The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ- Good Friday Thoughts

This Good Friday, we remember the darkest moments of Jesus Christ. It was in his crucifixion that he uttered his seven final words. Yet at this point of his dying, why should Christians call it ‘Good Friday’? What is good about this day that only highlights his sufferings?

Well, I leave the answer from the tweet of the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby:

“Good Friday is the darkest and most difficult day in the Christian story. But it’s also the day that tells something important no matter what we are going through. God is with us.” 

So, did the archbishop miss something in his words? Maybe it’s a good suggestion for you to find out. I feel the hint is, there is something good in Jesus’ seven last words.

If you have missed joining in the online Good Friday service of your church, here are some good points that I noted from the sharing of the seven last words of our service from the different priests of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP). Find time to read it.

1.  From The Rev. Fr. Gerry L. Cabije

To say that we should forgive our enemies is easier said than done, but every time we pray wholeheartedly, the power of prayer would penetrate into the human soul and changes every bad to something good. Just as when Jesus uttered his 1^st final word, it proves that when we pray there is something that pushes us why we really need to pray. This includes the purpose of love. In a secular word, love means the movement of our emotions or intellect but Jesus in his first word on the cross, “Forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing,” is a prayer of love rooted from the human mind, the faculty of the will, the power to wish and most especially the intention to forgive.

Forgiving our enemies is not about feeling good about ourselves but it is about the possibility of loving them through the grace of God.

2. From The Rev. Dr. Ben Ngaya-an

The word paradise from this second word would mean a general understanding of the place where good and faithful people will go when they die. But this kind of paradise may not be suitable in this context. Otherwise, we only end up romanticizing the situation of the agonies of the crucified thieves and Jesus Christ.

The paradise in accordance with their situation may mean about Jesus who even in his dying moments will think of the need of other people. He revealed to the thief the perfect image of the Father who is a loving God. The thief who will be with Jesus in paradise is one way for us people to recognize our wickedness and let our lives be ruled by Divine intervention.

It can be inferred that the thief has already developed in himself the fear of God but have equipped it with hope. He doesn’t need the strongest faith for Jesus to tell him the truth but he only needed a single hope by miraculously giving up his composure, the best prayer he may have uttered throughout his entire life.

3. From The Rev. Fr. Joe W. Mock

The words primarily focused on friendship, love and family. Jesus is fully divine by nature but his immersion in this world also made him fully human. He is a perfect man but just like human beings, he needed friendship and family relationship for his mental and emotional support.

He loves everybody but at the time of his darkest moments, many of his followers were afraid to go near the cross. Many feared to comfort and go along with his mother. It was only John who did that. No wonder he why he is called “the beloved disciple.”  He is one of a kind friend who has the thinking, “What are friends for?”

Mary is just an ordinary woman and mother. She has no social outstanding. She is an outcast. But by the words of Jesus when he said to his disciple, “This is your mother,” he felt that someone would make sure to take care of his mother. 

4. From The Rev. Dr. Jonathan P. Britt

Jesus was left to die in agony from the cross. Even some of his followers have abandoned him, but what is more striking in his statement is the fact that he has trust. Trust is another word for faith but faith is nothing without hope. In these trying times that people are becoming more frightened and desperate, we should not forget that despair is the psychological ally of the COVID virus. We shouldn’t lost hope because after Good Friday comes a joyful Easter Sunday. 

5. From The Rev. Fr. Justin B. Fung

If we were the ones to be crucified, we wouldn’t have reached the cross. We would have proved to the people that we are the son of God. We would have shouted, “enough is enough!” but Jesus never thought of that, instead he cried that he is thirsty. It was a way for him to please his father, that he didn’t seek his own agenda. He wants to accomplish his father’s will. He chose to embrace his father’s will.

If you are in doubt how Jesus would go to show his love for you, then these two words can beat mountains of love. He is willing to go so far as to accept the thirst to accomplish his plan of saving mankind. He is willing to be thirsty so people can drink the living water and will never thirst again. The things that we gain from here are like water that will make us thirsty again and again.

