Vista Grande Church
Good (Dark) Friday April 3, 2026
  • In The Garden
  • There Is None Like You
  • Man Of Sorrows
  • In Christ Alone
  • Revelation Song
  • Introductory Prayer (Confession and Petition)
    Last words matter because it reveals several characteristics about the person who speaks them. We, when someone dies, pay close attention to their last words, and those who speak them pour out what matters most to them in the last fleeting moments of life.
    What can we learn about our Savior and Master from his last words?

    “Father, forgive them”

    Luke 23:34 LSB
    34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
    Jesus has been wrongfully accused, his words used against him, and all along the way he had been humiliated.
    Jesus never opened his mouth to defend himself or to accuse them. He opened his mouth to point to the word of God as the standard for truth. He interceded for his accusers, even as he intercedes for us. Here we see his role as our Mediator and Priest

    “Today you will be with me”

    Luke 23:43 LSB
    43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
    As Jesus hung on the cross flanked by two thieves, the two mocked him. Somewhere along the time spent there, one repented and defended him before the man who has ridiculed him moments before.
    As Jesus expresses the kind of assurance to the thief on the cross displays whom he truly is—God Almighty.

    “Woman, behold your son”

    John 19:26–27 LSB
    26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his home.
    Imagine the agony. A mother seeing her oldest son being put through a a world of suffering. Kangaroo court, mock trial after mock trial, scourged, beaten, and slandered by leaders and common-folk alike. Now he is hanging on a cross, nailed through his hands and ankles, wearing a crown of thorns.
    Yet, as breathing becomes harder, strength fades, Jesus now shifts to entrust his earthly mother to his beloved disciple’s care. Here, Jesus discloses his role as our Provider and Sustainer—The heart of our community.

    “My God, My God”

    Matthew 27:46 LSB
    46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
    Coming to the great zenith of this sacrifice, Jesus quotes Psalm 22, as he exclaims his call to the Father.
    Here it would be easy to see only his humanity, as the pain is too much for his body to handle; yet what we see in full view is his drinking the fullness of God’s wrath upon the cross—Jesus is our once for all Sacrifice. The eternal God in flesh who is able to consume the full wrath of the God against sinners and sin—Jesus is our great substitution and justification.

    “I Thirst”

    John 19:28 LSB
    28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been finished, in order to finish the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.”
    Jesus fulfills the prophecy about the coming suffering servant, as seen in Psalm 69:21. God had foreseen the the contempt of those Jesus came to save toward him.
    Here we see the omnipotent, eternal God displaying humanity and need, while showing meekness.

    “It is finished”

    John 19:30 LSB
    30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
    The word used here is Telelostai, a term that expresses a wholeness and completeness to the work of redemption. Jesus marks the Father’s plan as accomplished and forever done.
    When the Lord of Heaven, Master of the Universe, calls the work done we see that Jesus is our eternal rest.

    “Into Your hands”

    Luke 23:46 LSB
    46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.
    In full submission to the Father, the Son entrusts his spirit to the one who sent him to save his own—The Children of the Promise.
    Here we see the glory of salvation. Salvation is from God, for God, and to God’s glory. Here we see the complete surrender of the Son to the Father and the glorious work of redemption stretching from eternity past to eternity future.
    You and I can learn from our Savior that powerful and quiet resolve to trust that the Father has us in his hands, and Jesus has carries our sins to the cross and conquered the grave in our place.

      • Luke 23:34ESV

      • Luke 23:43ESV

      • John 19:26–27ESV

      • Matthew 27:46ESV

      • John 19:28ESV

      • John 19:30ESV

      • Luke 23:46ESV

  • How Great Is Our God
  • How Great Thou Art
  • The Old Rugged Cross
Vista Grande Church
vgcpastor24@gmail.com
505-521-9584
http://www.vistagrandechurch.com
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