Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross

The First Word: Luke 23:34

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Reflection: Wow! I could not fathom how one can have forgiveness first in his mind especially when he was severely tormented by his nemesis. This is what Jesus Christ exactly did when He was nailed to the Cross by his enemies. Mockers shouted crucify him despite all goodness they witnessed of him. They knew no sins about him but the jealousy of the religious leaders of his miraculous deeds. The forgiveness that Jesus Christ prayed to the Father was not selective for a certain group, “them” is inclusive plural representing all, but it was particular for his nemesis that authored the mockery of all history. The leaders that had become the icon of jealousy to power and supremacy. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Prayer: Lord, we pray for our leaders who are too zealous for power and authority; that they may have some measure of humility; that they will have power to love, rather than love of power. Please shower them with a forgiving spirit, we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Second Word: Luke 23:43

 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Reflection: This speaks of Jesus’ unlimited grace. He was hanging on the Cross along with two convicted criminals by his left and right, but he was the target of public outcry and mockery. One of the crucified criminals had mocked him too; “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” And the other criminal empathized with Jesus and said; “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied to him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” A paradise for the Jews during that time was associated with heaven taking its roots from the Greek referrals to first man’s paradise the Garden of Eden. Garden of Eden was a place of man without sin because when Adam committed sin he was lost from the Garden. This means that the criminal was forgiven. In that moment “today”, he was cleaned from his sins as he goes with Jesus in Paradise. Jesus doesn’t care how sinful anyone can be as long as he acknowledged the Lord Jesus’ Divine authority. The criminal just asked Jesus, remember me when you are in your Kingdom, referring Kingdom as heaven. 

Prayer:  Lord, we humbly come before you, sited at your throne at the right hand of the Father, on behalf of our nation and the world. We pray that you blot out every sin that our nation and the world has committed. The mockery and blasphemy that our nation and the world has made to your holy name, forgive us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

The Third Word: John 19:26    

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “woman, here is your son.”

Reflection: This was one of the few times when Jesus manifests vividly his human character. The God Almighty made him man to save humanity. It is a man’s domain to save humanity as God pronounced in Genesis 1:28. The Son of God willingly submitted to the Father’s will and toke up human nature to die on the Cross on behalf of man(Philippians 2:6-8). This is in effect telling his mother and his disciple to stick together, don’t lose hope, remember what I said; in three days I will rebuild the church. The word of the Lord doesn’t return void. This reminds us of contemporary Christians who are weary staying on the path of righteousness amidst massive pressure of today’s diluted moral standards. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”. John 15:7. Jesus understands very well every man’s situation.

Prayer: Lord, we beseech your mercy and grace as we continue to trudge the tricky journey of life. Wicked influence abounds everywhere and every moment. Please help us overcome them, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

The Fourth Word: Mark 15:34

And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)”

Reflection: This was distress time when Jesus had to express for himself after he expressed care for his loved ones. Jesus let everyone know the severe emotional pain and extreme agony that he was going through. He lost everything; his honor, his authority, his power, including his Holiness for the sake of the sinful world. He no longer felt the love of his Father, he felt forgotten and abandoned but he never faltered, he didn’t lose faith, he continued calling God. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? In our distress situation, we most of the time resort to panic resolution without calling God’s intervention. We fail to remember that God cares and many times work in ways we don’t know and thought of.

Prayer:  Lord,in our most distress moment, enlightened our mind and captured our heart so that we can hold your power and authority over the situation. You are the God Almighty, supreme in power and authority, we declare in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Fifth Word: John 19:28

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

Reflection: After Jesus expressed his emotional pain, he could barely cope with physical suffering that he uttered: “I am thirsty”.  The physical suffering of Jesus was so extreme. He was severely dehydrated from the lashing and the blood and sweat that comes out of his body. The weight that burdened him from hanging on the Cross just take too much toll on his physical condition. Aside from the physical aspect, there was scriptural import that Jesus wanted us to know.  The fulfillment of the scripture in Psalms 69:21 “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst”.……  The significance of thirst and living water as it is written in John 7:38. Thirst refers to insufficiency in life while living water as the infilling of life. No man is perfect, but if anyone believes in Jesus, rivers of living water will flow from them, life will flourish from within. Jesus in the midst of an extremely hard situation still gave primacy to giving abundant life to his believers. Lord, thank you for such undeniable grace you have for us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for so much care for our welfare. Help us to be an effective vessel of your mercy and grace that thru us the rivers of living water will reach dry places, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

The Sixth Word: John 19:30

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished!”

Reflection: What an amazing sequence did the utterances of Jesus were.  First, he declared forgiveness even towards his nemesis, second, he uttered assurance to his believers, next, expressed cares to his loved ones, and then, he spoke about his emotional and physical agony.  Let also be known, that before uttering “It is Finished” he made a notable lesson for having an abundant life for those who believe in him. “It is finished” is a declaration that his mission to save the world was completed once and for all. No other sacrifice needed for anyone to be saved, and none other has the credits for the salvation of anyone but Jesus the Savior alone. Have faith in Jesus’ miracle works, his mercy and grace, acknowledge his Divine authority as the savior, and you will be with him in Paradise.

