INTRODUCTION
Today is Good Friday. The day Christians all over the world celebrate to commemorate the death of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. During this day it has been the practice of many Christian denominations to reflect on the last words uttered by our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is believed that Jesus made seven important statements on the cross before he died. These statements have popularly been termed as “the seven words on the cross.” These were not flippant and empty words. They are well-thought words with deep seated meanings.
In this write-up I am going to share with you a reflection on these words.
Betrayed with the Sign of Love
According to the Matthew account, Judas arranged with the soldiers that the one he would kiss would be the one they were looking for (Matthew 26:48,49). The question is, why kiss? Generally speaking, a kiss is a sign of love, intimacy and a demonstration of goodwill and good relationship. Who would kiss his or her enemy, after all? It is not normal that one would kiss a stranger or an enemy. Yet Judas chose this sign as a tool to betray his own master.
What does this tell us? We should beware of the one who claims to love us. We should look out for what is hidden behind the smile. In the case of Jesus, He knew what Judas was going to do yet allowed it, because it was part of the grand scheme to provide salvation for humanity. We do not know what is behind the smile. The symbol of love could be used to destroy a friend, brother, sister or a close associate forever. Be watchful.
The Wicked Trial of Jesus
Jesus was arrested at midnight in the Garden of Gethsemane where he was praying with his disciples. Within the space of four to five hours his case was referred not less than five times in a mixture of religious and political systems. He was first taken to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High Priest (John 18:12–14). He was taken to Caiaphas the High Priest and the Sanhedrin (John 18:24, Matt. 26:57ff). He was taken to Pilate (Matt. 15:1ff). He was referred to Herod (Luke 23:6ff). Finally he was taken back to Pilate (Luke 23:11ff).
Pilate pronounced the death sentence amidst a warning from his wife (Matthew 27:19). It is obvious that Pilate defied his wife’s caution because he wanted to protect his political position. It is the most expeditious and wicked trial, perhaps, in human history. Yet it is part of God’s plan to have His own Son be a perfect substitute for the Passover Lamb.
From one place to another the soldiers were slapping, flogging and spitting on him amidst false charges from the priests and elders at every point. All these Jesus went through — yet the first word that came out of his mouth was a plea for forgiveness.
First Word:
“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
(Luke 23:34)
Forgiveness is letting go of the pain that accompanies the evil someone has caused you. I must admit that it is sometimes difficult, but not impossible, to forgive. Joseph had to struggle between forgiving his brothers and having revenge on them. That is why he would come out, speak to them, and then retire inside and cry. Glory be to God that forgiveness won.
To whom was Jesus pleading forgiveness? All through the chain from his arrest to the cross — those who caused severe pain to his physical body, including the criminals who hung on the cross with him but joined the soldiers to mock him. It also included the High Priests, the Sanhedrin, the soldiers, Pilate, Herod and of course the crowd who shouted “crucify him” and called for his head instead of the notorious prisoner Barabbas. Certainly, it includes us today. We should note, with interest, that these people were among those for whom He came into the world and for whose sins He was suffering.
It is true that most of the people acted in ignorance. Ignorance is pitiful. If the Jews really knew that Jesus was the Messiah they would not have handed him over to the Roman governor to kill him. Ignorance influences our decisions in everyday life. It leads us to take certain decisions and later regret. It is good not to act when you are ignorant of something. Yet that is when one sounds the loudest.
Second Word:
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)
The Scripture tells us that Jesus was hanged between two criminals. One of them identified himself with the masses who were murdering Jesus and hurled insults at him. To him, Jesus had bragged of being a Saviour and miracle worker yet could not save himself or them. He saw Jesus as a fellow criminal.
The other criminal, however, had a different view of Jesus. To him, Jesus was a holy and righteous person who was unjustly being killed. He rebuked the other criminal and said, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly… but this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40,41). He turned to Jesus and said, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Paradise, they say, is an ideal serene place. It is a place of comfort, a place of absolute tranquility. With these words Jesus gave the dying man assurance of eternal rest.
Let us learn two lessons here. Whenever we view ourselves in the mirror of Christ we see our human frailty, and that positions us to ask for a pardon. This is what the second criminal did. He saw himself as not worthy to have been crucified alongside Jesus. The next lesson is that Jesus pardons us whenever we identify our sins and confess. The question now is — which of these criminals do you identify yourself with in your daily walk?
