Tomorrow is Good Friday. Here’s the entry from my book, “The Journey,” about the day Jesus died.

While Jesus was dying on the cross, he was mostly silent. He spoke just seven sentences, often called the “Seven Last Words of Christ.”

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

To the criminal being crucified beside him (who asked Jesus to remember him). “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

To his mother and his disciple, John. “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27).

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46).

“I am thirsty” (John 19:28).

“It is finished” (John 19:30).

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

To summarize, Jesus was forgiving, loving, protective, honest, human, complete, and victorious. Then this part of his journey ended.

If you knew you were about to die, what would your last words be? Jesus didn’t use his last hours to summarize his mission or preach one last time. He didn’t lash out at the crowd or his killers. He didn’t defend himself. He did make sure his mom was taken care of. It seems he had lived his life and had already said what needed to be said.

Maybe that’s a lesson for us—to do the life we want while we’re living. To not wait until we’re older or dying to make corrections. What life do you want? Who do you want to be? It might be interesting to write it in seven words, while you’re fully alive.