Chosen Ministries Seven Last Words

Apr 04, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Unconditional Offer of Forgiveness

Even in the midst of unimaginable suffering and cruelty, the first words spoken were not of pain but of pardon. This prayer for forgiveness was extended to those actively causing the harm, not waiting for an apology or changed behavior. It reveals a profound truth: God's willingness to forgive is not triggered by human action but flows from His own character. This forgiveness is offered before it is ever received, making it available to all. [36:55]

“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’” (Luke 23:34, ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who has hurt you, perhaps even recently, for whom you have been waiting to see change before you consider offering forgiveness? How might Jesus' example on the cross empower you to release that offense as a choice, independent of their actions?

Day 2: The Critical Difference Between Proximity and Response

One can be physically near to Jesus and yet remain spiritually distant. Exposure to truth and closeness in relationship are not the same as a surrendered heart. A life-changing connection with Christ is not forged by mere presence or knowledge but through a personal response of faith and trust. God is not looking for your proximity to Him; He is looking for your response to Him. [46:55]

“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” (Luke 23:39-42, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life have you been relying on proximity—like church attendance or Christian community—as a substitute for a genuine, daily response of surrender and obedience to Jesus?

Day 3: Grace is a Gift to be Received, Not Earned

Salvation is not a paycheck for good behavior but a gift offered through faith. No amount of personal effort can make one worthy of this grace; it is simply accepted. This gift meets you exactly where you are in your brokenness and failure, but it does not leave you there. You don't get clean to come to Jesus; you come to Jesus, and He cleans you. [50:00]

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you still trying to clean yourself up or achieve a sense of worthiness before feeling you can fully receive God's grace? What would it look like today to stop striving and simply accept His gift?

Day 4: Purpose Perseveres Through Pain

Pain, though very real and heavy, does not cancel God's purpose for our lives. It may change how we move through our calling, but it does not give us permission to abandon what God has assigned us to do. Even in His greatest moment of agony, Jesus modeled that responsibility and care for others can—and must—continue. Our purpose is based on God's call, not our fluctuating feelings. [01:02:07]

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: When you are walking through a season of pain or overwhelm, what is one God-given responsibility you tend to withdraw from first? How can you take one small step this week to faithfully engage in that purpose, even from a place of hurt?

Day 5: We Are Called into Relational Responsibility

The cross does not only restore us vertically to God; it also connects us horizontally to each other. Our faith is not meant to be lived in isolation but in committed community. This new spiritual family, forged at the cross, comes with the responsibility to actively care for, support, and show up for one another. We are called beyond just attending to truly belonging to each other. [01:04:54]

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35, ESV)

Reflection: Who has God entrusted to your circle of care, and what is one practical, intentional action you can take this week to support them, reflecting the love Jesus showed from the cross?

Sermon Summary

Jesus endures the full brutality of crucifixion: scourging that rips flesh, a crown of thorns pressed into his scalp, and a blood-soaked beam driven across streets that once saw healing. He collapses under the weight, is thrown to the ground, and has spikes driven through his hands and feet. Breathing becomes labor, and every word costs him breath; yet the first utterance from that suspended agony is an intercession—an active plea for forgiveness for those inflicting the harm. Forgiveness appears here not as a reward after repentance but as an offered reality before repentance, revealing that divine mercy initiates reconciliation rather than waits on human change.

While dying, Jesus also responds to a repentant thief, granting immediate entrance into paradise. Proximity to suffering and proximity to salvation diverge in that moment: physical closeness to Jesus does not guarantee spiritual acceptance, but a brief, honest turn of the heart does. Grace meets the guilty where they are and accepts faith without prerequisite works; redemption proves available even in the final breath.

The crucifixion also models responsibility amid pain. Jesus entrusts his mother to the beloved disciple, establishing care and redefining family along spiritual, not merely biological, lines. Pain does not cancel assignment; purpose continues through suffering. The crowd watches and mocks, but a small circle remains committed—faith shows up in the ones who stay when it gets heavy.

Overall, the cross demonstrates a triad of movement: forgiveness extended in the midst of injustice, salvation offered to the undeserving, and restoration enacted through ongoing relational responsibility. Suffering does not invalidate purpose, nor does it excuse abandoning relationships. The cross calls for active response—an acceptance of grace, a willingness to forgive before feeling ready, and a commitment to care for others as proof of transformation. In the shadow of the cross, mercy initiates, faith responds, and community sustains.