Third Word:
“Dear Woman, this is your son… this is your mother.”
(John 19:25–27)
The word “woman,” as used in this context, is an informal but personal intimate family address. It is a way of saying “mother” or “mummy.” So we can render the statement as: “Mummy, from now on this disciple is the one you look up to as your son. Accept him and treat him as such.” And to the disciple: “My beloved disciple and brother, take this woman — my mother — as your mother. Respect, honour and serve her.”
In these statements we see Jesus demonstrate his loving tender care. Even in extreme agony Jesus did not forget his mother. We are living in a world where every old woman is branded a witch. The unfortunate thing is that some Ministers and Pastors orchestrate this so much that some youth today do not want to see eye to eye with their own mothers. It must be noted that one of the most precious things God gave us as humans is our mother — and we must do all within our power to love, protect and care for them.
In like manner, we have mothers who do not mind the whereabouts of the children they have conceived and given birth to. Motherhood goes beyond merely giving birth to a child. It involves taking care of a child to be useful in society, irrespective of whether the child is biologically yours or not. This is what we call a mother — and this is the role Jesus entrusted Mary to in the life of John.
Fourth Word:
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
(Mark 15:34)
It is a statement of rejection. Scripture tells us that from the sixth hour — which is about 12 noon — there was darkness all over the earth until the ninth hour (Matt 27:45). Darkness is a symbol of gloom and doom, a symbol of despair, meaninglessness, hopelessness and helplessness. Where there is darkness, there is danger. It produces fear and anxiety and sometimes leads to chaos.
Why should Jesus suffer that? The Bible commentator Matthew Henry has said, “God forsaken of God — who can understand?” The darkness was so bleak that Jesus felt the Father had abandoned him. It is unthinkable that the ever-living and ever-loving God can or will abandon His only Son in the midst of trials, troubles and tribulation. God does not and cannot abandon His children in life’s journey on this earth and in the midst of adversity.
The situation may seem gloomy and hopeless. The road may be rough — but God is still with you. He will not abandon nor forsake you.
Fifth Word:
“I thirst.”
(John 19:28–29)
When one experiences prolonged thirst the throat becomes dry. It generates restlessness and discomfort. It causes weakness and even death.
The degree of Jesus’ thirst — in the flesh — was so acute and intense that he had to literally cry out for water to quench it. Instead of water he was given vinegar. Matthew Henry has said, “When the heaven denied him a beam of light, the earth denied him a drop of water.” Jesus accepted the sour and bitter vinegar for Scripture to be fulfilled, which says: “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar” (Psalm 69:21).
God the provider of all things allowed the Son to suffer thirst — in the flesh — for our sake. The cup of life is not always sweet and pleasant. It is sometimes bitter — but in the drinking of it, there is health and healing.
Sixth Word:
“It is finished.”
(John 19:30)
God sent His only Son to die for our salvation. The Greek word translated “it is finished” also means “Paid in full” — connoting the idea of one whose debt has been fully paid and whose name has been taken off the list of debtors. The word also means “sentence fully served” — connoting the idea of one who has finished serving a prison sentence.
This one act of Christ cancels every debt we owe in the sight of God. The battle is fought and won. The deed is done and mission accomplished. Suffering is conquered, sin defeated and the law fulfilled. Above all, Satan is defeated. The statement also assures us that in God and with God there is nothing like mission impossible. We should never say die. Let us keep on keeping on — until it is all over.
Seventh Word:
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
(Luke 23:46)
A little while before, Jesus had cried out asking why God had forsaken him. Perhaps the Father replied, “How can I forsake you, my Son? I am right there with you.” It was on the basis of this assurance, perhaps, that Jesus could say, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
God’s hands are the safest hands into which we must commit the totality of our being and existence. When Jesus committed his life into the hands of the Father, He preserved it. In fact He transformed it, raised it up with resurrection power, and clothed it with eternal glory. Let us commit our life, family, business and nation into these safest of hands. God is true 24/7. He is always available.
Very Reverend Frederick Essandoh Arkoh
The Methodist Church Ghana