best way that we demonstrate love
for our neighbor? To forgive our neighbors, even those who are crucifying our
characters.
We should remember when Stephen was stoned that he prayed for his
persecutors. Lay not this sin to their charge (Acts 7:60). The people stoning him knew
very much what they were doing, and he still prayed for their forgiveness. Should we
only forgive those who dont know that theyve hurt us? Jesus said, But if ye forgive
not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew
6:15)
Woman. Behold thy son!
In John 19:26, 27, Jesus uttered what is probably His second statement from the cross.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith
unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother!
And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

In one sense, Jesus was simply setting His house in order. Yet how should you
feel if you were on the cross as your mother watched? You would probably be
preoccupied with your own suffering. If Ive got a little splinter, I want everyone to
know. But here, Jesus becomes concerned with the suffering of others. He considers
her anguish and also her earthly welfare. And He tenderly makes provision by directing
her care to His disciple. What an incredible display of selflessness.
But I think something more spiritual is going on here. Biblically, the woman
symbolizes the church. In Genesis, we learn that the seed of the woman is Christ. He
was bruising the serpents head when He says, Woman, behold your son. Its an
invitation, indeed a command, to behold Jesus on the cross, as the churchs Savior. It
is there we best see His victory over sin and His love for us.
Jesus ministry began as John the Baptist invited the church to Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29)
And Jesus said in John 12:32, And I , if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men unto me. Christ was lifted up at the cross to a position of visibility. Likewise,

Moses stood on a hill when Israel was fighting the Amalekites. He even stretched out
his hands in intercession, and as long as the people could see him, they won the battle.
When Moses got tired and his hands dropped, the tide would turn. When he lifted up
his hands again, they were victorious again. But they had to behold him, as the church
must behold her Seed. As long as we can see by faith Christs nail-pierced hands
raised before the Father intercession for us, we can gain the victory. Woman, behold
your son!
You will be with Me
Jesus third statement comes in Luke 23:43, He says to the desperate and dying
thief, Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise (NKJV). Isaiah
53:12 says Jesus would be numbered with the transgressors, and indeed, He died on a
hill between tow thieves. But these thieves represent two classes of people with one
thing in common: They were helpless sinners. The two of them represent all of us. We
are murderers, robbers, and rebels. Weve each rebelled, gone our own way. Yet they
both ask to be saved. What makes these two classes different?
The thief on the left says, If those be Christ, save thyself and us (Luke 23:39).
Will anyone be saved by if? Jesus promised that if we believe, all things are possible,
So "if is a very dangerous word. It can separate the saved from the lost. But the other
thief says, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we
indeed justly; for we received the due reward of our deeds (vs. 40,41). That is the
meaning of repentance and confession! Very few criminal admit theyre guilty. Yet
thats one of the things weve got to do. Two thieves, one on the left and one on the
right, represent everybody. We must repent and believe in Him. If we ask, then we can
be assured of something wonderful.
Even though the devil could nail Jesus to the cross, he could not keep the Saviors
hands from saving. Christ was able to tell that thief he would be in the kingdom. After
the thief gloried Jesus, we dont hear another word from him. I believe that a sweet
assurance of Gods forgiveness and acceptance swept over him. He seized upon these
words of Jesus, You will be with me. How much easier do you think it was for him to
bear his sufferings after he had the assurance of eternal life? Infinitely! The same
should be with us. You should feel assured. And we need to step our in faith and take
Jesus at His word. Like the thief, when suffering or discouraged by sin, we are invited
to look to Jesus as Lord and King. We can repent and confess, then believe we have a
place with Christ in paradise.
Why have you forsaken me?
The forth statement is found in Matthew 27:46. And about the ninth hour Jesus
cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (NKJV)

