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The 3rd Utterance of Jesus Christ on the Cross

12/2/2025

Article #5 on the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – Matt. 27:46

The 3rd utterance of Jesus Christ on the Cross, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (Matt. 27:46, Mk. 15:34), serves as a timely word in a climactic moment of the 9th hour, with only minutes before the death. While giving us a positive affirmation that Jesus Christ was indeed being forsaken of God, a question was posed: “Why?”. Psalm 22:1 expands this into two questions, the second one being: “Why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring?”.

“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring?” – Psalm. 22:1

It appeared to the Jews that Jesus of Nazareth was being forsaken of God in death as a condemned sinner and a false prophet (Matt. 27:39-44). In reality, the Son of God was being forsaken in a different way, and for different reasons, according to the overall testimony of Psalm 22. The questions asked in Psalm 22:1 are being answered in Psalm 22:2-31. “Understandest thou what thou readest?” (Acts 8:30).

Matthew 27:46 is more than a rhetorical question. In prayer, speaking to God the Father, Jesus Christ asked, “Why?”, and God immediately answered this prayer by causing the crucifixion scene of Psalm 22 to come rushing into the minds of the elect who were gathered on mount Calvary. Furthermore, God has been showing the elect Psalm 22 for thousands of years now as an answer to the same prayer. Literally, as the spectators on mount Calvary heard the outcry of Psalm 22:1, the minds of the elect were directed by the Holy Ghost to remember Psalm 22:2-31.

It is only natural for the first line of a song to bring to memory the whole song, but something supernatural was happening (Heb. 4:12). Something was being “revealed” with quickening power and divine assurance to the soul (Isa. 53:1, 1 Thess. 1:5)! The elect bystanders suddenly realized what they were looking at – seeing the crucifixion scene in real time (exactly as it was described in Psalm 22:12-18). Consequentially, they were stabbed in their hearts with conviction, and this created in them repentance and faith on the spot (Acts 2:37). The thief on the Cross was one of the unlikely converts.

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The 2nd Utterance of Jesus Christ on the Cross

12/2/2025

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Article #4 on the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” – John 19:26-27

The noise and commotion of the crowd eventually calmed down. This gave opportunity for Mary and the apostle John to draw near to the Cross, among others. It is doubtful that they would have drawn near at a heated time amidst the throng. Their “far off” position during the 9th hour is intentionally noted by one Evangelist (Mk. 15:40-41). Thus, we can assume that they were in a far off position at the beginning and ending of the Passion of our Lord on the Cross, and they intentionally chose to draw near momentarily during a brief reprieve of commotion from antagonists.

Upon praying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34), in the 1st utterance of Christ from the Cross, the crowd remain undeterred in their mockery and blasphemy. One would hope that such a prayer would break the hardened hearts of sinners, but the Jews were still purposed to stamp out the embers of the dying Lamb by extinguishing his life from the earth. Many of them even felt provoked at this good prayer. Why? Because it was uttered in the face of pure evil (Rom. 12:19-21). They didn’t understand what Christ was saying, or why the alleged Messiah would pray such a thing while being tortured to death on the Cross. They felt offended that the Man would show such love in the face of murder.

Therefore, while the Jews were still glorying (for all the wrong reasons) that Jesus of Nazareth was apparently Godforsaken and doomed to die on the Cross, Mary and company drew near to the Cross, and then the 2nd Utterance was given. Notice the exclamation points: “Woman, behold thy son!…Behold thy mother!” (Jn. 19:26-27). Jesus Christ was committing the care of his mother to John while in essence, saying, “I am going to die!”. This would have been shocking for Mary, John, and everyone else to hear. The Son of God had a certain expectation of death, even while His adversaries were challenging Him to come down from the Cross and live as the proof of His messianic identity! Once again, the crowds were gripped while watching the Son of God being tortured to death on the Cross because nobody knew for sure what the Miracle Worker of Nazareth was capable of doing. Nevertheless, the Jews would have interpreted the 2nd Utterance as an admission of defeat, which seemed to play into the erroneous narrative of the Jews.

