The Last Words of Jesus: Seven Sayings from the Cross (The Word of Triumph)

Before he died, Jesus made seven statements from the cross. During the weeks leading up to Easter, we’ll look at what Jesus said and how we might apply these words to our lives. Below is a list of the six topics based on seven passages from the Gospels of Mark, Luke and John.

• February 18 – The Word of Forgiveness (Luke 23:34)
• February 25 – The Word of Salvation (Luke 23:43)
• March 3 – The Word of Relationship (John 19:26-27)
• March 10 – The Words of Humanity (Mark 15:34 & John 19:28)
• March 17 – The Word of Triumph (John 19:30)
• March 24 – The Word of Reunion (Luke 23:46)

On Sunday, we considered the words of humanity offered by Jesus in John 19:30:

After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died. [John 19:30, CEV]

A recording and the text of the sermon is below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Is it just me or are we flying through the month of March? I mean, it seems like just yesterday we were counting down how many days we had left in winter. And not including today, the official number is now two. For me, March is quickly becoming a blur. And even though I believe no one should wish their life away, that’s actually O.K. with me. In fact, I wouldn’t shed a single tear if we could jump right from March 5th to April 1st. 

But I’ll tell you, that wasn’t always the case. You see, when I was younger I loved basketball, although I’m not entirely sure why. I mean, I was generally the guy on the team who was short but made up for it by being slow. And during my playing days, I sort of viewed the bench as my home away from home. Still, in spite of my shortcomings, I loved basketball, which made this particular month a huge deal. You see, when I was growing up in Virginia, every March, about 25 conference winners played a single elimination tournament to determine the national college basketball champion. And when it was over, only one team would come out on top. And they’d be able to look back on their season knowing that they’d done everything they’d set out to do, while everyone else could start thinking about next year. Now, for me, that was March Madness. And trust me, when I was between the ages of ten and about twenty-two, man, this was the greatest thing since sliced bread, at least it was for me. 

And I’ll tell you, that’s kind of what we’re going to talk about this morning, you know what we can do now that something far more important than a basketball season is over. Of course, this is the fifth message in a series we started back in February dealing with what Jesus Christ said from the cross. And over that time, we’ve talked about how these words can remind us of forgiveness and salvation as well as the new relationship that we can enjoy and the basic humanity that Jesus showed. 

And this morning, we’re going to continue this by focusing on these words from the Gospel of John. You see, this was what he wrote:

After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died. [John 19:30, CEV]

Now for the Evangelist, this was the very last thing Jesus said from the cross. And with that in mind, this morning, we’re going to take these words, and we’re going to consider two truths that I believe they convey, one dealing with Jesus and the other focused on us.

For example, based on what he said, I think it’s pretty clear that, in his mind, Jesus knew he’d finished his work on earth. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly how it was translated in the King James Version: he said, “It is finished.” [John 19:30b, KJV] And you know, when you think about it, based on what Jesus knew, that statement was certainly true, for three very definite reasons. 

I mean, first, he certainly knew that he’d accomplished his mission. In other words, as he considered the reason he came, Jesus must have recognized that he’d really done everything he came to do, and I’m talking about the mission that John outlined right at the beginning of his gospel. Just listen to what he wrote:

In the beginning was the one

    who is called the Word.

The Word was with God

    and was truly God.

From the very beginning

    the Word was with God.

And with this Word,

    God created all things.

Nothing was made

    without the Word.

Everything that was created

    received its life from him,

and his life gave light

    to everyone.

The light keeps shining

    in the dark,

and darkness has never

    put it out. 

The true light that shines

on everyone

    was coming into the world.

The Word was in the world,

    but no one knew him,

though God had made the world

    with his Word.

He came into his own world,

but his own nation

    did not welcome him.

Yet some people accepted him

    and put their faith in him.

So he gave them the right

    to be the children of God.

They were not God's children

by nature or because

    of any human desires.

God himself was the one

    who made them his children.

The Word became

a human being

    and lived here with us.

We saw his true glory,

the glory of the only Son

    of the Father.

From him the complete gifts

of undeserved grace and truth

    have come down to us. [John 1:1-5, 9-14, CEV]

Now, for the Evangelist John, this was the mission when “the Word became a human being and lived here with us.” [John 1:14a, CEV] You see, the Son came down to be a light shining in the darkness, revealing the glory of God and drawing together those whom God had made his children. And you know, during his life, that’s exactly what Jesus did and that’s the first example of how he knew that he’d finished his work. 

But you know, that’s not all, because, second, I think Jesus also knew that he’d communicated his message. You see, by the time he’d been lifted up on the cross, he’d already explained to the people exactly what had to happen and why, something that he told Nicodemus in the third chapter of the gospel. I mean, just listen what Jesus said to this Pharisee who came to him in the middle of the night:

And the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as the metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life.

God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn't have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God's only Son.

The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won't come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do. [John 3:14-21, CEV]

Now that’s what Jesus said to this man who came out of the dark into the light, that the Son of Man had come not with fire and brimstone but rather to announce a simple and straightforward decision that all those within earshot had and have. You see, based on what he said, we can choose to play it safe and stay in the dark. And we can choose to reject who the Son was and what he came to do. And we can choose to separate ourselves from the life and the hope and the peace that he offers. This we can choose to do, because we just love the comfortable dark. Or we can decide to take a chance and step into the light. And we can decide to accept who the Son was and what he came to bring. And we can decide to experience a little bit of eternal life right here and right now. You see, during his life, that was the message Jesus communicated and that was the second thing I believe Jesus knew that he’d done right before he died on the cross.

