FIFTH of the seven last words: “I AM THIRSTY.”
Later, knowing that all was completed, and so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty,” (John 19:28). A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
The Lord Jesus Christ never once drew attention to himself until this moment when he acknowledged his feelings and cried out that he was thirsty. Neither did he enlist the sympathy of the crowd around the cross. Didn’t he tell the women who wept at his plight, not to weep for him but for their own selves?
The man Christ longed for a drink to quench his thirst, but he did not ask for it. Nevertheless, Jesus had to be strong before he would die, so that he could consciously and voluntarily commit his self to his heavenly Father and release his spirit from his body. Yes, the heavenly father gave Jesus the authority to lay down his life and to take it up again. (John 10:17=18).
SIXTH of the seven last words: “IT IS FINISHED”
When Jesus had received the drink, he cried out, “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19;30) for which the original word was TETELESTAI which literally means, “done.” Indeed, Jesus had done well his work of redemption. And, from then on, all those who have believed in Jesus had been redeemed
Likewise, “finished” connoted the end of Old Testament rites and all scheme of temple ceremonies. Jesus sacrifice was completed even as all the Old Testament sacrificial ceremonies were finished by Jesus’ sacrifice forever and ever.
SEVENTH of the seven last words: “FATHER INTO YOUR HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.”
“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father into your hand I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:44-46).
Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke seven times from the cross. And number seven specially signified perfection or completion. For speaking seven times, the words of the Crucified Christ were considered complete with no superfluity.
Bible scholars compared the creation activity to the work of redemption upon Calvary. Even then, however, redemption was far more costly. It took the life of the savior to have it done. In creation, mere words of God sufficed: “For God spoke, and it came to be, he commanded and it stood firm,” (Psalm 33:9). His word had the power of creation; “Let there be… and there was.”
Jesus’ seven last words shed light upon the heart of the Bible: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”