Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! and from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (28) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (29) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
We have within these verses, as recorded by this Evangelist, only Three of the last words of Christ on the cross. But, from the corresponding history of the crucifixion, as related by the other Evangelists, there were Four others, and all particularly striking and important. It is a very usual thing among men to treasure up the last words of dying friends, as being more than ordinarily ponderous and meriting regard. Those of the Lord Jesus must surely be eminently so. I would begin this place, as John is the last of the Evangelists, and who closeth the history, to gather them into one point of view, and as far as we can well form our judgment with correctness, to look at them one by one, in the order in which we may suppose the Lord delivered them.
It is worthy our observation, that three of those last sayings of Christ on the cross, were addressed to the Father, and four to those around him. But, like his farewell prayer in the midst of his Apostles, the greater part had respect to his Church, and not to himself. See John 17:1. The first in point of order, seems to have been that in which Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34. Was not this, (I ask the question), as in the Lord's High Priestly Office, now entering upon it, as on the great day of atonement? The Cross his altar, himself both sacrifice and sacrificer, his blood streaming over his sacred body, his wounds as the incense of his censer, and his dying sweat ascending as the burnt-offering before God? And in this manner, his arms extended, as the High Priest his type in the temple was stretched forth to bless the people; so Jesus when he cried out, Father! forgive them, for they know not what they do! Reader! were you and I included in this prayer? It is a grand enquiry. Let us pause over it, and ponder it well.
The second voice of Jesus heard on the cross, was this, which is recorded by John in this place. These words of Christ in their first meaning, should seem to have had an especial regard to the disposing of Mary after the Lord's death, but I humbly conceive somewhat of higher moment was intended by Jesus, and in relation to his whole Church and people. For, surely, the temporary care of this woman might have been provided for in a less public way. It would hardly have been left to this hour. Neither would the Holy Ghost, one might be led to suppose, have thought it necessary to have made such a special record of it among the last weighty sayings of the dying Jesus. But, as I have often in the course of this humble work observed before, so here again I desire to say, that I do not presume to speak decidedly. I venture to think that the Lord had higher motives in view, than merely recommending Mary to the care of John. And might it not be, (I ask the question), to remind Mary, and in her his whole Church, when he said, Woman, behold thy Son! what the angel had announced to her before the incarnation of his name and glory, as Jesus a Redeemer, and when in consequence she called Christ her Savior? See Luke 1:26-47. And when the Lord said to John, behold thy mother! was not this intended no less to correct, and reprove, all those honors which the Lord knew the idolatry of the future ages of the world would produce, in ascribing to Mary, whom Christ always called Woman, unsuitable and improper names?
The Lord's answer to the cry of the penitent thief on the cross, we may, I think, without the danger of misplacing in point of order, consider as the third voice of Jesus in those solemn hours. And, oh! what a number of the richest contemplations arise out of those gracious words of Christ. Lord! remember me, said the dying malefactor, when thou comest into thy kingdom! And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise, Luke 23:42-43. I must not allow myself to enter into the sweet and almost endless subject those words lead to. But just let me remark, what rich, free, unmerited, unlooked for, boundless grace, was here shewn by Christ, to a poor perishing sinner? What wonders hath Jesus here at once opened of the invisible world; and the instant possession of paradise, and Jesus with it, by every spirit when departing the body, in the faith and enjoyment of Christ's blood and righteousness? And what a most effectual silence doth it give to the ungracious and unbecoming pretensions of all self-righteous Pharisees? How sweetly were the Apostle's words proved in this instance, and how suitably to be applied to every other; Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5-6
The fourth words of Jesus on the cross, were remarkable indeed, and full of the highest import. The Lord of life and glory had hung upon the cross full three hours, when he uttered this dolorous cry: Eli, Eli, (or as Mark renders it, Eloi, Eloi, for both are the same. Mark 15:34.) lama sabachthani, which is, being interpreted, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46-47. The first three of these words are Hebrew, and the latter Chaldee or Syriac. We have the same word in the Chaldee paraphrase of the Psalms 22:1. So that Christ here fulfilled that prophecy, and the application of it was plainly seen to be to Him, and to Him only.
It is impossible with our scanty faculties, to fathom the depth of this wonderful cry of Christ. One thing, however, is very plain. The forsaking which the Lord speaks of, could not mean that that union of God and man in One Person was in the smallest degree lessened, for death itself could not accomplish this. In Christ dwelleth forever and uninterruptedly, the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9. Neither had he lost the favor and love of Jehovah, for that also was, and is, impossible. But, if one may venture to offer a conjecture on a subject of such a deepness in mystery, probably it might be for the time, the Lord's having lost an enjoying sense of that favor, which all along before he had possessed. And as Jesus was now sustaining the whole weight and burden of the sins of his people, he felt what those sins merited; and was therefore for a space, as one deprived of the refreshing presence of Jehovah, that his people might not be deprived of it forever. Reader! think, if the beloved Son of God was thus exercised, and sent forth such an heart piercing cry at the apprehension of divine withdrawings; what must be the shrieks of the eternally miserable who have lost the gracious presence of God forever?
The fifth voice we hear from our Lord on the cross, seems most probably to have been that which John hath noticed, (John 19:28) when he said, I thirst. I say most probably this might be according to the order in which the Lord spake, for I am not able to determine. Neither is it I should suppose material. But what I think of more importance is what John hath said concerning it, that Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. The fulfilling of the scripture, was in reference to that prophecy of Christ, Psalms 22:15 where the Lord is described as brought into the dust of death; and where, according to another prophecy, vinegar is said to be given to him. Psalms 69:21. The soldiers who gave Christ the offered vinegar were unconscious what they did; but how precious are such things to a child of God? And what was implied in this thirst of Jesus? Not merely a thirst of body, but of soul. An holy thirst to see all the whole purposes of his soul-travail, and sufferings, and death, accomplished in the salvation of his people. Reader! Jesus thirsted for his chosen. And shall not you and I thirst after Him? Oh! for a vehement thirst as one of old expressed, when he cried out, As the hart thirsteth for the water-brooks, so longeth my soul after thee O God! Psalms 42:1; Song of Solomon 8:6
The two last cries of Christ upon the cross, are those related by John and Luke. Perhaps the former was that which John hath recorded, for he saith, when Jesus, therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished. And Luke adds, when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father! into thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said thus, he gave up the ghost, Luke 23:46. It should seem, therefore, that it was in this order the Lord thus spake. But I presume not to determine. However, the words themselves are the same, in whatever manner they were delivered; and they are full of the highest import and richest consolation. Redemption-work was finished; and all the purposes for which Christ made his soul an offering for sin, were fully answered. The Son of God, therefore, in our nature, as a mighty conqueror retiring from the field of battle, having gotten himself the victory, cried out with a loud voice; not as one whose strength was consumed, but as One who laid down his life, as he had said, that he might take it again, and no man taking it from him, (John 10:17) it is finished. And now committed himself into his Father's hands; as if to teach all his redeemed how to die in faith, and to whom to commit their souls in a dying hour, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19; Psalms 31:5; Acts 7:55, to end.