The Romans thought He was calling out for Elijah, because the Jews believed
Elijah was coming back, and they mocked Him for it.
But thats why the Scriptures translate what Jesus was really saying, My God,
My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why did He say that? Some people wonder if
Jesus lost faith, crying out because He believed God had left Him. They think Hes
saying God, why have you left me?
Christ, our High Priest and Sacrifice, was conveying, I am the Lamb. This is the
Passover. As both our High Priest and spotless sacrifice, He is "reading" a Passover
psalm. The significance of the verse that if is in the form of a question the Lord is
posing to get us to think. For instance, God said to Adam, Adam, where are you? It is
because God lost track of Adam? Did God need a GPS to find him? No, of course not.
God knows everything. He wanted Adam to think about where sin had brought him.
God asks question not because He doesnt know, but because He wants us to think
about the significance of what the question evokes.
So when Jesus said, Why have you forsaken me, He was inviting all those who
beheld Him on the cross to consider why He was there. It was a rhetorical question.
Why was the Father separated from the Son? Its because the Son was taking our sin;
He was taking our place. Jesus was forsaken of the Father for our benefit. Isaiah 53:4
says, yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted (NKJV).
I thirst!
John 19:28 records Jesus fifth statement. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were
now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst!(NKJV) Obviously, Jesus
is dehydrated from His long trials and the loss of blood. Hed been whipped in the back and
pounded in the face by the soldiers. They also shoved thorns on His head. His tongue was
swollen with thirst.
Christ said that in the great judgment, He will separate the sheep from the goats. Hell say
to the saved, Come, you blessed on My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you form the
foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me
drink: (Matthew 25;34, 35 NKJV). And as Christ described the condition of the suffering world in
Matthew 25, He was also describing His condition on the cross. He was hungry, thirsty, sick,
alone, a stranger, and a prisoner. He experience all these deprivations on the cross.
And He said, I thirst. Yet instead of giving Him water to assuage His thirst, they offered
Him bitter wine. And He tasted it. Of course, He doesnt drink it, but the Bible says that He
tasted suffering for all men. The first miracle of Jesus was to turn water into pure grape juice at
a wedding and He gave it to all humanity by offering all of us His bloodpure and sinless.
However, the last thing we offered Him was sour wine. Christ made an exchange: a blood
transfusion with a sick race. Not only did He give us His blood, He took our sin. He made a
complete transaction.

For what does God thirst? Jesus shows us this when He was at the well, depending on a
human woman to give Him water to satisfied His thirst. When she accepted Him as the
Messiah, He was satisfied because His satisfaction came from doing the will of the Father.
(John 4:32,34)
Remember also that Jesus is a symbol of us on the cross. As He forgave, so should we.
And as He thirsts, so should we. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness; for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). Dont miss this. When a soldier pierced
Jesus with a spear, both blood and water poured out of Him. He emptied Himself, you might
say, that we might be filled.
It is finished
Luke 14:28-30 says, For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first
and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish itlest, after he has laid the foundation,
and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and
was not able to finish (NKJV). Christ was not a quitter. He completed what He came to do.
His sit statement, found in John 19:30, testifies to this. So when Jesus had received the sour
wine, He said, It is finished! (NKJV).

Christs mission was a total success; thats wonderful news! He accomplished

everything He came to do. And why did He come? For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting live (John 3:16). Can we have everlasting life? Absolutely! Christ made it
possible.
Hebrews 13;2 proclaims, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith. The Greek word for finish here is teleo, which can also mean paid in full. It
means the debt is canceled. When a person had a debt in Bible times and paid it in full,
they would write teleo across the debt. Christ did just that when He declared, It is
finished. He completed His plan for saving us, and He paid the debt. And not just part
of the debtHe didnt make a down payment, and now weve got to keep the payments
up. He said it is canceled, paid in full. Thats good news.
Father; into your hands
One of the characteristics of the great mean of the Bible is that they picked their time of
death, because they knew it was Gods will of them. Their death was part of Gods plan. Moses
climbed a mountain to die; he know it was coming. Also, When Jacob had made an end of
commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost (Genesis
49:33).

Samson even had the benefit of saying, Let me die with the Philistines (Judges
16:30). He scheduled his death. And did Jesus. The seventh and last statement of
Jesus on the across is recorded in Luke 23:46, And when Jesus had cried out with a
loud voice, He said, Father, into Your hands commit My sprit. And having said this, He
breathed His last ( NKJV). Jesus said, No man takes my life. You cant kill God, so

