The Dying Words of Christ

March 29, 2026

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Jesus spoke seven times while dying on the cross and in our closing sermon for this series Jeff reads and explores each phrase. How did Jesus spend His last moments? What did our Savior say? What continued to be on His heart? May we hear the ‘dying words of Christ,’ and may we respond with awe, worship, and love.

SERMON NOTES

LUKE 23:34 (NLT)
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

This was the first thing He said after being beaten, rejected, abandoned, and nailed to the cross.
Jesus offered forgiveness before anyone asked.
We forgive when people don’t deserve it, don’t fix it, or don’t make things better. We forgive before they even ask because we want to be like Jesus.

LUKE 23:43 (NLT)
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

JOHN 19:26-27 (NLT)
(26) When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” (27) And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

Some of His dying words were spent caring for His earthly mother, making sure she had someone to provide for her in the coming years and uniting her to John, who wrote this very Gospel.

MATTHEW 27:46 (NLT)
At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Psalm 22
2 Corinthians 5:21
All our sin was placed on Jesus at this moment.
The abandonment Christ experienced on the cross allows us to feel the unconditional and unfailing love of God today.

JOHN 19:28 (NLT)
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”

He’s thirsty for communion with God.

JOHN 19:30 (NLT)
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

In the Kingdom of God your sin will never be used against you.
What needs to change in your life today so you can treat yourself the same way Jesus treats you?

LUKE 23:46 (NLT)
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

Jesus trusted His Father for the entire journey and now He would entrust His Spirit into the grave.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

What phrase from the dying words of Christ stands out to you most and why?
What would need to change in your life today in order to treat yourself like Jesus treats you?
Who can you invite to Easter?