Good Friday: Words from the Cross

Recently, I saw a trailer for a new documentary series on Netflix called “Famous Last Words,” which gives the audience a chance to hear from a cultural icon after they’ve died. These intimate interviews are recorded with the person before their death, with the understanding that they would not air until after they passed away.

These conversations are so private that only the interviewee and the interviewer are present. At the end of the conversation, the subject is left alone to look directly into the camera to deliver their final words. The idea behind the series, according to producer Brad Falchuk, is that, by having conversations around death in our country, it would allow us all to be more “present to being alive and what’s important and what our priorities are.”

The reality is that when a person is faced with the reality that their time of death is near, their final words give us a glimpse into their heart and what they desire most. As we come to this Good Friday in 2026, I’d like to look at the final words of Jesus from the cross. So that we might come to know the heart of our Savior more deeply and love him more dearly.

When we read through the crucifixion narrative in the four gospels, we see seven instances where Jesus spoke from the cross. Of course, it’s possible he said more than this on the cross, but the biblical authors chose to write down these words to help communicate specific points. Points that we’ll consider moving forward.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” - Luke 23:34

The crucifixion was the culmination of the people’s rejection of Jesus. The Apostle John began his gospel by saying that “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11). As we progress through the life of Jesus, we see that it wasn’t just that people dismissed and ignored him; many became hostile and intolerant of him. Members of his own family thought he was crazy. Religious leaders accused him of being possessed by a demon. Many people from his hometown refused to believe in him. At one point, a hostile crowd tried to throw him off a cliff!

To be rejected is one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. We often respond to rejection with some kind of retaliation of our own. We either dismiss them as a way of devaluing them as a person, or we react in a way to inflict pain similar to what we feel.

And yet, here, we see Jesus’ heart to forgive. While the crowd is mocking him, jeering him, spitting on him, and gambling for his clothes, Jesus shows compassion. As James says in James 2:23-24,

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness: ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’”

More than simply expressing forgiveness, Jesus was accomplishing forgiveness. By going to the cross, Jesus took on the sins many were committing that very moment and received in himself the wrath that they justly deserved. And because of this, we are now able to receive forgiveness from the Father and to be reconciled to Him for all time.

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” - John 19:26-27

In a moment of excruciating pain, literally, the term “excruciating” means “out of the cross.” The term was derived to describe the level of pain associated with crucifixion. Jesus looks down and sees his mother and his beloved disciple, John. Even though Jesus had brothers who should have taken on the role of caring for their mother, Mary, they had not yet come to faith. Jesus, loving his mother to the end, entrusted her care to the only disciple present at the crucifixion.

In doing so, we are reminded that Jesus doesn’t just care for our spiritual needs, he seeks to meet our physical needs as well. Many today consider the hope of Christianity to be only spiritual. That our faith is just to ensure that we will live in a spiritual heaven for the rest of eternity.

But the reality is that God created us as spiritual and physical beings. Jesus took on a human body, and as believers, we seek to care for both the spiritual and the physical needs of others. Just as Jesus did from the cross.

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” - Luke 23:43

We see in Scripture that two criminals were crucified with Jesus that day. As the day started, both mocked and ridiculed him. And yet, as time passed, one of the criminals observed something different about Jesus compared to themselves. When one of the criminals began to mock him again, the softened man defended Jesus and asked to be remembered by him when he entered his kingdom.

Jesus responded to him by promising paradise that very day. The thief on the cross is an interesting study. As far as we know, this man knew very little of Jesus’ teaching. He was never baptized. He didn’t have the chance to make up for his sinful decisions. And yet, through a simple, unpolished confession of faith, this man was saved and could rest confidently in his promised reward.

This moment highlights the beauty of God’s grace. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” For many, this might seem unfair. Why should a wicked man who, at the last second, does one right thing get to be saved? And yet, this is what’s beautiful about it. All of us are the wicked man. None of us has done right, and yet all can experience this same grace and rest that the thief received.