He laid His life down. Humanity shares the responsibility, because we took part, but we
could not have done it without His willingness.
The Romans were actually surprised that Jesus died so soon because criminals
often languished for days on the cross. Jesus expired after about only six hours. He
let out that last breath, His skin tone faded to gray, and He diedall willingly.
Now do you remember that first record word of Jesus? Theyre in Luke 2:46. He
said to His parents, Did you know hat I must be about My Fathers business? (NKJV).
Christ already knew that His purpose, from the time He went to that first Passover, was
to fulfill the will of the Father as the Lamb of God. And He closes His ministry by
acknowledging again that His life was about doing the Fathers will.
This is a characteristic of which you and I should strive. Sometimes we let
ourselves think that going to church once a week is Gods will. But thats not Gods
plan, friends. All through the week we should be praying to the Father, Thy will be
done.
His last words are also words of complete faith. Straining under the crushing
weight of the worlds guilt and staring into the abysmal portal of the tomb must have
appeared hopeless. Yet by faith, Jesus laid hold on the Father. We learn from His last
words that our faith needs to go beyond feeling. Jesus knew His mission, knew the
prophecies said He would rise again, and even though He felt He was facing eternal
separation, He said, "Father, I trust you." Thats a perfect example for us.
His Dying Words Not His Last
Can you trust your life into the Fathers hands? If youre not doing it now, you
can start. We can go throughout life knowing that even throughout the dangerous
storm, we have a God who will bear us up in His hands. All we need to do is trust Him. I
believe each morning it would be prudent for us to pray, Father, into your hands I
commit my sprit.
Then seven statements of Jesus on the cross were not just the words of any
dying man. They are words of encouragement and revelation; theyre promises from
God Himself. They were also words of challenge, admonition, and council.
Of course, Jesus dying words arent His last words.
Indeed, His first words after His resurrection were, Woman, why are you
weeping? (John 20:15 NKJV). Should we be sad? Yes, because He died on the cross,
and He made those seven crucial statements. But He also now says, You have
nothing to cry about. He said to Mary, Dont cry; Im alive. He had been resurrected.

And so you and I know that we can have faith, hope, and joy because of what Jesus did
in our behalf.
I pray that you, like the redeemed thief, can know that He is your Lord and King,
and that you have a place in paradise. You can be happy and not longer have to weep.
He is not in the tomb; it is empty. Best of all, He has written teleo, it is finished, paid in
full, over our debt of sinso long as we accept that provision.
Ang Pitong Wika ni Jesus sa Krus
Inihanda
Rev.
Anacleto
G.
Union
Theological
.......................................

ni
Guerrero
Seminary

Panimula
Sa loob ng tatlong oras, mula sa katanghaliang tapat hanggang sa ikatlo ng hapon (cf.
Lucas 23:44-47), nasaksihan ng sansinukob ang pagkapako ni Cristo sa krus na ang
tanging layunin ay iligtas ang sangkatauhan sa parusa ng Diyos na nakalaan para sa
isang makasalanang daigdig. Sa mga siglong nagdaan hanggang ngayon, ang mga
pangyayari sa bundok ng Calvario ay napakahalaga sa buhay ng iglesia at ito'y binigyan
ng mga mananampalatayang Cristiano ng diin at kahulugan. Kung ano man ang
nakikitang pagbabago sa buhay ng mga taong sumunod at nanampalataya kay Cristo
ay nag-iiwan sa mundong ito ng isang testimonyo na kailan man ay hindi matatawaran
ng
anumang
pangyayari.
Ang

Pagtanaw

sa

mga

Pitong

Wika

Ang apat na ebanghelista na sumulat sa mga ebanghelio tungkol sa mga pangyayari,

kabuoan man o mga bahagi, ay hindi nag-ukol ng pansin sa mga pagkakasunod-sunod
ng kasaysayan. Hindi kronolohia ang kanilang pangunahing pakay, kundi ang kabuoan
at layunin ng kasay-sayan. Halimbawa, tatlong wika ang binabanggit ni Lucas --- ang
una, ang pangalawa, at ang panghuli (Lucas 23:34a, 23:43, at 23:46). Ang binanggit ni
Juan naman ay tatlo --- ang pangatlo, ang panglima at ang pang-anim (Juan 19:26b-27,
19:28, at 19:30). Ang pang-apat ay binanggit ng dalawang ebanghelista --- si Mateo (sa
Mateo 27:46) at si Marcos (Marcos 15:34). Mayroon bang posibilidad na ang apat na
ebanghelista ay may nakaligtaan? Walang makapagsasabi. Diyos lamang ang
nakakaalam.
Sa mga sandaling ito, pag-ukulan natin ng pansin ang mga binanggit ng apat na
ebanghelista, ang pitong wika ni Jesus sa krus. Ang mga ito ang tinanggap at kinilala ng
iglesia at naging sandigan ng pananampalataya ng lahat na tagasunod ni Cristo.
Maging tayo ngayon na naririto, nasa pitong wika ang puno at simula ng maraming

