What Really Happened in Jesus’ 7 Last Cries

Seven short sentences from a dying man changed history and they can still change a life. We walk hour by hour through Good Friday, from the first cry of forgiveness to the final surrender of Jesus’ spirit, and we ask what we’ve really understood about the crucifixion of Christ.

We start with compassion that makes no human sense. Jesus prays for the people who are mocking him, promises paradise to a repentant thief, and makes sure his mother is cared for. These moments aren’t side notes; they’re a portrait of God’s love in action and a challenge to our own discipleship, forgiveness, and mercy. If grace can reach a criminal in his final breath, it can reach any of us who turn to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Then the tone shifts as darkness covers the land and Jesus cries, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We talk about anguish, sin-bearing, and the cost of atonement, plus what it means for anyone who has felt abandoned or separated from God. Along the way, we connect the cross to Christian witness and suffering through stories like Stephen’s martyrdom and believers who stood for truth under pressure.

Finally, we lean into the victory: “I am thirsty,” and “It is finished” (tetelestai, paid in full). The gospel message lands with clarity, reconciliation with God is opened, and we’re invited to respond with faith, prayer, and a life that speaks hope. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the cry from the cross that impacted you most.

Transcript

Innocence Suffering And Shocking Love

Forgiveness And Paradise Promised

Jesus Cares For His Mother

Martyrs Who Echo Jesus’ Mercy

Darkness And The Cry Of Forsakenness

Witness Under Pressure In History

Thirst Tetelestai And Final Surrender

Living With A Shout Of Victory

Respond In Prayer And Speak Life

Psalm 23 And Closing Blessing

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Have we truly grasped what happened on that fateful Friday when Jesus hung on the cross? From about nine in the morning until three in the afternoon, Jesus was on the cross. During those six hours, he uttered seven final cries. The first three of these cries showed a matchless love of Jesus. In these three, Jesus extended compassion to those who were complicit in him being on the cross, those who were taking pledge in that fact, the thief hanging next to him and his mother. The fourth cry reveals the depths of Jesus' agony as he laments his father turning his back on him. Jesus utilizes the fifth, sixth, and seventh cries to triumphantly declare that the death has been cancelled and announced that he is reunited with his father. In this podcast, we will examine these cries through three themes. First, Jesus showed compassion. Second, Jesus revealed the extent of his anguish. Third, Jesus triumphantly declared the work complete. Stay with me as we examine the price that was paid so that you and I can have fellowship with God. Imagine being condemned to die, the worst debt available at the time, that of crucifixion, despite the fact that you are overwhelmingly innocent. Then from the cross, even though you are experiencing excruciating pain, you reach out and show love to others. That is what Jesus did on that very first Good Friday. Let us reflect on how great God's love towards us is. Luke 23, 32 to 43 documents the first and second cries of Jesus from the cross. Roman soldiers had arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The high priest and his lackeys had orchestrated a series of unjust trials which concluded with Jesus erroneously being condemned to die. Throughout these trials, Roman soldiers had hit Jesus, spat on him, and laughed at him. After the verdict had been handed down, Pilate's soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered a whole company of soldiers around him. These soldiers stripped Jesus, placed a scarlet robe on him, twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They also placed a staff in Jesus' right hand. Then they knelt in front of Jesus and mocked him. Hail, King of the Jews, they said. They spat on Jesus and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. Afterwards they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. They then led Jesus away to be crucified. At Galgata, the Roman soldiers kneeled Jesus to the cross and hung him high to die. Above Jesus' head there was a written notice in Aramaic, Latin and Greek which stated, This is the King of the Jews. Here at the cross, the Roman soldiers continued to mock Jesus by stating, If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. Luke tells us that people stood nearby watching Jesus on the cross. Among these were the rulers of the Jews who were sneering at Jesus. They contemptuously stated, He saved others, let him save himself if he's God's Messiah, the chosen one. Jesus was hanging between two thieves who are also being crucified. One of these criminals began hurling insults at Jesus. He exclaimed, Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us. In the midst of this, Jesus utters his first cry, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. The day Jesus was referring to were the high priest and his colleagues who had unjustly tried him. The Roman soldiers who were callously and viciously implementing the verdict. Those who were jeering Jesus as he hung on the cross. Ignorance does not excuse a crime, but it diminishes his guilt. Let us reflect on the indescribable, matchless love of God which is on full display here. The second thief who was on the cross next to Jesus rebuked the other malefactor who was busy lamb basing Jesus. He stated, Don't you fear God, since you're under the same sentence, we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. This lawbreaker then humbly turned to Jesus and requested that Jesus remember him when he came into his kingdom. This led to the second cry of Jesus as he assured this penitent miscreant that truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. This man, who had probably lived his entire life as a criminal, entered heaven that same day because he recognized Jesus as who he is, creator of heaven and earth. Have we asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior? John 19, 25-27 