When Jesus hung on the cross on that first Good Friday, he made seven statements preserved for us by the Gospel writers. No one Gospel has all seven, but all four Gospels together give us the seven. These statements reveal to us the character of God, the heart of Jesus, and the very essence of the Christian faith. They contain a goldmine of theological truth, and no matter how many times we contemplate them, they jolt us afresh. They also inspire us, as it’s the cross that shows us, like nothing else, that God is for us, not against us.

This series focuses on two dimensions of each statement—the good news, and the good life. That is, each of the seven statements has in it divine grace for us to receive (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and a divine example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). The order is crucial, as we cannot give away what we have not first received ourselves. Ponder anew the heart of God by listening to the words of his Son from the cross.

Part 1: The Word of Forgiveness (Luke 23:32-37) 

Part 2: The Word of Assurance (Luke 23:35-43) 

Part 3: The Word of Affection (John 19:23-27) 

Part 4: The Word of Darkness (Matthew 27:39-49) 

Part 5: The Word of Anguish (John 19:28-30) 

Part 6: The Word of Completion (John 19:28-30) 

Part 7: The Word of Trust (Luke 23:44-49)