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The 1st Utterance of Jesus Christ on the Cross

12/2/2025

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Article #3 on the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

“Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do.”
– Luke 23:34

This intercessory prayer was louder than thunder. It shook the third Heaven! It struck deep into the holy heart of the Father. “For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He hid His Face from Him; but when He cried unto Him, He heard.” (Ps. 22:24). So far from desertion, what we are seeing here is triumphant intercession! “He…made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isa. 53:12). Literally, this prayer was recorded in the courtroom of Heaven as new legislation, effectively creating a law of redemption, because justice was being served upon sinners in real time through the suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross;” – Col. 2:14

The Son asked…and the Father gave! As it was written (Ps. 2:8). This prayer, “Father, forgive them” (Lk. 23:34), was heard by God from the earthly altar of the Cross (Heb. 13:10-13), as if it was prayed at the golden altar of incense in the third Heaven (Rev. 6:9, 8:3, 5, 9:13, 14:18, 16:7) – a mighty and angelic altar that had horns like those of ancient unicorns (Ps. 22:21, Job 39:9-12). This prayer was answered, and now Heaven is filled with millions of sinners who were freely forgiven by God as they believed upon Jesus Christ.

“And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” – Matt. 27:36-37

“And the people stood beholding.” – Lk. 23:35

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads…” – Matt. 27:39 (Mk. 15:29)

Curious, like an assembly of demons, everyone was watching, but most people weren’t seeing what was really happening. Recklessly, like a frenzy of stampeding bulls, the crowd kept growing with people who wanted to insult and intimidate the King of the Jews. Ravenous, like lions, the eyes of these sinful souls were feeding on the gory scene. Exalting themselves, like roaring lions, obnoxiously, like barking dogs, these people roared and barked their insults at the sinless Savior.

“Many bulls have compassed Me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset Me round. They gaped upon Me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” – Ps. 22:12-13

“For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture.” – Ps. 22:16-18

The Almighty’s flesh was emaciated. The body of God-incarnate was dehydrated. The Holy One of Heaven was naked and dying on earth like a condemned criminal. Struggling to breath, as the body of Jesus Christ was stretched and nailed in a hanging position, our Lord says, “I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me.” (Ps. 22:17). The very bones of our dying King were visibly exposed before the feasting eyes of animalistic sinners.

A purposeful connection is being made between Psalm 22:12-13 and Psalm 22:16. The human depravity being put on display was so outrageous, Christ was compelled to call His persecutors bulls, lions, and dogs. They were acting like wild and immoral animals. This is a well-known doctrine in the Bible (2 Pet. 2:12, Jude 1:10). Sinners experience an animalistic degeneration when they are demon possessed (Matt. 7:6, 12:45, Rev. 18:2, Lk. 22:3, Jn. 13:2, 27).

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” – Matt. 27:36-44

“And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.” - Mark 15:26-32

“And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” – Luke 23:35-38

According to the chronology provided in Luke 23:33-38, immediately following our Lord’s prayer of intercession, the people proceeded to revile, mock, scorn, and challenge Jesus Christ. Their challenge is a part of a growing controversy that began in the early days of Christ’s ministry. Upon cleansing the Temple, the Jews scornfully asked for a sign in a pretentious quest for faith (Jn. 2:13-25). The answer given deeply offended the Jews.

“What sign shewest Thou unto us, seeing that Thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” – Jn. 2:18-19

Jews from various regions repeatedly asked for a sign in the same manner, so the Lord ended up elaborating upon the same answer again and again (Matt. 12:38-40, Lk. 11:29-32). Even the most infamous adversaries of Jesus were all given the same sign (Matt. 16:1-5; Mk. 8:11-15). However, the Jews completely misunderstood what Jesus Christ was saying in the sign. Our Lord’s words were interpreted as a threat because the Jews thought He was talking about the destruction of the Jewish Temple.