makabuluhang doktrina na nagsisilbing pundasyon ng pananampalatayang Cristiano, at

ng
lahat
ng
tagasunod
ni
Cristo.
Ang

Mga

Pitong

Wika

ni

Jesus

sa

Krus

Pag-ukulan po natin ng pansin ang bawat wika o salita ng ating Panginoon. Tunghayan
natin ang sinasabi ng Banal na Kasulatan. May dinala pa silang dalawang salarin upang
pataying kasama ni Jesus. (Cf. Lucas 23:32). Dinala si Jesus sa lugar na tinatawag na
"Bungo" (o sa Golgota), ipinako nila sa krus si Jesus. Ipinako rin ang dalawang salarin,
isa
sa
gawing
kanan
at
isa
sa
gawing
kaliwa.
1. "Ama, patawarin mo sila, sapagkat hindi nila nalalaman ang kanilang ginagawa"
(Lucas
23:34a).
"Kapatawaran" ang susing salita sa unang wika. Nang si Jesus ay nakabayubay na sa
krus, nasambit niya ang una sa tatlong panalangin na narinig mula sa krus. Ipinakikita
dito ang kaganapan ng kanyang turo o katuruan na pagmamahal sa kaaway. At ito'y
higit pa sa kanyang pagmamahal sa sangkatauhan. Ipinakikita nito ang paraan ng
pakikiisa kay Cristo sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatawad sa mga taong hindi
"nakakaalam sa kanilang mga ginagawa." Ito'y isang panalangin para sa mga
makasalanan, sa mga liko ang landas, sa mga hindi kumikilala sa Anak ng Diyos. Sinabi
ni
Pablo
sa
kanyang
sulat
sa
mga
taga-Roma
(Roma
3:25-26):
"Siya ang itinakda ng Diyos na maging handog upang sa pagbububo ng kanyang dugo
ay maipatawad ang kasalanan ng tao sa pamamagitan ng pananalig sa kanya. Ginawa
ito ng Diyos upang ipakilalang siya'y matuwid, sapagkat noong una, nagtimpi siya at
ipinagpaumanhin ang mga kasalanang nagawa ng mga tao. At sa ngayon, pinawalangsala niya ang mga nananalig kay Jesus upang patunayang siya'y matuwid."
Sinu-sino ang dapat patawarin? Sa buhay natin may mga nagkukulang at nagkakasala.
Sino nga ba ang dapat na patawarin? Ang mga kaaway at ang mga mahirap mahalin.
Kinukutya si Jesus ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya --- mga naroroon, mga pangulo ng
mga
Judio
na
nagsasabi,
"Ang mga tao'y nakatayo roon at nanonood; nililibak naman siya ng mga pinuno ng
bayan. Sinabi nila, Iniligtas niya ang iba; iligtas naman niya ngayon ang kanyang sarili,
kung siya nga ang Mesias, ang hinirang ng Diyos!'" (Lucas 23:35).
Ganoon din ang mga kawal na nagsasabi, "Kung ikaw ang Hari ng mga Judio, iligtas
mo ang iyong sarili" (Lucas 23:37). At pati na rin ang isang salarin na nakabayubay sa
tabi
ni
Jesus.
Mayroon
bang
kahulugan
ang
I
Juan
1:9
dito?
"Kung ipinapahayag natin ang ating mga kasalanan, maaasahan nating ipatatawad sa

