Seven Words of Prayer:

We all believe that Messiah, the Savior of mankind by His crucifixion as an atonement for our sins, made peace with God (Yah) and man. 

The last words on the cross, which can be called the last prayers on the cross, have a great significance.  If every believer understands these pearls of prayers he is blessed and can live a better spiritual life on this earth.  I personally feel that these prayers were spoken aloud so that we can understand his love for mankind and that we, as believers in Messiah should also pray in the same way.

I.          “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34

The first word is a Prayer of forgiveness when Messiah was tortured, he softly spoke this prayer and requested the Father Almighty who is in heaven to forgive them, because they are human beings.  They are fleshy and weak and they can not understand spiritual things they work according to their own thoughts and are not led by the spirit.  They harmed one another and also they had crucified the Savior.  In 2 Kings 2:23-24 we read how the prophet Elisha cursed the children who mocked him.  We as human beings would also do the same but only Messiah had the grace to forgive his tormentors at such a time.  In Matt 5:55 He said love your enemies and was now putting into practice what He taught, overcoming evil with good.

II.          “Today, thou shall be with me in Paradise” Luke 23:43

The second word on the cross was a prayer of promise, given to the thief on the cross.  There was a conversation between the two thieves who were present on either side of the cross.  One repented of his sins and felt guilty, accepting the punishment and felt sorry for Messiah because he knew Messiah was innocent.  But the other thief although he knew he was a sinner, he was adamant and refused to accept his mistakes and made arrogant remarks.  Messiah loves everyone.  He wants to save us from our sins therefore He gives this promise of eternity to all those who repent and believe in him as he promised the thief who repented.  The dying thief was the only one to call messiah the Lord as He hung on the cross.  He is our Messiah, the Son of God.  He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

III.         “Woman behold thy son” John 19:29

The 3rd word on the cross is the prayer of comfort to the comfortless.  Messiah knows we all need somebody to care and protect us especially the women.  They are helpless, sacrificing, patient enough to bear all the troubles which they face.  He looked at Mary, the carpenters wife, accepting the will of God in her life.  A mother who watched her son grow up and fulfilled the scriptures.  She realized that in a few hours she will have to live without her eldest son.  Here he asks John to take care of his Mother Mary who looked upon Yahshua Messiah for her help.  Even at the time of His death, He provided for her future.

IV.        “Eli !  Eli !  Lama Sabachthani” ? Matt 27:46

This is the fourth word.  A forsaken prayer of being left alone at this stage.  The father Almighty in heaven lost the contact with Messiah.  The father had to do this because only then mankind could be saved.  The 2nd reason is that the father is holy and pure.  He cannot withstand the whole world’s sins on the cross, which was borne by Messiah.  Therefore the association between the father and son had to be broken.

V.         “I thirst”  John 19:28

The 5th word on the cross was “Prayer to win souls for the eternal kingdom. Messiah spoke it aloud.  He wanted the creation of man and woman to live forever in eternity, that everybody should be saved from sin and death because the wages of sin is death.  Having been brought up in the scriptures the Lord knew that they shall be fulfilled.  Here the verses from Psalms 69:21 were fulfilled “and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”.

VI.        It is finished”  John 19:30

The 6th word is a prayer of completion.  The work which Messiah wanted to do on this earth was to give his life and save sinners.  This work was completed.  The battle had been won.  His right hand and his holy arm had gotten him the victory.  Satan was defeated at the cross and is today a defeated being.  Satan wounded Messiah’s heel but Calvary struck the crushing blow to his head.

VII.       “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit”  Luke 23:44

The last words were a prayer of submission.  Very often we turn to the book of Psalms for comfort.  In Ps. 31:5 King David also uttered these words.  The father’s hands sustained the Messiah in life and death.  They are strong and merciful hands, leading us in paths of peace and righteousness.  He will be with us leading us through the dark valley, lifting us when we stumble and fall.  Hanging alone on the cross, Messiah still clung to the hands of the Father even as a small child will cling to his father’s hands.  In life and death there is no better place to be in than in the Father’s hands.

On the Cross Messiah offered up a complete, final sacrifice for sins.  The veil of the temple was torn in two.  The ancient system of offerings and sacrifices were ended.  The Messiah is the atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.  The cross sealed our salvation.  Messiah won the decisive battle and revealed to the world that Satan is a liar and a murderer and a defeated enemy.  By his death he completed his mission on earth and conquered the whole world, releasing the sinners from their bondage and bringing every believer to the eternal Kingdom.