Key Takeaways

1. Forgiveness offered amid active cruelty Even while suffering the worst injustice, forgiveness issues forth as a deliberate act rather than a passive feeling. This shows forgiveness as an initiated reality that can free the forgiver before the offender ever repents. Choosing to release debt interrupts cycles of retaliation and aligns the heart with divine mercy. It reframes forgiveness as a spiritual work of will, not a dependent emotional outcome. [36:55]
2. Forgiveness precedes repentance and feelings Forgiveness appears here as a decision made regardless of the other's awareness or remorse. That ordering teaches that mercy is not conditional on human change but on divine initiative. Beginning to forgive before emotions follow breaks the bondage of waiting and catalyzes healing. It also models a kingdom ethic where grace circulates independently of merit. [39:00]
3. Grace meets the guilty where The dying thief receives salvation without time for works, proof that grace does not require rehabilitation before reception. Faith, not a resume of righteousness, opens the gateway to paradise, showing grace as gift, not wage. This frees those who feel too far gone to believe that redemption can still reach them. It reframes spiritual access as responseable, not achievable. [45:49]
4. Responsibility persists through pain Even in extremity, care and purpose continue: provision for Mary demonstrates that suffering does not cancel calling. Pain may alter method, but it does not release assigned duties to others. The formation of a new spiritual household underscores that faith translates into concrete acts of stewardship and relational commitment. Endurance and responsibility together authenticate transformation. [55:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:02] - The brutality of crucifixion
[36:55] - "Father, forgive them" spoken
[39:00] - Forgiveness before repentance explained
[45:49] - Promise to the repentant thief
[46:34] - Proximity versus spiritual response
[50:30] - Grace received, not earned
[55:27] - "Woman, behold thy son" — care assigned
[58:01] - Crowd versus circle: who stays
[62:43] - Purpose amid pain: continue the call
[68:06] - Forgive, restore, and respond
[70:59] - Closing invitation and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Luke 23:32–43 (ESV)
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Observation questions

What were the first words Jesus spoke from the cross, and what was happening around him as he said them?
How did the two criminals respond differently to Jesus while they were all suffering together?
What specific responsibility did Jesus assign to John while he was on the cross? [55:27]

Interpretation questions

Jesus asked the Father to forgive those crucifying him while they were still doing it. What does this reveal about the relationship between forgiveness and repentance?
Both criminals were equally close to Jesus physically, but only one turned to him in faith. What does this say about the difference between proximity to Jesus and a personal response to him? [46:34]
Even in intense suffering, Jesus ensured his mother was cared for. How does this redefine what family and responsibility look like for those who follow him? [01:03:30]

Application questions

Forgiveness is offered as a decision, not a feeling that follows an apology. Is there someone in your life you’ve been waiting to apologize before you forgive? What would it look like to release them today, even before they change? [40:00]
Jesus assured the thief of paradise with just a simple turning of the heart. Have you ever felt like you needed to “clean up” first before coming to God? What would it mean to receive his grace right now, exactly as you are? [51:07]
Pain didn’t stop Jesus from fulfilling his purpose. What responsibility or calling have you stepped away from because things got hard? How can you re-engage, even in a limited way, this week? [01:02:43]
Jesus noticed who stayed near him in his suffering—the circle, not the crowd. Who are the few people God has placed in your life to walk with you through hard times? How can you intentionally appreciate or strengthen those relationships? [58:01]
The cross shows that faith isn’t meant to be lived alone. Are you actively involved in a spiritual community where you both give and receive care? If not, what’s one step you could take to move toward deeper, more responsible relationships? [01:07:46]

Sermon Clips

37s

#PainIsNoExcuse

“And give me this and let me let you hear this clearly. I am not minimizing pain because pain is real. Pain is heavy. Pain will get you through. Pain will take you through some degrees, but pain does not give you permission to abandon what God has assigned you to. Oh, yeah. Come on, baby. Come on. That's true. Oh, good. Because purpose is not based on how you feel. Jesus. It is based on what God has called you to do. Pain may change how you move, but it should not change what you're called to do. Yes, sir.”

36s

#GraceNotEarned

“have been trying to earn grace when God already decided to give it to us. We're trying to be good enough. We're trying to clean ourselves up. We're trying to fix everything first, but the cross teaches us you don't get clean to come to Jesus. You come to Jesus, and he cleans you. This man didn't get a chance to live saved, but he died believing. Uh-huh. So grace is not something you achieve. It's something you accept. At the moment that when you start to receive that, everything will change.”