Prayer: Lord, help us understand that you are the only Savior, and you have fulfilled and finished your mission to save the world, no other sacrifice is needed. Enlighten each one of us, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

The Seventh Word: Luke 23:46

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Reflection: This was Jesus’ declaration of confidence, trust, and faith. He was confident his mission was fulfilled. He trusted his works were perfect, and then he submitted to the Father’s authority. It was a victory at hand. The iron man reaching the finish line after a series of obstacle races gives a boost to his reputation, something to boast about. What about our Christian faith tested with extreme insufficiency, massive adversity, and forceful wicked influence? Do we have a resolute position to uphold the faith and stay in the hope of the eternal life that Jesus promised us? God is faithful. He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it, Philippians 1:6.

Prayer: Lord, give us the strength, courage to continue and uphold our faith in the midst of trial and tribulations, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Happy Easter Sunday

It is good Christian communities commemorate resurrection Sunday once a year. Estimated 30% of nearly 8-billion world population subscribed to Christianity. But hey! How many among Christians are earnestly thinking about life beyond earth, especially when life is filled with things on earth? I sound like a nay-sayer, but that’s Jesus’ resurrection is all about-eternal life.

1 Peter 1:3-5 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jesus’ resurrection wouldn’t have any significance to those who did not think seriously about eternity. It is a fulfillment of a new birth God has promised those who have faith and continue to hope for eternal life. Jesus is the first born to the new birth. His resurrection is the evidence of the inheritance (eternal life) well-kept in heaven for those who believes in him.

John 20:2727 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Jesus’ resurrection is not just a myth that skeptics claims it is. After he died, Lord Jesus didn’t only appear to so many witnesses, he also quashed the doubt of the doubter Thomas by showing the nail-mark of his hand. For those who believes and continue to hope till eternity will get their inheritance, for those who do not, I do hope they’ll find the truth and believe.

Does eternal life really come after death? Eternity is explained as continuity of time with no specific endpoint. It is consistent with God existed before the beginning of time in Genesis 1. When God the Father gave his only son Jesus Christ to forgive the sins of the world, it’s for the past, present, and future.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17.

“Anyone in Christ” simply means those who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and “new creation” is in a real relationship with the Lord nurturing in eternal dimension.  Thus, eternal life is a present continuing condition that one can have even while still alive, those who live in Christ.

Change Status

Hey! Have you upgraded your profile? whether, in a social media, a government data form, or a personal resume, it may have been already outdated that needs to input some changes. Wonder, how long have you taken a look at it? Mostly, people easily take to the social media profile space, whether excitedly or grudgingly, if changes arise of their status, “Relationship Status”.

When was the last time you upgraded your relationship status with someone? A very important aspect of life that needs to level up continuously is a relationship; with friends, with relatives, with family members, and most especially with God. How is your relationship with God doing right now? “John 4:19 We love because God loved us first”. Love is the most potent force that God has put to this world, and it must be for good purpose. Since God is the ultimate author and source of love, it is just necessary that we got to have a strong relationship with Him. Were you comfortable and happy about your relationship with God, lately? Whether, yes or otherwise, there’s always a need to evaluate. Ponder how you share God’s love with others.  “Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ About love and goodness, God can never be out-deed. Time is just always right to level up our relationship status with God. Think about the Lord’s letter to the Ephesian’s church, “Revelations 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had for me at first.” God hurts when someone is drifting apart from Him. He always wanted a relationship that gets stronger and stronger, it will not only change your relationship status, your life as well, and it’s for the better.

Spiritual Maturity

Christians could be at different levels with their Spiritual maturity congruent to their situation or the condition they’re in. Often, it is influenced by the values held by the church they belong, and by the attitude of the Spiritual leaders they look up to.  But, each one under normal condition has a set of an ecstatic level that could be decidedly a default setting. Someone that is evasive always making excuses, or just inept when discussion topic is about Spiritual matter or relationship with God, is an obvious sign one is fundamentally weak about his Christian faith. And, if you find someone who always criticized, superseding, cocky, evasive and flip-flops when it comes to talking about a relationship with God or when invited to a Spiritual meeting, obviously, one is Spiritually hallow. “1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers & sisters, stop thinking like children. In regards to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” It is a sad situation to see Christians boldly boast about their faith, while unknowingly exposes their maturity level through their actions.  Similarly, it is a painful situation to not being able to tap their shoulder to inflate their Spiritual stock as the Lord commanded everyone to teach anyone to obey the Lord’s command (Matthew 28:18-20). Blessed are those who are gentle, patient, joyful, loving, faithful, kind, peace-loving, and self-controlled, for the Holy Spirit is in them (Galatians 5:22).

Love worth the next time around

Love is the favorite topic or at least a flavor in any public discourse during the month of February. Somehow, everyone’s consciousness about love is heightened on Valentine’s month, honoring Saint Valentine of Rome the priest who conducted a prohibited secrete weeding of Roman soldiers, whose known burial date was February 14.

But wait! I am not writing about romantic love, and I do not mean reconnecting to the ex. I did not say in the headline “sweeter the second time around”. There is an obvious difference between the second time and the next time. The second time is obviously twice, whereas, even if you fall out hundred times there can be a next time.

This is about the greatest love of all. We loved because God love us first. But many of us many times broke the relationship and the bond of love we have with God. “Revelation 2:3-5 (NLT)  You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches”.  Book of Revelations is words of the Lord thru John the beloved.

Have you fallen out of love with God? Do you feel the same the way you felt before, for the Lord? Your relationship with God, your love for God is worth the many next time around. Even if you have fallen 10 times, it is worth getting back the 11th times, and so on. Get back to your first love for God.

  1. Remember the reason you have at first;
  2. Renew efforts to get back to that first love;
  3. Remain in doing those things.

The glory of God will be yours.