We too can look forward to eternal paradise with Jesus in a new heaven and new earth. All we must do is believe and confess (Romans 10:9)

“About three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)” - Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:35

One of the strangest moments of the crucifixion scene, especially for those who were witnessing the events live, has to be the time when the “sun stopped shining” and darkness covered the land. At 3:00 pm, when the light reappeared, Jesus cried out in a loud voice “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Throughout the Bible, darkness is often used as a symbol for divine judgment. The crucifixion accounts show us that darkness covered the land from 12:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon. More than simply being a cloudy day, Luke, a professional doctor and man of intellectual integrity, says plainly that the “sun stopped shining.”

Theologically, we understand that it was at this moment that God judged sin. God, being all-powerful, condensed an eternity of his wrath down to a three-hour experience. Jesus, for the first time in eternity, was separated from the Father as he received in himself the judgment that we deserved. The loneliness and rejection he felt from the Father led him to cry out what we read above.

And yet, this was not just a random phrase; he was quoting Psalm 22. A Psalm that concludes with the writer trusting in God’s ultimate faithfulness and coming salvation. Despite his circumstances, Jesus trusted in his Father and believed he would, again, come to embrace God’s loving presence. Only this time, we would be enabled to join him there. In the darkness, Jesus was rejected by the Father so that we would never have to be rejected by him again.

“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’” - John 19:28

It’s common to become so familiar with a story that it no longer impacts you in the way it once did. For example, it’s easy for those who are familiar with the Easter story to no longer be moved by sorrow at the sight of the cross because we know that Jesus has been raised from the dead and no longer suffers.

Others may wonder if Jesus really even suffered at all – Since Jesus was God, was it even possible for him to feel the weight of sin and judgment? Yet, this moment confirms that Jesus fully experienced all of the cross unto completion. Earlier in the story, we see that Jesus was offered a sedative to help numb him to the experience. Jesus refused.

Jesus was fully present – physically, emotionally, and mentally – for every second of the experience. Upon completion, Jesus simply stated, “I am thirsty.” This reveals to us that Jesus was fully human, fully vulnerable, and fully in our place.

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” - John 19:30

As tragic as Jesus’ death was, it was no accident. Jesus embraced the cross with purpose. To offer himself as a sacrifice for sin and to bring about redemption for humanity. For centuries, the people of God offered sacrifices as a way to appease God’s wrath and to maintain a right relationship with him. Yet, the author of Hebrews writes that “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

When Jesus came, he offered a life of infinite worth more than a bull or a goat. He offered complete perfection. Holiness, beauty, grace, and truth are all embodied in one man. In that moment, he traded his righteousness for our sinfulness. Because of that, our sins are not just forgiven – they are dealt with! Our debt is paid in full!

We must not forget that Jesus’ work didn’t just start in the garden of Gethsemane. It began at the moment of his conception. Every second of his earthly life was a sacrifice. He constantly avoided sin. Always guarding his heart and avoiding temptation. Every step of obedience led to the culminating work on the cross. A work that was perfectly finished and resulted in our salvation. Now that his work is finished, he can rest. And we can rest in him.

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”- Luke 23:43

Before his crucifixion, Jesus made the statement that no one takes his life from him, but he lays it down on his own accord. One way to make people die faster on the cross was to break their legs so that they suffocated. When the soldiers approached Jesus, they found that he was already dead. Really remarkable considering how fit and healthy Jesus was leading up to that day. Jesus was in no way a helpless victim. Instead, he was a conquering king.

It also shows that Jesus truly died. Many struggle with the thought of death because we have no idea what it will be like. We just know that we will be all alone as we transition to a place we can’t even imagine. The good news of Christianity is that God doesn’t leave us alone in anything. Jesus, having become human, experienced death just like we will one day. As he died, Jesus entrusted himself to the Father, who was again with him. Would God be satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice? Was his obedience enough?

The resurrection shows us that it was. And God was satisfied. By faith in Christ, we can approach death with boldness and courage. Knowing that it won’t have the final say over our lives. We serve a King who has gone before us, conquering death on his way. In him, we hope for the day when death will die and be done away with. As we wait, we can commit our lives to the hands of the Father. In Jesus, we know that he will be good to us to the end. And that’s what Good Friday is all about.