The 7 Cross Words of Jesus prove He wasn’t just dying for us—He was still speaking to us.
7 Cross Words of Jesus
Every word Jesus spoke from the cross mattered. They weren’t just His last—they were His loudest, reaching across time to us today.
We often rush past the cross to get to the empty tomb. But if we pause, these 7 Cross Words speak life.
Each word is a window into His heart—words of forgiveness, hope, and victory. So today, let’s lean in and listen. Let’s hear what Jesus said when it mattered most.
1. A Word of Forgiveness
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
A. Forgiveness flows from the Cross
Jesus didn’t just preach forgiveness—He practiced it at the worst moment imaginable. Bloodied, betrayed, and broken, He still said, “Father, forgive them.” That’s not just mercy; that’s miraculous. He gave what they didn’t ask for and what they didn’t deserve.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–22), brought forgiveness (Mark 2:5), and finally demonstrated it at the cross. Forgiveness wasn’t His afterthought—it was His agenda. And today, it still flows from the cross to every heart willing to receive it.
B. Forgiveness Frees Us to Forgive
Let’s be real—it’s hard to forgive when people hurt us. But if Jesus could forgive them, how can we not forgive others? Ephesians 4:32 says, “Forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did was okay. It means we trust God with the justice. And here’s the truth—when we forgive, we’re the ones who get free. Resentment chains us, but grace sets us loose to live in peace and joy.
2. A Word of Favor
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
A. Favor Shines on the Sinful
Jesus didn’t offer paradise to a priest, a prophet, or a polished person. He gave it to a dying criminal. That’s grace. It’s not earned by good works—it’s received by faith. That man had nothing to give but trust.
This moment shouts that no one is too far gone. Favor found him in his final hour. If grace reached him, it can reach you. God’s favor doesn’t look for perfection—it looks for belief.
B. Favor Speaks to the Seeking
The thief didn’t pray fancy. He just said, “Jesus, remember me.” That simple cry stirred heaven. And Jesus responded instantly—no hesitation. He always does.
Luke 19:10 says, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” When we reach for Him, He’s already reaching for us. That’s the beauty of grace—it meets you mid-sentence.
3. A Word of Family
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27)
A. Family Cares in Chaos
In the middle of pain, Jesus didn’t forget His mother. That’s love. He made sure she’d be cared for. Even from the cross, Jesus showed us that love doesn’t stop when life hurts—it leans in and holds on.
Chaos doesn’t cancel compassion. If Jesus could see Mary in His suffering, then surely He sees you in yours. He reminds us: family isn’t perfect, but it’s worth protecting—even when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
B. Family Connects Through the Cross
Jesus didn’t just create a new relationship between Mary and John—He modeled a new kind of family through the cross. Believers belong together.
When we trust Christ, we join God’s family (Ephesians 2:19). That means we don’t do life alone—we care, carry, and connect with each other in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
“This sermon material provides some ideas and thoughts for preaching the Cross Words of Jesus on Easter Weekend.”
4. A Word of Forsakenness
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)
A. Forsakenness Broke the Beloved
Jesus cried, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” That wasn’t confusion—it was substitution. He took our separation so we wouldn’t have to.
The Beloved Son experienced what we fear most—being abandoned. He entered that silence so we’d never face it alone again (2 Corinthians 5:21).
B. Forsakenness Brings Us Back
We’ve all had dark moments where God felt far. But Jesus has already been there—and He opened a way back for us.
Hebrews 4:15 reminds us Jesus understands. He doesn’t run from our pain—He meets us in it and leads us home.
5. A Word of Flesh
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”
A. Flesh Suffers Real Weakness
When Jesus said, “I thirst,” it wasn’t symbolic. He was physically hurting—fully human, fully worn. Jesus entered our humanity completely, no shortcuts.
He didn’t float above pain. He felt it. That simple phrase reminds us: Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer in humanity.
B. Flesh Speaks of the Fight
His thirst didn’t mean defeat—it showed He was still fighting. Even weak, He stayed faithful. His body broke, but His mission didn’t.
So when life drains you, and your soul feels dry, remember—Jesus understands. And more than that, He strengthens you (Hebrews 4:15–16).
6. A Word of Finality
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
A. Finality Declares the Debt
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He wasn’t giving up—He was declaring victory. The debt of sin was paid—completely, forever, for all.
Sin had a price, and Jesus paid it in full (Colossians 2:14). Nothing left to add. Nothing left to earn. Just grace.
B. Finality Drives Our Freedom
Because it’s finished, we don’t work for grace—we walk in it. The mission’s done. The door’s open. We are truly free.
So stop striving to earn what’s already yours. The cross settled it. Jesus didn’t leave a to-do list—just an invitation to trust Him as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
7. A Word of Faith
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)
A. Faith Rests in the Father
With His final breath, Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” That’s trust—pure, full, and unshaken.
He didn’t just die—He rested. Even in death, He trusted the Father’s hands. Real faith leans in when life lets go (Psalm 31:5).
B. Faith Responds with Surrender
Faith isn’t about control—it’s about release. We find peace not by holding tight, but by handing over everything to God’s care.
Jesus surrendered in death so we could surrender in life. Real freedom begins when we say, “Father, I trust You for Salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Conclusion
Each word from the cross wasn’t random—it was intentional. Jesus wasn’t just dying; He was declaring how we’re meant to live.
He offered forgiveness, gave grace, created family, and showed us how to face suffering, thirst, and even death—with trust and faith.
I’ll never forget when I first realized—these weren’t just His last words; they were His lasting invitation to me. And to you.
So today, if you need grace, it’s here. If you need peace, He gives it. If you need Jesus—He’s calling.
Let’s respond to the cross. Come forward. Come back, and Come home. Surrender your life to the One who gave His for you.
Source Material
The 7 Last Words of Jesus From the Cross – Extended Article Reflecting upon the 7 Last Words of Jesus on the Cross
The 7 Saying of Jesus From the Cross – Brief Article Explaining the 7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross
The 7 Statements of Jesus on the Cross – Brief Article Explaining the 7 Statements of Jesus on the Cross
The Seven Saying of the Savior on the Cross” by Arthur W. Pick