Published on ministriesofgrace.com | All content © Debbra Stephens. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Easter Devotional by Debbra Stephens
At Ministries of Grace, we believe in nurturing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. During the Easter season, we’re especially reminded of the profound spiritual truths found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This moving devotional was written by Debbra Stephens, who serves as the Ministry Business and Systems Manager at Ministries of Grace. Originally shared during the Wednesday Bible Group at Meals by Grace, it offers rich theological insight and a heart for worship as Debbra leads us through the seven final sayings of Jesus from the Cross and the hope found in His resurrection.
We are grateful to Debbra for allowing us to share this devotional with our community.
The following content is © Debbra Stephens. All rights reserved. She retains full rights to this material. Used with permission.
Today we’ll look closely at the seven final remarks Jesus made from the Cross. In His final words we see Jesus put into practice what He taught throughout His ministry.
Let us first consider the events that led up to His first words uttered from the Cross
- Jesus agonized in the garden alone as His companions slept
- He was betrayed
- Arrested
- Denied by a dear friend
- Deserted by the disciples
- The religious leaders conspired against the very Author of their religion
- The Just One was unjustly tried
- His own people handed Him over to the Roman enemy to be condemned
- Crowds of those He came to save cried out for His death
- He was brutally tortured
- Mocked
- Nailed to a Cross
What is the first thing He says as He hangs from the Cross?
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)
Jesus prays aloud, seeking forgiveness for His rivals. He asks God to forgive them… even as they crucify Him. Mark’s gospel says, “Those who passed by hurled insults at him” and “Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him” (Mark 15:27-32). And yet… He says, “forgive them.”
We have been commanded to do the same – to pray for our enemies – to pray God forgives our enemies… more accurately yet… to forgive our enemies. Even before they seek it. But how many treat us even remotely to that extreme?
Peter wrote: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus did not retaliate. Why?! Because – as He said – “They do not know what they are doing.” He looked down from the Cross and had compassion upon them, the lost sheep without a shepherd, the sinners in need of saving. He saw ignorance. The ignorance of Pilate, the soldiers, the thieves, crowd. They didn’t realize what they were doing. Often, either do we.
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)
With His “Truly I tell you,” Jesus is referring to His authority. He makes a promise only He can deliver. Here, recorded for all mankind, Jesus offers the Good News of the Kingdom. And the faith of this dying thief is rewarded with eternal promise by its reigning King.
Jesus hung between the two thieves, almost as an exclamation point emphasizing there are only two choices. Both choices are available to all mankind: acceptance or rejection. Penitence or pride. The thief on the cross proves that penitent sinners who turn to Jesus for saving—even up to their final, dying breath—are extended the gracious gift of Paradise.
“Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26–27)
Here Simeon’s prophecy that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul (Luke 2:35) is fulfilled. I can’t imagine the pain she endured but she remained by her son’s side. She would be the Lord’s faithful maidservant to the end. And God bestowed upon her the grace to persevere.
The suffering of Jesus is beyond comprehension. And yet, in His anguish, He sees others. He sees and provides for their needs. Jesus obediently fulfills His duty as firstborn son in assigning a caregiver for His widowed mother. One of Jesus’ last concerns were of family and from the Cross He united one disciple to another as family. In Christ we are all given to one another as family – for that is what we are. That is what Jesus has made us to be. We . are . family. We are given one to another to nurture, protect, disciple… l o v e.
Christianity is about relationship. Relationship with Jesus, who reconciles our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and relationships with one another.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:33-34)
Three of the seven sayings of Jesus from the Cross were spoken in the light of day; four He spoke into the darkness—beginning with this. From noon to 3:00 darkness reigned. The lack of light is representative of divine judgment, reminding us of the Exodus plague. It was about 3:00 when Jesus uttered these heart-wrenching, bone-chilling words. In the historical account of Josephus, 3:00 was the time the sacrificial lamb would be offered.
The phrase Jesus utters are ancient words written by King David and recorded in Psalm 22:1. So I wonder, is Jesus really questioning or quoting? This psalm, in its entirety, is a song of trust in God and of triumph. Jesus experienced what it would be like to feel cut off from God. He felt that so we wouldn’t have to experience that reality for all eternity. He experienced what we experience that He might fully identify with our human condition.
How often do we feel God is not present? Or that our sins have created a void that seems insurmountable? But when we feel God has abandoned us, should we trust our feelings… or God? We can feel – but we must still believe. Jesus may have experienced the human feelings of abandonment and separation from Father-God, but He still knew to trust Him. His is a human question.
There is a promise in the very next psalm: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is with me. We know Jesus trusted God as a good Father. He went to the Cross in complete and perfect obedience and trust. He foretold the events of His death three times over the course of His ministry and each time He spoke of His resurrection. He was filled with a confident hope in the surety of God’s promises.
Jesus cried out in anguish and torment from His unimaginable suffering, but His faith knew God was there to hear… that God would deliver Him, making Him victorious over death. Jesus pointed to a prophetic Psalm that was coming to its fulfillment. No matter what He felt… He chose to believe.
“I thirst” (John 19:28)
You might remember toiling the hard ground in the noonday, southern sun. Or the drought we experienced several years ago. But Americans – with our designer bottled water – rarely know real thirst for long.
Jesus knew real thirst. He had not had anything to drink since the previous night at His last supper with His disciples. It is now approximately 3:00 in the afternoon—He’s been on the Cross six hours now. A. T. Robertson wrote that thirst “is one of the severest agonies of crucifixion.”
