His Final Words: The Importance of Last Words

by David Chadwick

Over the next two weeks, I want to take you on an adventure to the cross. I want to look at the details, big and small, and help you understand the full meaning of Jesus’s journey from the cradle to the cross.

How are we going to do this? Each day, we will look at seven of Jesus’s “last word” phrases that he spoke on the cross. Every word he spoke was rich in meaning, intentional, and purposeful.

Words, in general, are powerful. But when you realize that John 1:14 says that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” and that Jesus IS the Word, the power of his words bear more weight than any human expression ever could.

Often, when someone is about to die, they will speak their most important words to those loved ones standing around them. It’s like the old joke says, “No one who is dying ever says, “I wish I would have spent more time in the office.”

Instead, someone nearing the end of life usually talks about his or her love for Jesus. And their spouse and kids. Their grandkids and sometimes even great grandkids. In Marilynn’s 97 year old dad’s case, if you were to spend even five minutes with him, he would gladly point out how proud he is of his kids, grandkids and GREAT grandkids!

Then, they may talk about what they want you to remember. They may share last pieces of advice, last memories, last insights.

The same thing was true of Jesus. His last words on the cross sought to give his followers great insights into his heart and to share the most important things with all of us before his death.

We will spend the next seven days looking at these seven truths that he left us in his final words on the cross.

Then, after hearing his final words on the cross, we will go back and relive his last words on the night before his death and then in the final hours on Friday leading up to his crucifixion and see what these hours may mean to us.

Join us on this journey for the next two weeks!