Good Friday, The Day Jesus Was Crucified

That day, after whipping Jesus, they crucified Him and treated Him like a common criminal. But what the Lord accomplished when He died on the cross benefitted all humanity for eternity.

The followers of Jesus may have lost all hope as they witnessed their Messiah dying. But we know some positive results happened before they even took His body off the cross.

Jesus impacted the lives of at least three people during the events of that day. We could have considered Pilate as the fourth person, but he, through pressure, handed down the death sentence.

Simon was the first person impacted when the soldiers randomly chose him to carry the Lord’s cross. Jesus told one of the crucified thieves that day that he would join Him in paradise.

The third one Jesus impacted stood at the foot of the cross, but not as a mourner. This man, a Roman centurion who crucified people every day, recognized Jesus as the Son of God.

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As others passed by, they yelled mockingly at the Lord, telling Him to save Himself. The religious leaders gloated that day when they saw this rebel called Jesus crucified on the cross.

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” Matthew 27:41-43

That Day, While Crucified on the Cross, Jesus Said Seven Things

Jesus uttered seven things while dying on the cross. He spoke three times to the Father and two times to individuals. He spoke to anyone listening to Him and once to all of creation.

Three Times Jesus Spoke to the Father

His first words reflected His compassion. The Romans whipped Him, and the crowds sneered at Him. Below Him, soldiers gambled for His clothes, and the Jewish leaders mocked Him.

That day, the crucified Jesus hanging on the cross looked to heaven. Even with everything happening to and around Him, He prayed the following to the Father.

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Evidently, the second time He spoke to the Father occurred when He bore the sins of the world. At that moment, He freed humanity from the clutches of sin. Peter later confirmed this action.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. 1 Peter 2:24

Before the sacrifice of the Lamb, Jesus carried the sins of the world for a brief moment of time. From Mark’s Gospel, let’s read the second thing Jesus said to the Father from the cross.

Then at three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mark 15:34

The crucified Jesus spoke a third time to the Father just before He finished His word for the day. We could almost interpret His last message as, “Father, I’m coming home.”

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Unnatural Occurrences When Jesus was Crucified

Just before and at the moment of the death of Jesus, three very unnatural things happened. The only explanation for each of them pointed to the death of the Son of God.

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Matthew 27:45
At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Matthew 27:51
The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. Matthew 27:51-52

He Spoke Directly to Some Individuals

The Romans crucified Jesus along with two other men who, at some time during the day, had a conversation. One of the men recognized Jesus as the Messiah, a man without sin.

We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:41-43

Jesus also spoke to two people very close to Him: His mother and the apostle John. As the oldest son responsible for his mother’s well-being, He took care of some family business.

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27

As the crucified Jesus hung on the cross, He fulfilled one last prophecy before His day would end. Therefore, He uttered the words that would fulfill that prophecy.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28

They raised a soaked sponge so he could drink. Mark’s gospel says that Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. John tells us in his gospel what Jesus said.

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

He Spoke to the Whole World

Jesus must have experienced total exhaustion when considering what He went through up to that point. Yet He shouted out for the whole world to hear, “It Is Finished.“

With His strength totally depleted, Jesus, our crucified Lord, completed His work that day. Jesus, our ultimate sacrifice for all time, paid the price in full for your sins and mine.

Lord, thank you that your crucified Son, Jesus, sacrificed Himself that day, paying the price for our eternal life. I accept what He did so I can spend eternity with you.

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