The Jews were sure that the Man couldn’t destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, so they took it upon themselves to slanderously promoted this sign as proof that Jesus Christ was a false prophet and worthy of death. This is why His accusers brought up this sign before the Sanhedrin as they sat in judgment to condemn Jesus Christ to death (Matt. 26:61). Upon being crucified, the Jews mocked Jesus Christ by challenging Him to perform the same sign as proof of His Messianic Identity (Matt. 27:36-44, Mark 15:26-32). However, to do so, He would have to come down from the Cross, so their challenge evolved into this: “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” (Mk. 15:31). In the eye of a blind beholder, Jesus Christ appeared to be utterly forsaken of God as He roared in torment, being rightly condemned as a false prophet.

“…Why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of my roaring?” – Ps. 22:1

The offended spectators needed an interpretation. Therefore, this question was both asked and answered in Psalm 22: “Why?”. The word, “helping”, in Psalm 22:1, is literally speaking about the “saving help” of God the Father. This comes through in the Hebrew because the word “yeshua” was being used (H3444). Hebrew readers would easily recognize this fact as they are familiar with Psalm 22. Indicating this, the ESV translates this verse, “Why are You so far from saving Me, from the words of My groaning?” (Ps. 22:1b).

Remember, the scornful challenge of the Jewish unbelievers was, “save Thyself” (Matt. 27:40, Mk. 15:30, Lk. 23:37), and by this they meant, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross.” (Matt. 27:40, Mk. 15:30). Again, they said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.” (Matt. 27:42, Mk. 15:31, Lk. 23:35). This challenge is also recorded in Psalm 22. The Jews said, “He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.” (Ps. 22:8). Hour by hour, from the 6th to the 9th hour, the Jews kept looking to see if Jesus will in this manner be saved from the Cross, thinking that maybe even Elijah will come to “save” Jesus Christ (Matt. 27:49). Even the impenitent Thief on the Cross said, “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us.” (Lk. 23:39).

Historically, in context, we can see the relevance of the question posed by Jesus Christ, “Why art Thou so far from helping / saving Me, and from the words of My roaring?” (Ps. 22:1b). The same can be said about the question, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Ps. 22:1a). Of course, the Son of God anticipated this very moment of controversy and gave the following public clarification with a thunderous answer from Heaven.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.” - John 12:27-33

In retrospect, we can all see why God wasn’t minded to help Jesus Christ by saving Him from the Cross. The Son of God would not dare to pray for God to save Him from the Cross. As stated, this would defy the very purpose that He was born. Instead of saving Himself from the Cross, our Lord was pleased to “save the world” by the Cross (Jn. 12:47). Nevertheless, let it be known that Christ did pray for God’s “help” two times while being tortured to death on the Cross, as recorded in Psalm 22 – once in Psalm 22:11 and second time in Psalm 22:19. Those prayers for “help” were heard by God and answered, according to the testimony of Psalm 22:19-31, to be declared in due time. That being said, the crucifixion scene must run its course until the Son of God expires in death. The Hind of the Morning, being bitten and torn by wild animals, must expire in death while appearing defenseless and helpless before the scornful eyes of spectators.

Notice how David entitled Psalm 22, “Aijeleth Shahar”. Being interpreted, this means, “The Hind of the Morning”. A female deer feeding on the grassy hills of Zion at dawn is a beautiful sight. That being said, when the hind is caught by predatory lions and dogs, it is totally defenseless and helpless…and doomed to die. The Son of God, the darling of the Father, is this defenseless Hind in the dawn of the Atonement. God will not save the Hind! Like a tender and defenseless “Lamb” it must be led to the slaughter (Jn. 1:29, 36).

Nobody, except perhaps John the Baptist, was expecting this to happen to the King of the Jews. Our Lord’s closest disciples were immediately offended when they first heard about the Cross (Matt. 16:21-23). The same men personally heard the agonizing cries of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and at the Cross, and they were offended at how He seemed abandoned by God and given over to distress (Ps. 22:1-2). Of course, they didn’t understand the internal conflict of Jesus Christ in Gethsemane, nor how it was righteous for the Son of God to feel this way, both in the Garden and at the Cross.

