Seven Last Words

1. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34)

Word of Forgiveness

In the face of the cruelty and aggression of the soldiers, in the face of the apathy and disinterest of the passers-by, Jesus begs forgiveness for those who are committing this evil. His look of anguish is also a look of profound love for sinners.

2. "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43)

Word of Salvation

Jesus turns his gaze on the criminal, crucified alongside him, who has rebuked his fellow criminal for joining in the chorus of mockers, who deride Jesus. "One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:39-42). Recognizing the courage of the criminal, who by his words also expresses repentance for his deeds even at this late hour, Jesus promises him salvation.

3. “Woman, behold your son” … “behold your mother” (John 19:26-27)

Word of Relationship

Beneath the cross, Jesus acknowledges the presence of two anguished loved ones: his mother and his beloved disciple. Despite his suffering and as his life blood flows out of him, Jesus turns to them and binds them together – his mother and his disciple, from this moment on, will be bound by bonds that will build up, console and encourage all future disciples of the Crucified Lord.

4. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me" (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)

Word of Abandonment

Jesus cries out to God in the words of Psalm 22. He took on our humanity in order to be in full solidarity with us, in our most difficult moments, in our anguished suffering. However, in beginning to pray the Psalm, Jesus is also leading us to the climax of the Psalm, which is an expression of confidence in the salvation that comes from God: "I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him" (Psalm 22:22-25).

5. "I thirst" (John 19:28)

Word of Distress

Jesus' life is fading away, he is a shadow of what he was. In his distress, he calls out to us: "I thirst". Where are we? Do we stand by indifferent? Jesus is in need, are we there for him? A world is passing away. Will there be nothingness thereafter… or will his cry be heard, leading to new life and energy. As he says these words, life, light and truth flow from his mouth to fill the world.

6. "It is finished" (John 19:30)

Word of Triumph

Jesus acknowledges that all has been accomplished. He came for this – to die on the cross and in his death put an end to the reign of death. A world has died and a new world is waiting to be born…

7. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46)

Word of Reunion

The one who descended from on high to join himself to us, now returns to his Father on high to prepare a place for us. The body that was dragged down into suffering, humiliation and death, is now upright as the Spirit winds its way upwards and its light breaks through the darkness. Jesus is reunited with the Father and as we gaze on him, repent and allow ourselves to be filled with his spirit, we are taken up to the Father too.