We may not fully understand at this time why God allows sufferings and inconveniences of life but one thing we can never doubt is God’s love for us through these two words.

6. From the Rev. Fr. James N. Boliget

To finish means to bring into completion or to accomplish something. The mission of Christ in this land is already finished and has faithfully done.

In the Old Testament, sacrifices to be offered are often in the form of animals, especially lamb. The person’s sins will already be forgiven after a sacrificial ritual by a high priest. When Jesus Christ came, he already became the lamb, the perfect sacrifice for ourselves. Therefore, his word was really fulfilled. However, let us not just see his word only as a word but a powerful word to treasure into our hearts and into our minds.

7. The Rev. Christopher T. Chua

Jesus’ last word on the cross is a declaration of completion of him in the Father and Holy Spirit who have blended in and before the beginning. The reflection for this is simple: Jesus is in control. He is sovereign. He is our savior. He is our Lord. He was chosen by the Father to be his Passover’s lamb as recorded in the Scripture. If we have not been faithful to him, then today is the day of salvation. Today is the right time to turn back to all our transgressions and accept Jesus into our heart as our Lord and Savior. 

*Note: The words on the reflections are not as exact as what the priests stated. The writer focused on the message, not on the content. Please view back the online video saved in ECP page for elaboration and any additional of their reflections.

Washing Each Other's Feet- Maundy Thursday Reflection

This Maundy Thursday, we remember an important event that has influenced billions of Christians around the world to follow. We remember the promulgation of Jesus’ new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you”—John 13:34. In this verse alone, the term ‘love’ is broad and general that one might be asking how we should express it. At the deepest level, Jesus demonstrated his love through washing his disciples’ feet. A selfless, humbling act that will totally encourage us to emulate in showing care to each other. Hence, our worship that includes foot-washing is not just a ceremony. It is more than that. It is a symbol of God’s love and our love to all people regardless of any background or status.

We may even ask, “Why washing of the feet?” In fact, there are lots of ways how Jesus can exemplify what he meant by his new commandments. That’s perhaps in my own view, washing feet is a very menial task. Jesus took action without someone asking him to do it. He never waited for someone to do it first. He has done it not because it was really his job or that it was his responsibility but because of a clear purpose of showing his disciples what love really means. Like all of us who are reading this, I know that when candy wrappers are scattered on our floors, we immediately take action by picking it up and throwing it in the trash cans so that our purpose of cleaning the floor will be fulfilled. Very menial isn’t it? It doesn’t require practice, skill or effort to do that. It only needs our purpose and more so our love.

This proves that the level of task Jesus performed is the same level of love that we need to show to others. If it can take us easy ways to hate, then it should take us easier ways to love. The washing of disciples’ feet sets out a perfect example of our service and care to others. What he did may even seem odd because leaders should be the first to be washed since they are in charge. But because Jesus’ leadership is rooted on love and humility, he served his disciples first so that his favor to do the same will be followed.

In the story, Simon Peter was even bothered and confused, “Then Lord, wash not only my feet but my hands and my head as well,” but then Jesus replied, “Those who had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” In a literal sense, Jesus wants to point out that the hygienic care we give to our body is already our own responsibility, but the feet he washed was to let his disciples focus on the body part that can be easily stuck by dirt yet it can be easily cleaned through washing. A sign to recognize the importance of washing not only our hands or face but our feet as well. Imagine a king or a leader or a master doing such menial task?

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet not because his followers were the chosen ones or that they were worthy to be cleansed, but because of his scandalous grace that includes the undeserved like the apostle whom he knew would betray him- an unmerited favor. When we want to become more like Jesus, we need to give love unconditionally even if we think the person doesn’t deserved it. The mindset of our service should also fixate to his mindset, humbly stooping down to the feet of others.

We have to wash each other’s feet not for the advancement of our status but for the advancement of God’s kingdom.