The last words of Jesus on the cross are profoundly moving and full of profound meaning. This Lenten season offers us Christians and Catholics the opportunity to journey with Christ to understand bit by bit every word that came out of His mouth during His period of agony on the cross. Each of His final words, captured in the Gospels, reveals something about His mission, love, and relationship with humanity. Lent is all about asking for forgiveness and mercy from God, from those we have offended, and having a forgiving heart towards others. For instance, in the Gospel of Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”, is a testament to His boundless mercy. Even in His suffering, Jesus still prays for those who are causing Him harm. Thus, reflecting a love that transcends human understanding. He doesn’t hold bitterness or desire retribution. He desires restoration. Jesus’ first words from the cross are not condemnation but grace. Thus, reminding us that forgiveness, even in the face of great injustice, is central to the heart of His Gospel.
To the thief beside Him in the Gospel of Luke 23:43, “Today you will be with me in paradise”, Jesus offers the promise of eternal life, showing that it is never too late to turn to Him. In this moment of profound anguish, Jesus extends the invitation of salvation, demonstrating that grace is not bound by time or the circumstances of one’s life. His willingness to embrace the sinner beside Him reveals that salvation is always within reach, even in our final moments.
Amid His suffering, Jesus, showing His concern for His mother, Mary in John 19:26-27 “Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother”, demonstrates the deep love He has for His family and the responsibility He places on His followers to care for one another. This moment also reveals Jesus’ empathy for our human relationships and the importance of community, even as He faces His ultimate sacrifice.
The profound anguish expressed by Jesus on the cross in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, reveals the depth of His suffering and separation from the Father. In crying out, Jesus expresses the fullness of His human anguish. This lament which is also echoed in the opening of Psalm 22, though marked by profound sorrow, leads to the restoration of the relationship between God and humanity.
Jesus’ declaration “I am thirsty” in the Gospel of John 19:28 is a poignant reminder of His full humanity. As the Incarnate Son of God, He did not merely take on human form but, truly entered into the human experience to its fullest. His physical thirst speaks to the depth of His sacrifice, as He endured the longing and discomfort that we all know. But more than just physical, this thirst was also spiritual, as He bore the weight of the world’s sin and longed for the reconnection between God and man.
The sixth words of Jesus from the cross are not just the final utterances of a dying man; they are declarations that reveal the heart of Christ. In saying “It is finished”, in John 19:30, Jesus declares that His mission of atonement is complete, signifying the triumph of His sacrifice over sin and death. His final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”, as recorded in Luke 23:46, demonstrate His complete trust and obedience to the Father, even in the face of immense suffering.
These profound statements invite us to reflect on the significance of Christ’s sacrifice and to consider how His words and actions continue to shape our understanding of God’s love and our own lives. For us Christians in this period of Lent, these words of Jesus in the gospels provide us comfort and hope. They show a Savior who, even in the most excruciating circumstances, sought the well-being of others and remained faithful to God’s purpose. A reminder that, even in the darkest moments of our lives, we can find hope and redemption through the power of Christ’s love.
Fr. Charles Onumaegbu
Chaplain, Deaf Ministry