51s

#SalvationPlusResponsibility

“You gotta realize that salvation does not cancel responsibility. Jesus does not just create connection, he assigns care. John is expected to take responsibility for Mary. This shows that the biblical relationships involve action and not just feeling. Spiritual maturity includes honoring family, restoring relationships, and showing up for people. So the question is, who has God entrusted into you? And are you intentional about some of the relationships that you have? Are you intentional about checking on people, supporting others, and showing up consistently? But this also shows us that faith is not just personal, it is relational.”

41s

#KingdomFamilyResponsibility

“And with the family, it comes responsibility because you don't just attend you belong. You don't just show up. You show care. You don't just receive and you support. Because in the kingdom, we are not just brothers and sisters in language, but we are brothers and sisters in responsibility. So what Jesus does on the cross is not just a vertical thing, but it's also a horizontal. He restores us to God, and he connects us to each other. This reveals to us that Jesus is not just savior. He is son, and he models honor, care, and responsibility.”

35s

#FamilyByFaith

“Jesus is not just dealing with the sin, but he's re redefining family. When he says, woman, behold thy son and son, behold thy mother, he's doing more than just making sure that she's taken care of. He is creating a new kind of family. It's not just based on blood, but it's based on belief. Because naturally, John is not Mary's son, and Mary is not John's mother naturally. But at the cross, Jesus connects both of them. Here's the bigger picture of it all. This is a picture of what God is feeling.”

31s

#ChurchBeyondDNA

“This is an example of what the church should be today as a family. That goes beyond last names. This goes beyond DNA, and this goes beyond natural connections. People who did not grow up together are now walking together. People from different backgrounds, stories, and different struggles are now connected through Christ. At the cross, Jesus is not just saving individuals, but he's building a family unit.”

25s

#RelationshipsMatter

“This reveals that God cares about relationships and not just redemption. This means that the cross is not just about getting you to heaven, but it's also about how you live and while you're still here. Yeah. Because redemption fixes our relationship with God, but transformation shows up in the relationships with people.”

41s

#ForgiveLikeJesus

“We were the ones who sinned. We were the ones who rejected. We were the ones who ignored God. And while we were yet still in it, Christ died for us. Yeah. So Jesus hanging on this cross, bleeding and struggling to breathe, still chooses to pray and not for himself, but for the ones who put him there. If he can forgive while nails are in his hands, we can forgive when offense is in our hearts. Because when you forgive, you are reflecting God's character.”

51s

#NeverTooBrokenForGrace

“that you are never too broken. You are never too far gone. And don't you ever say that you are not enough because there is still room for you at the cross. This man is guilty. He's lived wrong. He's being punished, and he knows he deserves it. Because if you continue to read the text in Luke twenty three forty one, the thief says, we are receiving what our deeds deserve. Yeah. So he already recognized that he wasn't perfect. He already recognized that he did mess up. He already recognized that he was a sinner. So this is not a man with a clean record. Is not a man with a second chance lined up. This is a man at the end of his life with nothing left, but he responded with faith in his heart, and that was enough.”

53s

#NoExcuseToQuit

“he didn't quit because it was too heavy, he didn't walk away because he was in all of this pain, then if because it was hard, then we should not stop either just because it's uncomfortable. We don't the privilege to quit just because it's difficult, and we don't get to walk away just because it cost us something. He stayed so we could be saved. And he endured so we could be free. He finished so we could live. So the question is, what excuse do you have not to live what he died to give? What excuse do you have not to live what he died to give?”

18s

#RespondDontJustAttend

“You can still hear the word and still not respond to the word. You can sit in church and still not surrender your heart. You can have a lifetime membership and still not know him. So the question is not how close are you. The question is, have you responded?”

16s

#FaithNotEarnings

“Because let me help you understand what just happened on the cross because the thief did not earn anything. He did not have time to fix his life. He did not have time to make things right. He did not have time to prove himself, but he responded.”

39s

#PrayForTheUnrepentant

“We'll pray for the people who said, I'm sorry. And we'll even pray for the ones who let go of the fence, but we still remain defended. Yeah. But Jesus is saying, can you pray for the one who is still to You know, not do We're We're that. It is proven while the pain is still happening. And if we were honest, the truth is all of us probably in this room at one point in our life were those same people.”

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Chosen Ministries Seven Last Words

Devotional

Day 1: The Unconditional Offer of Forgiveness

Day 2: The Critical Difference Between Proximity and Response

Day 3: Grace is a Gift to be Received, Not Earned

Day 4: Purpose Perseveres Through Pain

Day 5: We Are Called into Relational Responsibility

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chosen Ministries Seven Last Words

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