documents the third cry of Jesus from the cross. John tells us that three Marys were to be found at the cross. One was Mary, the mother of Jesus. Matthew and Mark identify one of the other Marys as being Salome, the mother of James and John, and Jesus' mother's sister. Then there was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons. Mary Salome, the wife of Clopas, obviously had her husband who would be able to take care of her. Mary Magdalene is believed to have been independently wealthy, as from the day she was delivered, she followed Jesus and supported his ministry. Mary, Jesus' mother, was poor. It was possible that by that time Joseph was no longer around and Jesus had been the one taking care of her. Jesus saw his mother there and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby. This led to Jesus' third cry from the cross. Jesus said to his mother, Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, here is your mother. Tradition states that from that day John took Mary to his home and cared for her until she died. Let us reflect on how much Jesus cares for us. Jesus' followers in the early church took great care to implement his teachings. Acts 67 tells the story of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church. It was said of Stephen that he was full of the Spirit and of wisdom and was working great wonders and signs among the people. The religious leaders were not pleased to see someone promoting Jesus in their midst who had the support of the common people. These religious leaders seized Stephen and conjured false accusations against him. These were the same religious leaders who had conspired to have Jesus eliminated. While being tried by these religious leaders, Stephen spoke of the heavens opening and seeing Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus is normally shown as being seated at God's right hand. Christian theologians agree that this was Jesus showing his support for his son Stephen. The religious leaders cast Stephen out of the city and proceeded to stone him. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold the sin against them. He then fell asleep. Let us reflect on the truth that following Jesus may lead to suffering. Christian history provides examples of those who have stood for the truth at the expense of their lives. John Hoos, who is credited as laying the foundation for the Moravian Church, was burnt at the stake in July of 1450 by the leaders of the Catholic Church. John Hoos had called for the Catholic priest to live holy lives. At that time, it looked as though John Hoos was a failure. Instead, his death and writings led to many committing to serve God with all of their heart, mind, and souls. The great reformer Martin Luther listed Jan Hoos as one of his main inspirations. In 1999, 584 years after Jan Hoos was wrongly burnt at the stake, Pope John Paul II apologized to the Czechs for his cruel and wrongful death. Out of this evil arc, John Hus changed the world and is still impacting the world to today as the Moravian Church lives on. Let us reflect on the truth that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. In vision, Jesus has been hanging and suffering on the cross for approximately three hours, and it is now noon. Luke 23, 44 to 45 tells us that at 12 pm the sun stopped shining, and darkness came over the whole land until 3 in the afternoon. The crucifixion took place during the Passover. Passover is always held at the time of a full moon. A natural eclipse of the sun is impossible during a full moon. Phleglon, the Roman historian, recorded this event. He wrote, in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was an extraordinary eclipse of the sun. At the sixth hour, the day turned into dark night, so that the stars in heaven were seen and there was an earthquake. Matthew 27, 46 documents that about three in the afternoon, Jesus issued the fourth cry in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, Lemas Abakhtanai, which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Jesus up to this point as God in human flesh had suffered just like we do. Friends had forsaken him, he had been insulted. Jesus had been on the run for his life on several occasions, as the high priest, Herod, and the citizens of Nazareth had all tried to eliminate him. The one element that Jesus had never experienced was sin. Jesus became the sin of the world and God the Father could not look on him. God turned the whole world dark so that no one could see his son Jesus. Adonai Elohim, who was always assured of his father's love, cried out. This act was a rhetorical question. As Jesus was fully aware that God could not look on sin. It hurt nonetheless. And so Jesus articulated his pain. This is why Jesus swept drops of blood. This is why angels ministered to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. This is why Jesus asked three times if this cup could be taken from him. But nonetheless, not his will, but the Father's will should be done. Jesus was fully cognizant that the time would come when he, the spotless Lamb of God, the one who said, Let there be and there was, would become the sin of the entire world. Jesus' father would then hide the Son and not look on Jesus. This fourth cry encapsulates the agony and the anguish that Jesus experienced. Let us reflect on the truth that Jesus understands everything that we endure, including being separated from God. Philippians 1 recalls how Paul similarly prayed for strength before appearing before the Roman Emperor Nero. The apostle Paul stated that he did not wish to be ashamed. Nero could dictate Paul's death at any time. Paul did not want to lose his determination to be a witness for Jesus because his life was at stake. Paul did not know when he wrote this letter to the Philippians that on this first appearance before Nero he would be let go. History records that up to this point in time, Emperor Nero had been a fairly decent ruler. Paul undoubtedly witnessed about Jesus to Nero and gave him an opportunity that was obviously rejected to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Subsequent to his encounter with Paul, Nero changed dramatically and became almost like a madman. Nero's servants would tie Christians to posts in his garden, cover them with tar, and