And third, Jesus also knew that he was about to empower his followers through a promise he’d already made. In other words, before he died on that cross, to those folks who’d been involved in his mission and who had accepted his message, Jesus had already told them about a source of power that they would have after he’d gone back to the Father. I mean, just listen to what he said to his disciples right before his arrest and crucifixion:

I was with you at the first, and so I didn't tell you these things. But now I am going back to the Father who sent me, and none of you asks me where I am going. You are very sad from hearing all of this. But I tell you I am going to do what is best for you. This is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.

The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God's justice and the judgment. The Spirit will show them that they are wrong about sin, because they didn't have faith in me. They are wrong about God's justice, because I am going to the Father, and you won't see me again. And they are wrong about the judgment, because God has already judged the ruler of this world.

I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. [John 16:4b-14, CEV]

Now, that’s what Jesus promised his disciples, a source of power that would enable them not only to keep going after he’d returned home, but also to respond to his mission by announcing his message. And in this way, before his death, Jesus empowered his followers, and for me that’s the third example of how he’d finished his work and he knew it. And so, when he said from the cross, “Everything is done!” [John 19:30b, CEV], I think he meant it. His work on earth was finished.

But that was him; what about us? What do those words mean to us? And how might they shape what we say and do now that the Son has returned to the Father?  In other words, having established “the what,” now we’re left with “the so what.” And even though I guess it could be taken in several different directions, for me, the answer is pretty clear. You see, I believe these words from the cross remind us that now it’s our time to act. In other words, since Jesus’s work on earth is finished, now it’s up to us. Now it’s up to us to respond. And now it’s up to us to show that we understand his mission and accept his message and claim the power he offers. And I’ll tell you, just like we can break his knowledge into three parts, I think there are three things we already know as we respond to him. 

For example, I think we already know our mission. And I’ll tell you, although sometimes we make this word seem really demanding and sound really difficult, personally, I think it’s incredibly simple. You see, when talking about their future mission, this was exactly what Jesus told the disciples to do, and spoiler alert, it’s certainly not understanding rocket science, and it sure doesn’t demand traveling to the other side of the world. This was what he said to them and says to us:

Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. And you are my friends, if you obey me. Servants don't know what their master is doing, and so I don't speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything my Father has told me.

You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. So I command you to love each other. [John 16:12-17, CEV]

Now that’s what he said, and frankly, I think it’s just about as clear as it can be. I mean, do you want to do what God wants you to do? Love each other. Do you want to produce the kind of fruit that will last? Love each other. Do you want to receive everything you need to do what God has called you to do? Love each other. Like I said, it’s not rocket science; it’s all about loving one another. Now that’s our mission, and that’s the first thing we already know. 

But that’s not all, because second, I think we also know the message, and I’m talking about the same message that Jesus communicated through both his words and his work. And I’ll tell you, I believe the Evangelist John also knew exactly what that message was and offered a way for everybody to know it too. I mean, just listen to what he wrote near the end of his gospel:

Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life. [John 20:30-31, CEV]

You see, we know the message, because it’s right here in this book. I’m telling you, everything we need to know about God and about Jesus and about the Holy Spirit is right here. But you know, for as remarkable as that is, paraphrasing Vice President Cactus Jack Garner, it ain’t worth a bucket of spit, if we don’t read it. You see, if we dust it off, open it up and actually take it in, man, we’ve got the message, and that’s the second thing that we already know.

And finally, I believe we also know that we’ve been given power. You see, we’ve got the power to know and the power to do and the power to feel. In other words, right here and right now, we’ve got the power to become everything that we were created to be and to say everything we were created to say and to do everything we were created to do. And I’ll tell you, this divine power is grounded in something Jesus did soon after his resurrection. Just listen:

The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them and showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy.

After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, “I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.” [John 20:19-21, CEV]

Now, that’s what Jesus did; “...he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” [John 20:22, CEV] And what he did for them; brothers and sisters, he’s done it for us. But now the ball’s in our court, isn’t it. I mean, Jesus has breathed on us, right? And we can choose to avoid it. Or we can choose to ignore it. Or we can choose to deny it. But we can’t stop it; therefore, like it or not, we have power. You see, we have the power to claim our mission and to share the message. In other words, we have the power to be and to speak and to engage. And even though it sounds more Pentecostal than Presbyterian, I’m telling you, through the Spirit, we have God’s power, and that’s the third thing that I believe we know. And I’ll tell you, that’s good, since when you get right down to it, right now is our time to act.

OK, do you remember me telling you about how I’d look forward to this time of year back when I was younger than I am now? Well, as some of y’all know, a little later this evening, a committee will select the 68 schools that will participate in March Madness 2024. And even though the number of teams has more than doubled and along with conference champions, there’ll be a whole lot of at-large selections, still the tournament is really exciting. And in the end, only one team will be the national champion; therefore, the members of only one team will be able to look back and say they finished their season just the way they wanted while everyone else will begin to look toward next year.

And you know, I think the same kind of thing was going on “after Jesus drank the wine [and] said ‘Everything is done!’ [and then] bowed his head and died.” [John 19:30, CEV] You see, when he said it, I believe Jesus was recognizing that he really had finished his work on earth. And when we hear it, well, in a very real way, I think it becomes a reminder that now it’s our time to act. And for me, whether this is actually a word of triumph or not, well, that may be shaped by how we choose to respond.