THE PRICELESSNESS OF JESUS' LAST SEVEN WORDS

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In brief...

Jesus' suffering on the cross - "It is no wonder that Jesus managed only a few words at a time on the Cross -  each word spoken was accompanied by excruciating pain, on his feet, his back, his wrist, his entire body… each word leading him closer to his death by asphyxia."



14 Apri 2014
Sharing my notes taken during Novena homily by Rev Fr Simon Tan, CsSr
@ Church of the Alphonsus


Dear friends,

I participated in the Stations of the Cross with some parents this morning, and learnt from a doctor mum about the medical aspects of Jesus’ passion.

It was a “wow” session for me personally as I have not been exposed to this aspect  before – very sobering & sorrowful to have a better understanding of the excruciating pains experienced by our Lord.  

Many aspects touched me, but I’d like share just one area – it has to do with the pricelessness of the last seven Words Jesus left for us from the Cross.

Beyond the piercing pains that accompanied the tremendous injuries sustained by Christ, I learnt that He had suffered so greatly just by breathing, something we so much take for granted.

I was told that “the weight of the body, pulling down on the out-stretched arms and shoulders, would tend to fix the intercostal muscles in an inhalation state and thereby hindering passive exhalation.”  

This means that his breathing would have been shallow, and Jesus would have taken a great deal more effort breathing out than breathing in.

Every attempt to exhale required our Lord “lifting the body by pushing up on the nailed feet, and by flexing the elbows and adducting the shoulders.
  • This maneuver would place the entire weight of the body on the injured feet and would produce searing pain.
  • Furthermore, flexing the elbows would cause rotation of the wrists about the iron nails and cause fiery pain along the damaged median nerves, sending electric-like shock like searing pain through his body.
  • Lifting of the body would also painfully scrape the scourged back against the rough splintered wooden cross on his already badly scoured and broken back.

As a result, each exhalation effort would become agonizing and tiring and lead eventually to asphyxia.

It was pointed out to me that we cannot speak when we inhale.  We speak only when we exhale.  

In the condition described above, it is no wonder that Jesus managed only a few words at a time on the Cross -  each word spoken was accompanied by excruciating pain, on his feet, his back, his wrist, his entire body… each word leading him closer to his death by asphyxia.

And it dawned on me so powerfully just how precious the last seven Words are.  He must have wanted us so much to hear those words, speaking them in between the searing pain – and so, we must hear them, reflect upon them, internalise them, and live them.  The obligation to love God in return is ours.




REFERENCE:  The 7 last sayings....

  • Luke 23:34: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
  • Luke 23:43: Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.
  • John 19:26–27: Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.
  • Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
  • John 19:28: I thirst.
  • John 19:30: It is finished. (From the Greek "Tetelestai" which is also translated "It is accomplished", or "It is complete".)
  • Luke 23:46: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Traditionally, these seven sayings are called words of 
1. Forgiveness, 
2. Salvation, 
3. Relationship, 
4. Abandonment, 
5. Distress, 
6. Triumph and 
7. Reunion.

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