atin ng Diyos ang mga ito at lilinisin tayo sa lahat ng ating kasamaan sapagkat siya'y
matuwid."
2. "Sinasabi ko sa iyo: ngayon din ay isasama kita sa Paraiso" (Lucas 23:43).
"Katiyakan" ang nasa loob ng wikang ito. Ang ibig sabihin nito'y isang nakahandang
pagpapahalaga ng Diyos sa isang nagsisising makasalanan, maging ito'y nasa bingit ng
kamatayan. Ito'y bunga ng pag-uusap ng dalawang makasalanang kasama ni Jesus sa
bundok ng Calvario. Ang patuyang sinabi ng isang nakabitin na kasama ni Cristo, "Hindi
ba ikaw ang Mesias? Iligtas mo ang iyong sarili, pati kami!" Ngunit pinagsabihan siya ng
kanyang kasama, "Hindi ka ba natatakot sa Diyos? Ikaw ma'y pinarurusahang tulad
niya. Matuwid lamang na tayo'y parusahan nang ganito dahil sa ating mga ginawa;
ngunit ang taong ito'y walang ginawang masama." At sinabi niya kay Jesus, "Jesus,
alalahanin mo ako kapag naghahari ka na [sa ibang salin: "pagdating mo sa iyong
kaharian"]." At sumagot si Jesus, "Sinasabi ko sa iyo, ngayon di'y isasama kita sa
Paraiso."
(Lucas
23:39-43).
Ito'y isang katiyakan sa nagsisising makasalanan na makakasama si Jesus sa kanyang
Paraiso --- sa mga sandaling iyon. Sa araw ding iyon, nakamit ang katuparan ng
pangako. Ano mang pagpapahalaga na makaabot kay Cristo, ito'y kanyang sinasagot.
Hindi niya pinawawalang halaga ang anumang paglapit at pagtawag sa kanya. Kahit
sinumang tao kung siya'y lalapit kay Cristo ay makakamit niya ang isang katiyakan na
galing sa Tagapagligtas. Ito'y parehong katiyakan na ibibigay ni Cristo sa sinumang
lalapit at mananampapataya sa kanya. Hindi ba sinabi ni Jesus, Ako ang muling
pagkabuhay at ang buhay. Ang nananalig sa akin, kahit mamatay ay muling
mabubuhay; at sinumang nabubuhay at nananalig sa akin ay hindi mamamatay
kailanman" (Juan 11:25-26a). Ayon kay apostol Pablo, "Ngayon ang araw ng kaligtasan"
(2
Corinto
6:2
).
Sinasabi pa sa Banal na Kasulatan, "Sapagkat bawat isa ay haharap sa hukuman ni
Cristo upang tumanggap ng kaukulang ganti sa kanyang ginawa, mabuti man o
masama, nang siya'y nabubuhay pa sa daigdig na ito" (2 Corinto 5:10). At sa 2 Corinto
5:15, "Namatay siya para sa lahat upang ang mga nabubuhay ngayon ay huwag nang
mabuhay para sa sarili, kundi para kay Cristo na namatay at muling nabuhay para sa
kanila"
(2
Corinto
5:15).
3. "Babae, narito ang iyong anak. . . . Narito ang iyong ina!" (Juan 19:26b-27). [Sa ibang
sa salin, ito ay "Ginang." Sa Griego, ito ay "Babae."] ---"Nakatayo sa tabi ng krus ni
Jesus ang kanyang ina at ang kapatid na babae nitong si Maria, na asawa ni Cleofas.
Naroon din si Maria Magdalena. Nang makita ni Jesus ang kanyang ina, at ang
minamahal niyang alagad sa tabi nito, kanyang sinabi, "Babae, narito ang iyong
anak. . . . Narito ang iyong ina!" (Juan 19:26b-27). [Sa ibang sa salin, ito ay "Ginang."
Sa
Griego,
ito
ay
"Babae."]

Dalawang bagay ang ating matututuhan sa wikang ito: "pagiging kabahagi"