They were confused to see the Messiah drenched in bloody sweat and praying, “Let this cup pass from Me” (Matt. 26:39), while knowing that the Father refused to answer this prayer. They never heard anything like this before as they lived and prayed with Jesus Christ for three years (Ps. 22:2). They never observed Christ in conflict with the Father at any time. They were expecting Christ to grow stronger and stronger both privately and publicly, and they had biblical and historical reasons for this expectation.

“Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.” - Psalm 22:4-5

It was the duty of the Kings of Israel to go to war and vanquish the holy land of sinners (Ps. 101). This expectation is biblical and historical, but it was misplaced in respect to the 1st Advent of Christ. The timing was wrong. A thrice holy God demanded a sacrifice first of all (Ps. 22:3)! Divine love thought it good to die for sinners before annihilating them. Therefore, rather than exaltation, Christ was called to humiliation. Rather than glorification, Christ was bound by nails to the Tree of condemnation, much to the delight of the enemies of God.

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” - Psalm 22:6-8

Being utterly given over to the “scorn” and “reproach” of sinners, Jesus Christ appeared worthless and contemptible like a “worm” before the enemies of God. The faith of the disciples was dashed to pieces as the Hind of the Morning was torn to shreds before their very eyes. But the sinless Son of God was still precious and invaluable to God the Father. Jesus Christ was the first Man since the Fall to be born sinless, and we can be sure that He will die sinless (Ps. 22:9-10). Consequentially, the Man wasn’t dying for His own sins on the Cross of Rome.

“But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.” - Psalm 22:9-10 [see Isaiah 49:1, 2, 5]

The eternal Son – born to die - became a Man and courageously faced His destiny. “I gave My back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked of the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (Isa. 50:6). Nevertheless, the scattering of His disciples was disappointing, and a cause for lamentation (Isa. 49:4).

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Introducing the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

12/2/2025

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Article #2 on the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

Introduction

Nobody ever gets saved without coming before the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Evangelists of our Gospel bring these scenes before us in 3 chapters each (Matt. 26-28, Mk. 14-16, Lk. 22-24, Jn. 18-20). Consequentially, these are the most important 12 chapters in all of the Bible. Furthermore, the 7 utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross are absolutely essential to understanding the operation and work of the Cross.

The timing of each utterance in chronological order will prove to be important in producing a correct interpretation, and we know as believers that a correct interpretation will bring sinners under the power of gospelization. Therefore, we should pay attention to every painstaking detail of the Evangelists: Mathew, Mark, Luke, & John. How are readers brought before the Cross of Jesus Christ?

Only seconds into the crucifixion, lo and behold, the 1st utterance is made as our Lord is being tortured to death while hanging on the Cross. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34). This was followed by a lot of noise and commotion from the enemies of God (Luke 23:35-38, Matthew 27:39-44, & Mark 15:29-32). Evidently, the 1st utterance did not come with converting power. The tumult of blasphemers only increased continually. When things calmed down, this allowed for the 2nd utterance. “Woman, behold thy son!...Behold thy mother!” (Jn. 19:26-27). Once again, this was likely spoken sometime during the first 2+ hours of Christ on the Cross.

Later, during the latter part of the passion at the last hour of Christ on the Cross, the 3rd utterance comes ringing out with staggering power, thus announcing a string of undeniable miracles that eventually converted mockers and blasphemers. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (Matt. 27:46, Mk. 15:34). Appropriately, the 4th utterance is the reaping of a very unlikely convert, the Thief on the Cross. “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23:43). At last, this brings us to the 5th, 6th, and 7th utterances, which closely details the final minutes and seconds of Christ’s bloody passion on the Cross.

The 5th utterance, “I thirst” (Jn. 19:28), reinforces the divine power of the 3rd utterance, forcing the elect to think upon Psalm 22:1 and Psalm 22:15. The 6th utterance is a punctuating remark that shows how the Lamb was able to discern that the satisfaction of divine wrath was at hand and soon to be completed in death. “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). Triumphantly, in the 7th utterance, our Lord nobly surrendered His own eternal Spirit in death, and He did so with the last and final breath of His mortal body. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” (Lk. 23:46). There are many wonders to be seen here, even after death, in the final wound delivered to the body of Jesus Christ, which brings readers back to Psalm 22:14, Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20, and Zechariah 12:10.