Listen closely to these gospel words: “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips” (John 19:28-29). The Text says, “Jesus knew that all was now finished” (RSV) and this act was “in order to fulfill Scripture.”
I read in the IVP NT Commentary: “The great significance John attaches to the saying ‘I am thirsty’ would then make sense because it would symbolize both Jesus’ commitment to obey God’s will and the fulfillment of suffering.” Jesus knew real physical thirst. He experienced everything we have. And being the very Word, He knew all of Scripture had not yet been fulfilled. He thirsted also to fulfill God’s works to perfection.
This phrase serves two purposes: to fulfill Scripture; and to prove His identity that He was both fully human and fully divine. He endured the intense agony of physical suffering to prove His humanity. Jesus made this clear after-the-fact. When He appeared to the Emmaus-bound disciples post-resurrection, He stated; “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). Including the seeming insignificant detail of the Messiah’s thirst.
“It is finished” (John 19:30)
Next, with great effort, Jesus expends, “It is finished.” “Tetelestai,” it’s Aramaic. One word with one meaning.
How was it used? In Jesus’ day, a priest would use this word when proclaiming a sacrifice was perfect. A merchant would use this same word in declaring a debt was paid in full. Or a servant would say this to his master when his task was completed.
The definition might be the same but the meaning drastically changes in the context of the Cross. “Tetelestai.”
How did others hear it? In relief, the Pharisees thought “it” finished. In remorse, Pilate thought “it” finished. In discouragement, the disciples thought “it” finished. In mourning, the Mary’s at the Cross thought “it” finished. With Jesus, however, “it” meant so much more! This statement, a blanket, covering all the duties foretold of God’s Messiah.
What some deemed finished crushed their hopes or created inconsolable sorrow. And satan? He likely assumed victory.
For Jesus, His finished work included many varied things. His mission was complete—nothing left undone. The battle of temptation over. His sacrifice perfect. Redemption accomplished. Salvation secured. Divine atonement made. His suffering at its end. The Law fulfilled. The Old Covenant closed. The sacrificial system obsolete. The debt of sin paid. Reconciliation made. Justice satisfied. All that—and more—completed, perfected… finished.
“Tetelestai!” This, His victory cry of triumph. The end of His earthly life bought for us eternal life. His death opened the door to heaven for all who believe His salvation is an accomplished fact.
The Father’s will is done on earth, just as it was formed in heaven before the Word became flesh. John writes, “with this [Jesus] bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” He gave over His spirit. Rising from the very depths of His agony toward blessed relief… rest. All is finished.
We could customize Paul’s words to fit the occasion: He fought the good fight… finished the race… kept the faith. Now was in store for Him the crown of righteousness. [adapted from 2 Timothy 4:7-8] And how well-deserving He is of the great reward James describes: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life” (James 1:12). The Victorious Finisher is crowned in glory!
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:44-46)
Having just declared, “It is finished,” Jesus now lays down His life.
I examined two words more closely in this verse. The first: “Father.” The Greek word used here is “pater,” which means “protector, upholder.” Another unique word in this statement is “paratethame”—commit. It means to “entrust, to place down, commit to one’s charge.”
Jesus placed His life before God, an offering. He committed Himself to the charge of Pater, His Father… Protector.
With this final statement Jesus has one last lesson to demonstrate: trust in God. Here we see Jesus place His life into God’s steady Hands. The Servant of God—Servant of Man surrenders to death to serve both. His final act—one of absolute faith and devoted obedience.
His strength has now left Him. His life ebbs away. His breath grows faint. His voice, weak. But His trust in God remains rock-solid. His determination, resolute.
The statement is shared in one other sacred record: Psalm 31. Jesus changes-up one word. One crucial word: “Father.” The Son entrusts Himself completely into the care of His Father. Jesus closes His earthly mission consciously—with a deliberate choice to give His life freely.
He did not die the death of a martyr… but willing Savior. No one took His life from Him. It was, rather, given. First by God. Then His Son. Jesus had already been given the resurrection promise. And He believed it! He surrenders His finished work – laid down on the altar of the sacrifice of His life—trusting God to do the rest.
In these pivotal hours, Jesus spoke of:
- Forgiveness
- Salvation
- Relationship
- Suffering
- Thirst (with purpose)
- Triumph
- Surrender
Upon the Cross, Jesus gifted both His Father with faithfulness, and man with salvation. All the while teaching by the intentional, priceless words He fought to deliver. A few short words—yet long on meaning. And eternal in their duration.
May they so fill our minds with wonder and our hearts with adoration to worship such a sacrificial Savior.
Carrying the Cross into Our Communities: Living Out the Hope of Easter
The seven sayings from the cross that Jesus uttered were few, but their impact is immeasurable. Through Debbra’s powerful writing, we are reminded that even in His final moments, Jesus was teaching, healing, forgiving, fulfilling prophecy, and making a way for us.
At Ministries of Grace, our mission is to walk alongside individuals and families facing hardship and offer hope—practically and spiritually. As you reflect on the death and resurrection of Christ this Easter, may you be renewed in faith, anchored in hope, and stirred to serve others with compassion and grace.
We encourage you to share this devotional with others as a way to spark meaningful conversations about Jesus and the ultimate hope we have in Him.
From all of us at Ministries of Grace—may you have a blessed and reflective Easter.