("belongingness") at "pagkakatiwala" ("trustworthiness"). Nagsalita si Jesus ng walang
pasubali sa kanyang ina, gayon din sa kan-yang alagad na naroroon. Mayroon pa bang
nakakahigit na damdamin at kaganapan na ang isang mahal sa buhay ay nasa kamay
at kalinga ng isang responsableng tao na pagkakatiwalaan? Kanino mo ihahabilin ang
isang ina, at kanino mo ihahabilin ang isang anak kundi sa isang taong
mapagkakatiwalaan? Maliwanag ang ipinakita ni Jesus kung saan tatayo ang isang tao,
maging ang kanyang pagiging tao. Ang pagiging mag-ina nila'y hanggang sa pagiging
tao ni Jesus, at ang kanyang katungkulan bilang isang anak ay kanyang inihahabilin sa
isang mapagkakatiwalaang alagad. At sino ang "ina" at "alagad" para sa atin?
Pakinggan
ang
sinasabi
ni
Jesus
sa
Mateo
12:48-50:
"Sino ang aking ina, at sinu-sino ang aking mga kapatid?" Itinuro niya ang kanyang mga
alagad at sinabi, "Ito ang aking ina at mga kapatid! Sapagkat ang sinumang sumusunod
sa kaloobnan ng aking Amang nasa langit ang siya kong ina at mga kapatid."
Sa paligid natin, napakaraming ina at mga anak na dapat ihabilin sa mga taong
pagkakatiwalaan. Kung ang iglesiya'y parang ina sa atin, huwag nating ito'y pabayaan.
Kung ang ating mga kabataan o mga kaanib sa iglesiya ang mga anak, huwag natin
silang
ihabilin
sa
maling
pag-iisip
at
katuruan.
4. "Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?" ibig sabihi'y "Diyos ko, Diyos ko, bakit mo ako
pinabayaan?" (Mateo 27:46b) [Sa Marcos 15:34 --- "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachtani?" na
ang ibig sabihi'y "Diyos ko, Diyos ko! Bakit mo ano pinabayaan?"] [Ginamit ni Mateo
ang "Eli, Eli" --- Hebreo. Ginamit ni Marcos ang "Eloi, Eloi" --- Aramaic.] "Mula sa
tanghaling tapat hanggang sa ikatlo ng hapon ay nagdilim sa buong lupain. Nang magikatlo ng hapon, sumigaw si Jesus, "Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?" ibig sabihi'y "Diyos ko,
Diyos ko, bakit mo ako pinabayaan?" (Mateo 27:46b) [Sa Marcos 15:34 --- "Eloi, Eloi,
lema sabachtani?" na ang ibig sabihi'y "Diyos ko, Diyos ko! Bakit mo ano pinabayaan?"]
"Narinig ito ng ilan sa mga nakatayo roon at sinabi nila, Tinatawag niya si Elias.' Agad
tumakbo ang isa sa kanila at kumuha ng espongha, tinigmak ng maasim na alak at
ipinasipsip
kay
Jesus."
(Mateo
27:47-48).
Nasa ika-apat na wika ang "pakikiisa ng nagkatawang taong Diyos" sa mga tao.
("Identification with men). Ito'y isang panaghoy ng paghihirap na makikita sa salmo ni
David (Salmo 22:1a --- "Diyos ko! O Diyos ko! Bakit ako pinabayaan?). Ito'y isang
katuparan ng isang kalagayan sa Lumang Tipan. Bilang isang Judio, alam ni Jesus
iyon. At ngayon nakikita natin ang ibig sabihin. Isang panalanging tanong na
nagmumula sa isang taong nasa masakit na kalagayan. Ito'y hindi tanong ng
pagdududa; ito'y isang panaghoy na humihingi ng kapayapaan at katahimikan. Ito'y
hindi naintindihan ng mga nakarining sa kanya. Hindi nila nakilala ang Diyos na
nagkatawang tao, na ang kanyang panaghoy ay panaghoy ng sangkatauhan, isang

panaghoy ng buong nilalang, isang panaghoy ng bawat taong nakakadama ng hungkag

na kalagayan, maliban sa kalinga ng Diyos at pagpapahalaga ng isang Tagapagligtas.
Kung nakiisa si Cristo sa sangkatauhan, hindi ba maaaring makiisa rin tayo kay Cristo?
Ano nga ba ang kasagutan sa mga taong nakikilala sa ngalan ni Cristo --- ang mga
Cristiano? Ito'y pakikiisa ni Cristo, hindi kapabayaan ng ating Diyos Amang
sumasalangit.
5. "Nauuhaw ako!" (Juan 19:28). Sinasabi ng Banal na Kasulatan, "Pagkatapos nito,
alam ni Jesus na naganap na ang lahat ng bagay; at bilang katuparan ng Kasulatan ay
sinabi
niya,
Nauuhaw
ako!'"
Ang ipinahihiwatig ng panlimang wika ay isang "Panganga-ilangan." Nalalaman ni
Jesus ang lahat ng kaganapan at nagaganap. Narinig ito ng mga naroroon, lalunglaluna ang mga sundalo na nakapaligid. At dahil may isang mangkok doon na puno ng
maasim na alak, itinubog nila rito ang isang espongha, ikinabit sa sanga ng isopo at
idiniit sa kanyang bibig. Ito marahil ang kaganapan ng isang salmo o isang hula sa
Banal
na
Kasulatan,
"Sa
Ang
Suka

halip
dulot
at
di

na
pagkain,
sa
aki'y
tubig
ang

nang
mabagsik
ipinainom."

