We are so caught up in our own lives that we don't stop to really think and meditate on things that make a difference. That is why I write.
First I want to paint a picture.
You know the scene. After brutaly beating him, Jesus is scouraged beyond recognition. According to evidence on the burial shroud, he recieved 135 scourging lashes. It is claimed that 39 is enough to kill a man.
After that, a crown made of 2" Jerusalem thorns that are like nails, is pounded into his scalp creating 50 puncture wounds extending from the mid‑forehead to the low back of his neck.
Then Jesus had to carry his patibulum (crossbeam) weighing approximately 100 pounds on his severely bruised and open back and shoulders uphill for about ⅓ of mile until he has fallen on his face and Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help him.
The crucifixion begins with rough iron spikes being driven through the highly sensitive median nerves in his wrists. This is one the most painful acts of torture a person could experience. Then his left foot is placed over his right and another long spike was driven diagonally through both his heels/instep area into the upright beam (stipes).
Then the cross with Jesus nailed to it is hoisted up in the air and dropped it into a socket, causing a violent jolt through his nailed wrists and feet.
Jesus will hang up there with dislocated shoulders for six hours, from roughly 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on that Friday in the hot sun without any water.
Every single breath requires agonizing effort to push up on his nailed feet and pull against nailed wrists. This motion sends pain searing through torn wrists, shoulders, back, and nailed feet each time. Jesus has to fight to breath while enduring agonizing pain for six hours!
It's been scientifically determined that Jesus lost over 40% of his blood. This much blood loss causes the body to go into hypovolemic (low‑blood‑volume) shock. That condition is a fatal if not immediately treated.
In hypovolemic shock, mental function progressively breaks down because the brain is not getting enough oxygenated blood; people move from anxiety and agitation to confusion, slowed thinking, and even loss of consciousness.
Keep in mind the state of pain Jesus is in. His suffering plausibly sits at the very top of the human pain experience—what clinicians would call “10/10,” compounded by many overlapping sources of agony.
Extreme pain doesn’t just hurt the body; it disrupts the mind, producing anxiety, fear, agitation, difficulty thinking clearly, emotional overload.
The fact that Jesus is even conscious is phenomenal. In that state of extreme blood loss and dehydration, Jesus’ tongue would tend to stick to the roof of his mouth and jaws.
Psalm 22:15—My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
You've got the picture. Now for the amazing part.
As Jesus is suffering unimaginable pain and humiliation, while the blood in his body is literally pouring out, Jesus still manages to have the presence of mind to say "Seven Last Words" that are incredibly rich spiritually.
The profound meaning and the order of Jesus's statements demonstrates that Jesus is completely aware and fully in control of his ministry.
Personally, I believe the delivery of the Seven Last Words to be miraculous. Knowing the price Jesus paid in order to speak them, I wrote this blog so I could meditate on the meaning of each one.
First of all, I believe Jesus planned practically everything that happened from day 1. In it fair to say that he even orchestrated events. The crucifixion is the culmination of it all.
Every word he spoke has an important meaning which corresponds perfectly to the purpose of his ministry. Yeshua's "Seven Words" are recorded in all four Gospels. They capture moments of suffering, forgiveness and entrustment.
Here they are:
- "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
- "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
- "Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother" (John 19:26-27).
- "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
- "I thirst" (John 19:28).
- "It is finished" (John 19:30).
- "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
Now I will expand on each of them.
Volumes have been written about how deeply profound, prophetic and rich each of these short and seemingly simple "Seven Words" are:
- The first word, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," is Jesus interceding for His executioners and enemies even as they are in the act of killing Him, revealing the merciful heart of God and fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that the Servant would “make intercession for the transgressors.”
- The 2nd word "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" is Jesus assuring a repentant criminal that, purely by faith, he will enter immediate, conscious fellowship with him after death in the blessed presence of God.
- The 3rd word "Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother" is Jesus creating a new family at the foot of the cross, tenderly providing for Mary through John and, symbolically, forming a community in which His followers care for one another as true family.
- The 4th word, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Points us all to Psalm 22 and thus declares the prophetic nature of this moment.
- The 5th word, echoes Psalm 69:21 as He receives sour wine, just before declaring “It is finished,” so this thirst marks the closing moments of the atoning work. Jesus is also pointing us to Exodus 6:6–7; the "fourth cup" which is tied to “I will take you for my people, and I will be your God.” It is commonly called the Cup of Praise, Cup of Hope, Cup of Acceptance, or Cup of the Kingdom, and is associated with the Passover and the reciting of the Hallel psalms (Psalms 115–118, sometimes 136). In many seders, it is also linked symbolically with Elijah’s cup and the awaited final redemption.
- The 6th word "It is finished" is Jesus triumphantly declaring that His saving work is completely accomplished and the debt of sin is fully paid, so that nothing remains to be added. John records the single Greek word tetelestai, a perfect‑tense verb used in commerce for “paid in full,” signaling that the debt is settled and the task brought to completion with abiding results
- Jesus' 7th and final word, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," directly quotes Psalm 31:5 to express total trust and voluntary surrender to God. His final act of submission functionally parallels Genesis 22 by demonstrating total submission of a son to the Father.
Believe whatever you wish. But so far as the pain and suffering of Yeshua are concerned, every single detail, from the beating, the scourging, the crown of thorns, carrying the cross beam and falling on His face, the crucifixion and ultimately His death when Yeshua would have given up his spirit, are all recorded on the burial linen clothes left in the tomb Yeshua walked out of. Even his rising out of those clothes is recorded on the Shroud of Turin.
