In this Good Friday reflection, Toby reflects on the seven last words Jesus spoke from cross according to the four Gospel writers.
The First word
Luke 23:32-34a
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
The Second word
Luke 23:32-33, 39-43
'Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.... One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other ... said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
The Third word
John 19:25-27
But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
The Fourth word
Mark 15:33-39
And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah." And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait , let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he had breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
The Fifth word
John 19:28-29
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.
The Sixth word
John 19:29-30
A bowl of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The Seventh word
Luke 23:44-46
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
Web: hthchurch.org
Instagram: @hthchurch
YouTube: @hth_church
Email: hello@hthchurch.org