"Itong
aking
lalamuna'y
tuyong
Ang
dila
ko'y
dumidikit
sa
Sa
alabok,
halos
patay
na
ako
ay

ako'y
na
(Salmo

magutom,
lason.
69:21)

abo
ang
kapara,
bubong
ng
ngalangala.
iniwan
na."
(Salmo
22:15)

Sa kabilang dako, ipinakikita ng wikang ito ang pangangailangan at kailangan ni Jesus

na dapat tugonan. Hindi ba siya ang "tubig na buhay"? Bakit ang tubig na buhay ay
nauuhaw? Kagaya ito ng sinabi ng isa sa mga nakabayubay sa tabi ni Jesus, "Kung
ikaw ang Cristo (ibig sabihin "Tagapagligtas"), iligtas mo ang iyong sarili at iligtas mo rin
kami." Nangangailangan ito ng isang pagtugon upang mapawi ang "uhaw" ng
Panginoon na namatay para sa kasalanan ng daigdig. Ang kanyang uhaw ay mapapawi
lamang sa pamamagitan ng ating pagsuko at pananalig at pananampalataya na dapat
nating taglayin hanggang sa dulo ng ating buhay. Ang bawat isa sa atin ay may mga
pangangailangan din, at nauuhaw din sa maraming pangangailangan at ang katugunan
ay nasa kalinga't pagmamahal ng "Buhay na Tubig" o ang ating Panginoong Jesus.
6. "Naganap na! (Juan 19:30). "May isang mangkok doon na puno ng maasim na alak.
Itinubog nila rito ang isang espongha, ikinabit sa sanga ng isopo at idiniit sa kanyang
bibig. Nang masipsip ni Jesus ang alak ay kanyang sinabi, Naganap na!' (Juan 19:1930).
Ang wikang ito ay isang sigaw ng "Tagumpay." Ipinakikita dito ang kaganapan ng isang

layunin at adhikain sa buhay bagama't ito'y nagtatapos sa isang kamatayan. Ito'y isang
tagumpay ng misyon, "Mission accomplished!" ika nga. Ang kabuoan ng misyon ni
Cristo sa mundong ito ay ang sigaw ng tagumpay. Hindi ba't sinabi ni Jesus sa Juan
10:10b, "Naparito ako upang ang mga tupa'y magkaroon ng buhay --- isang buhay na
ganap
at
kasiya-siya!"?
Kung ganoon, ang kamatayan ni Jesus ay buhay nating lahat na tumanggap at
nananampalataya sa kanya bilang sarili nating Taga-pagligtas. Naganap na ang
kanyang gawain, ang kanyang buhay sa lupa ay nagwakas na, at ito ang nagbukas ng
pintuan ng buhay na walang hanggan para sa kanyang mga anak at tagasunod sa
pananampalataya.
Maliwanag
ang
sinasabi
sa
Hebreo
12:2,
"Ituon natin ang ating paningin kay Jesus na siyang pinagmulan ng ating
pananampalataya, at siya ring nagpapasakdal nito. Dahil sa kagalakang naghihintay sa
kanya, hindi niya ikinahiya ang mamatay sa krus, at siya ngayo'y nakaluklok sa kanan
ng
trono
ng
Diyos."
7. "Ama, sa mga kamay mo'y ipinagtatagubilin ko ang aking espiritu!" (Lucas 23:46)
"Nang mag-iikalabindalawa ng tanghali, nagdilim sa buong lupain hanggang sa ikatlo ng
hapon. Nawalan ng liwanag ang araw; at ang tabing ng templo'y napunit sa gitna.
Sumigaw nang malakas si Jesus, "Ama, sa mga kamay mo'y ipinagtatagubilin ko ang
aking
espiritu!"
(Lucas
23:46)
Ang panghuling wika ay isang panalangin ng "Pagtatalaga" (prayer of commitment).
Ito'y nagpapaalaala sa atin sa isang panalangin ni David na nagsasaad ng buong
pagtitiwala sa kamay ng Diyos. Ito ang mababasa natin: "Kupkupin mo ako at iyong
ingatan, Ang pagliligtas mo sa akin ay pakamtan; Ikaw ang aking Diyos, na tapat at
tunay."
(Salmo
31:5)
Sa mga sandaling iyon, mag-iikatlo ng hapon, nahati ang kurtina sa Templo. Ang kurtina
ang naghihiwalay sa "Dakong Kabanalbanalan" at "Dakong Banal" (Mababasa ito sa
Hebreo 9:2-3). Ang pinunong pari o ang pinakamataas na saserdote ang puwedeng
pumasok sa Dakong Kabanalbanalan at ito'y minsan lamang sa isang taon. (Once a
year.) At ang Dakong Banal ay siyang lugar na ginagamit ng mga pari upang ganapin
nila ang kanilang mga pang-araw-araw na tungkulin. (Mababasa ito sa Hebreo 9:5-6).
Nasa Dakong Kabanalbanalan ginaganap ng Punong Saserdote ang isang
napakahalagang
bagay.
Sa
Hebreo
9:7
mababasa
natin
ito,
"Ngunit tanging ang Dakilang Saserdote ang naka-papasok sa ikalawang bahagi, at
minsan lamang sa isang taon. Siya'y may dalang dugo na inihahandog sa Diyos dahil
sa mga kasalanan niya at ng mga tao, kasalanang nagawa nila nang hindi nalalaman."
Noong mamatay si Cristo, nagkaroon ng malaking pagbabago sa Templo. Mayroong