set them on fire to light his garden in the evening. Nero would then get in his chariot naked and race to the parts of his garden to look at the burning Christians. Some years afterwards, Nero allowed Rome to burn to the ground and then blame the Christians. Let us pray that we may always be witnesses for Jesus. Christian history has many examples of those who have spoken true to power. When Adoniram Judson was serving as a missionary in Burma in the early 1800s, he and another missionary, James Coleman, sought an audience with the King of Burma. They desired permission to teach Christianity throughout Burma. They secured an audience with the king who denied their requests. On returning to Rangoon, Adoniram told the three Burmese converts that the missionaries would have to leave Burma. To Adoniram's surprise, they begged him to stay. These Burmese men then actively started recruiting others to attend the services. The growing group of converts and interested people was all a surprise to Daniram. Adoniram became convinced that it would be wrong to abandon this fledgling group of Christians. Although Daniram had returned from the capital city of Burma, convinced that his missionary work in Burma was over, now it was thriving. Let us reflect on the truth that our God makes a way where there seems to be no way. Imagine that six long hours of being nailed to a cross have elapsed. Jesus knew that everything was finished and scripture had been fulfilled. John 19, 28 to 30 details the fifth and sixth cry of Jesus from the cross. Jesus' fifth cry was, I am thirsty. A jar of a sour wine, Pasca, that the Roman soldiers normally carried with them was there. A sponge was soaked in this wine, placed on a stack of hyssop and lifted to Jesus' lips. Hyssop was what was used to put the lamb's blood on the doorpost so that the death angel would pass over the house of the Jews at the time of the first Passover. It being utilized here is indicative of the fact that Jesus' blood was being shed so that those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead would have everlasting life. Jesus needed to wet his throat for what was coming next. When he had received the drink, Jesus issued the sixth cry, it is finished. The other three gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, state that Jesus died with a great shout. John does not speak of the great cry, but rather tells us Jesus' exact last words. It is finished is one word in Greek tete lesti. The Bible scholar Tene notes that the verb tellul, tello to finish was used in first and second centuries in the sense of fulfilling or paying a debt and often appeared in receipts. Jesus' statement, it is Finnish, could be interpreted as paid in full. Jesus did not die defeated, weary, and whispering. Jesus went out shouting the victory. Jesus had fulfilled his destiny. We would now be reconciled to God. The spotless Lamb of God had given his life for our sin. Luke 23, 46 documents the seventh and final cry of Jesus from the cross. Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last. Jesus yielded his living spirit to God the Father as he yielded his body to death on the cross. Earlier, Jesus had informed his disciples that he was laying down his life of his own accord and that he would take it up again. Jesus gave up his life when he wanted to and how he wanted to. No one took his life from him. Are we shouting of victory? The Old Testament records how the shout of victory enabled Gideon and his band of 300 men to defeat the enemies of Israel. The Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the other eastern peoples had come against Israel and had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. It was as impossible a task to count their camels as it is futile to try to count the sand on the seashore. Gideon and his army of 300 men reached the edge of the camp at approximately 10 p.m. just after they had changed the guard. These 300 men then broke the jars that were in their hands while grasping torches in their left hands and holding Their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, A sword for the Lord and for Gideon. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. Gideon and his men then fought and won the battle. Midian was subdued and did not raise its head again. During Gideon's lifetime, the land had peace forty years. Let us reflect on the truth that once God is on our side, we are the majority. Christian history records that many of those who were once despised are now honored as having accomplished great things for God. In the mid to late 1700s, John Wesley was kicked out of the Anglican church. He was banned from entering Anglican pulpits to preach. John Wesley had to preach in the open air. When John Wesley died in 1791, he had 79,000 followers in England and 40,000 in America. The Methodist Church today has over 80 million members. Let us reflect on the truth that God values our offering. We started by asking if we have truly grasped what happened on that faithful Friday when Jesus hung on the cross. From about 9 in the morning until approximately 3 in the afternoon, Jesus was on the cross. During those six hours, he uttered seven final cries. The first three of these cries show the matchless love of Jesus. In these three, Jesus extended compassion to those who were complicit in him being on the cross, those who were taking pledge in that fact, the teeth hanging next to him and his mother. In this podcast, we examine these cries through three themes. First, Jesus showed compassion. Second, Jesus revealed the extent of his anguish. Third, Jesus triumphantly declared the work complete. Jesus paid the price so that you and I can have fellowship with God. Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcast. If you're ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me. Jesus, I give you my life. Lead me, forgive me, and make me new. If you pray that, welcome to the family. Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together. Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is all in our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living under an open heaven in every area of our lives. Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restored my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.