Last Words

Andrew Peterson’s newest EP is called Resurrection Letters: Prologue. It’s a short collection of music reflecting on the darkest day in history, when the Son of God and Creator of the universe was given up as a sacrifice for sin. This is one of a series of devotions inspired by these songs. Check out the song at the end of this post, and if you like it, pick up the album. Resurrection Letters: Vol. 1 will celebrate the victory of Easter, and is released March 30, 2018.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx3vDBtf78E?rel=0]

What are your last words going to be? A deathbed confession? A loving farewell? Some timeless wisdom? What if your deathbed involves excruciating pain and every word requires extreme effort? Still planning those gems of wisdom?

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard descriptions of a crucifixion; it’s become kind of a staple of Lent and Good Friday sermons, which may or may not be a positive thing. But one thing that always sticks out to me is the incredible effort it takes for someone to speak during crucifixion. I like to talk, so I sort of take it for granted that it’s generally easy to speak.

Jesus spoke a lot during his three years of ministry. What is recorded in the Gospels is only a fraction of everything he had to say. People were constantly impressed that Jesus spoke with authority in a way no one else did. Peter confessed that Jesus had the words of life, and no one else could offer them.

Yet during his trial, his torture, and his journey to the cross, he said very little. As Isaiah prophesied, he was like a lamb to the slaughter, not opening his mouth. Even the few times he did speak, he only pointed back to his mission to save mankind, not to defend himself or condemn those against him.

But on the cross, he chose to speak not once, but seven times. And each time, his words resound with Gospel power.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” If Jesus can forgive the men putting him to death while they are putting him to death, what can I do that he will not forgive? And if his love for sinners is so strong that he intercedes for them while being tortured to death, what could get in the way of his love for me?

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“Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother.” How easily I can be selfish. How easily I can put my needs before the needs of others, even my own family. But Jesus shows his faithful love in his concern for his mother. This righteous faithfulness stands in place of my faithlessness.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Here’s a mystery that defies human logic: God the Father turned his back on God the Son. Jesus experienced the full weight of the punishment of sin, being cut off from the loving presence of the Father. I cannot fathom what it must have been like for him to experience all of our hell all at once. But I don’t have to. Jesus went through it for me. I will never be forsaken, because Jesus was.

“It is finished!” In a world that says, “Do. Do more. Try harder. Be better.” Jesus says, “Done. Finished. Paid in full.” There is nothing more to be done – the debt is paid, the sin is gone, the curse is lifted, we are free.

“I thirst.” At first glance, this seems like a strange statement, after such powerful testimony to his grace and saving work. It just seems so… normal. But this is a reminder that Jesus was truly and completely human. He had to be to die for us. This beautiful, natural, normal moment glows with reality and relatability. Jesus, God as man, needs a drink so he can speak his final words.

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” It was finished. Sin was paid for. At the end of it all, Jesus could hand himself over to the Father, secure in the Father’s love. When the day comes that I breathe my last, I also will fall into the Father’s arms, because of what Jesus did on the cross.

In his song “Last Words (Tenebrae),” Andrew Peterson weaves these statements together. Each one comes in, like the candles being lit one by one in a Tenebrae service. Then one by one they disappear, like the snuffing out of the candles and the darkening of the church. Like the life of Jesus, little by little being poured out and finally extinguished.