pangyayari na kakaiba. Nahati ang kurtina sa loob ng Templo. Nawala na ang

paghihiwalay sa loob ng Templo --- ang Dakong Kabanalbanalan at ang Dakong Banal.
Ito
ang
ating
makikita
sa
Hebreo
7:26-27,
"Si Jesus kung gayon, ang Dakilang Saserdoteng maka-tutugon sa ating
pangangailangan. Siya'y banal, walang kapintasan o kasalanan, nahihiwalay sa mga
makasalanan at mataas pa kaysa sangkalangitan. Hindi siya katulad ng ibang mga
dakilang saserdote na kailangang maghandog ng mga hain araw-araw, una'y para sa
sarili nilang kasalanan, at pagkatapos, para sa kasalanan ng mga tao. Minsang
naghandog si Jesus --- at iya'y pangmagpakailanman--- nang ihandog niya ang
kanyang
sarili."
Ang pagtatalaga sa Panginoon at pagtitiwala sa Diyos ay namalas sa krus nang
mamatay si Jesus. Ito ang dapat na maging pagtatalaga at pagtitiwala ng lahat ng mga
mananampalataya bago sila babalik sa Diyos na lumalang sa kanilang kamatayan. Ang
kahulugan ng buhay at ang lahat na gawain ay magtatapos sa diwa ng misyon ng ating
Panginoon
at
ang
banal
na
buhay
ng
mga
mananampalataya.
Pangwakas
Ipinakikita ng mga huling pitong wika ni Jesus sa krus ang kabuuan ng misyon ng Diyos
sa pamamagitan ni Cristo. May napapanahon na tagubilin si Pedro, isa sa mga alagad
ni Jesus noong sinabi niya, "Ang pagtitiis ng hirap ay bahagi ng pagkahirang sa inyo ng
Diyos; sapagkat nang si Cristo ay magtiis para sa inyo, binigyan niya kayo ng
halimbawang
dapat
na
tularan"
(1
Pedro
2:21).
Sa araw ng pagkamatay ni Jesus, parang iyon na ang katapusan ng lahat na kanyang
ginawa, subalit pagkatapos na pagkatapos lamang na mamatay si Jesus, nasaksihan
ng opisyal ng mga kawal na naroroon, ang kapitan, ang lahat ng nagaganap at
nangyayari at siya'y nagpuri sa Diyos at sinabing, "Tunay ngang matuwid ang taong
ito!" (Lucas 23:47). Dagdag pa rito, ang sabi sa Lucas 23:48, "Ang nangyaring ito'y
nakita ng lahat ng taong nagkakatipon at nagmamasid; at umuwi silang dinadagukan
ang
kanilang
dibdib.
Sa araw ding iyon, nagsimula ang isang uri ng bagong "Exodus" --- ang paglalakbay ng
maraming tao sa kanilang pananampalataya at pagsunod sa ipinakong Cristo.
Hanggang sa mga araw na ito, marami ang nagpapasiya na sumama sa paglalakbay sa
pananampalataya putungo sa buhay na walang hanggan. Kasama ba tayo sa
paglalakbay?
Ang kahulugan ng mga pitong wika ng Panginoon sa krus ay isang mahalagang
pahiwatig sa matagumpay na mensahe ng pagkabuhay na mag-uli. Ang kamatayan ni
Jesus ay isang tagumpay ng Tagapagligtas upang mapatawad ang kasalanan at

mawala ang tibo ng kamatayan ng mga tao. Ang huling pitong wika ay pintuan sa
malawak na biyaya at pagmamahal ng Diyos na hahantong sa kapatawaran ng
kasalanan at higit sa lahat sa buhay na walang hanggan.