The Seven Last Sayings of Our Savior, Part 2

Introduction

Anyone’s last words take on elevated importance because of the impending finality of death. How much more so for the last words of the most significant man who has ever lived. Scripture records for us only seven brief sayings by our Savior as he hung on the cross for six hours. The extreme exhaustion and relentless physical pain of crucifixion would have made speaking incredibly challenging. Because of all this, we rightly pay careful attention to the last sayings of Jesus, for they reveal to us so clearly our Savior’s character and mission.

In part one last week, we began by looking at the first three of the seven last sayings from Jesus on the cross. This week, we are looking at the last four of the seven sayings.

4. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Atonement)

Jesus’ fourth saying from the cross is full of mystery and meaning as these words penetrate the depth of the atoning sacrifice that was being offered on Calvary that day. This cry of dereliction was uttered after three hours of darkness and near his final moments.

As Jesus hung on the cross, suffering the weight of sin, he cried out in anguish: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). These words, drawn from Psalm 22:1, were not mere scripture recitation but an expression of deep spiritual agony.

At that moment, Christ was enduring the full wrath of God as the substitute for sinners. He, who had known only perfect fellowship with the Father, experienced the dreadful reality of separation as he bore the punishment for sin. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was not personally guilty, yet he was treated as though he had committed every sin of those who would believe.

Some struggle with the idea that God the Father would forsake his son. But Scripture is clear—Jesus bore our sins, and the just wrath of God fell upon him. Isaiah 53 (v. 10) says, “it was the will of the LORD to crush him.” This was the true agony of the cross—not just physical torment, but the weight of divine judgment. These words do not describe the Father turning against the son, but the fulfillment of the eternal trinitarian plan to redeem a people for himself by making atonement for our sins. Motivated by love both for his Father and for his purchased people, the son willingly agreed to take on the full divine punishment our sin deserved.

Yet, even in this cry of forsakenness, there is hope. Psalm 22, which begins in despair, ends in triumph, pointing to Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death. His suffering secured our redemption, and because he was forsaken, we never have to be.

5. “I thirst.” (Suffering)

As Jesus neared the end of his suffering, he spoke his fifth statement from the cross: “I thirst.” This seemingly simple assertion, recorded in John 19:28, carries profound significance and encapsulates the depth of his suffering. This plea for relief was not just an expression of physical agony but also a fulfillment of Scripture. John notes, “Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’”

Earlier, he had refused the vinegar mixed with painkiller, choosing to endure the full suffering of the cross. But now, in the final moments of his life, Jesus expressed his deep physical torment. In response, the soldiers gave him a sponge soaked in sour wine. “A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth” (John 19:29). This, too, fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 69:21: “for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.”

In this moment, we see Christ’s true humanity. Though he was fully God, he also fully experienced the limitations and sufferings of human flesh. His thirst was a vivid reminder of his physical agony—dehydrated, bleeding, and exhausted after hours on the cross. He suffered bodily in a way few could ever comprehend.

Yet, even in his pain, he remained sovereign, fulfilling every prophecy concerning himself. His thirst was not just a cry of distress but a reminder that his suffering was intentional, part of God’s redemptive plan.

Just as Jesus experienced physical thirst, we too experience a deep, spiritual longing that can only be satisfied by him. In John 7:37-38, Jesus proclaimed, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” From the one who thirsts will indeed spring living waters.

6. “It is finished.” (Victory)

John 19:30 records Jesus’ sixth statement from the cross: “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’” (John 19:30). In Greek, this powerful declaration is a single word: Tetelestai!

Jesus was not merely announcing the end of his earthly life. He was declaring that the work his Father had given him was complete. Though he appeared weak and broken, he was in fact achieving the greatest victory in history. His atoning work was finished, redemption was accomplished, and he had triumphed.

Everything required by God’s law was fulfilled. The price for sin was paid in full, God’s justice was satisfied, and the shadowy symbols of the old covenant sacrificial system were now realized in him. Nothing more was needed—no religious ritual, penance, or human effort could add to what he had accomplished. Salvation is entirely the work of Christ and Christ alone.

“It is finished” is a statement of triumph over the powers of darkness. Jesus’ death on the cross defeated sin, death, and the devil. The victory that Jesus secured on the cross is confirmed by his resurrection on the third day. His resurrection is the ultimate proof that his sacrifice was accepted by the Father and that he has conquered the grave.

Tetelestai! The debt is paid, the victory won, and salvation secured. May we also share this message of hope and victory with others, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, who has finished the work of redemption and offers eternal life to all who believe.

7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Sacrifice)

In the final moments of his crucifixion, Jesus spoke with a loud voice the last of his seven sayings with a prayer of consummation. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. This profound statement, recorded in Luke 23:46, signifies the ultimate act of trust and sacrifice. As the cacophony of distress is silenced by the hush of one last breath, Jesus perfectly trusts the Father to the very end. Pain ends, suffering is complete, a heartbeat stops, and the world waits.

Jesus’ declaration is a powerful testament to his unwavering faith in God the Father. Despite the unimaginable agony he endured, Jesus entrusted his spirit into the Father’s hands, demonstrating complete surrender and obedience. This act of sacrifice highlights the depth of his love for humanity and his commitment to fulfilling God’s redemptive plan.

Jesus’ words echo Psalm 31:5, where David prays, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.” This was not a cry of despair but of confidence. Jesus knew that his suffering had fulfilled the Father’s will, and now, he willingly placed himself back into the Father’s hands. His death was not forced upon him—he laid down his life willingly (John 10:18).

Jesus’ final words signify the completion of his earthly mission. The suffering is over, the atonement is secured, and the victory over sin and death is imminent. As the world waits in silence, the promise of resurrection and new life is on the horizon. Jesus’ sacrifice paves the way for our salvation, offering us the hope of eternal life.

This moment is the ultimate display of sacrifice and surrender. Jesus gave everything—his body, his blood, his very life—to redeem sinners. His trust was absolute, even in death, and because of that trust, the cross was not the end. Resurrection was coming.

The Seven Last Sayings of Our Savior, Part 2