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” - John 19:31-37

“Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.” – Luke 23:47-49

Getting absorbed in the marvelous details of the Passion of the Cross and the corresponding miracles is an exercise that is proven to convert the hardest of sinners. However, if we hope to comprehend these mysteries, we need to closely observe everything unique and extraordinary about “the Cross of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:17-18, Gal. 5:11, 6:12, 14, Php. 2:6-8, 3:18, Col. 1:20-22). Literally, no one has ever been crucified like Christ, nor has there ever been any other Cross in history that even remotely resembles the Cross of Christ.

The Cross of Jesus Christ

Upon summiting the mountain of outcasts, called Golgotha, our champion Redeemer unshouldered the burden of the Cross. The surreal scene must have moved in slow motion before the onlooking eyes of holy Angels sitting in the galleries of Heaven. It was the longest and hardest half-mile journey of any Man since the beginning of the world (John 19:17; Article #14).

The worst was yet to come. Now our Lord must be “crucified” (Matt. 27:35, Lk. 23:33, John 19:18). It was noonday, and a visible darkness was thickening overhead as the soldiers prepared the tools of torture and execution.

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” – Matt. 27:45

One soldier fetched an analgesic out of the handbag to give it to Christ. It contained sour wine (vinegar), myrrh, and gall – a typical potion of execution pharmacology (Article #16). Our noble King tasted it and refused to drink it (Matt. 27:34, Mk. 15:23). This was intended as an act of compassion to condemned criminals. The Romans were trying to dull the pain of the Cross of Rome, but this was the least of our Lord’s concern on this momentous occasion.

Looking up, everyone else only saw darkness, a thick darkness, insomuch that the light of the sun was blotted out during the brightest hour of the day. The Jews and Romans gathered there didn’t know that a world of divine fury was being concealed by a heavenly curtain of darkness in the sky (Article #18). Only the Son of God could see beyond the vail of darkness.

The Romans then proceeded to strip Jesus Christ of His clothing in a ruthless act of humiliation – something customary in executions (Article #17). All the Evangelists of our Gospel specifically cite this event in Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, & John 19:23-24.

“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” - Psalm 22:18

Most people would rather the Evangelists overlooked this nauseating detail! But all of them were emphatic in writing about this detail because they were directing readers to Psalm 22:18. They wanted everyone to go there and look at the whole scene of Messianic Prophecy in Psalm 22:12-18. There, the whole story is retold in staggering detail from the personal vantage point of the dying Messiah, who boldly declared:

“My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and [God] hast brought me into the dust of death.” - Psalm 22:15

Exhausted, severely wounded, stripped, and under a canopy of thickening darkness, our Lord’s hands and feet were seized by sinners as He was suspended over the Cross and violently stretched for nailing. This procedure was so violent it often dislocated the shoulders, ankles, and hand bones of condemned criminals (Article #19).

Speaking of this, the sinless Son of God said, “…all My bones are out of joint:” (Ps. 22:14). The Cross was then erected and Christ, the Crucified One, was “lifted up” before the multitude (Jn. 12:32).

“And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” – Mk. 15:27-28 [Isa. 53:9, 12]

The enemies of the Lord viewed the crucifixion as a moment of victory. Now that Jesus of Nazareth was literally nailed to an execution device of pure torture, they were sure that they got Him. The enemies of God celebrated the fact that Christ wasn’t going to come down from the Cross of Rome! They were convinced that He was as good as dead. But no one could be sure what the Miracle Worker from Nazareth was going to say or do. Therefore, as all the moving parts of the scene became still, everyone began looking intently to see what would happen next.

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” – Lk. 23:33-34

The crucified One could be heard groaning and “roaring” in pain as His nerves pressed hard against the metallic edge of the nails (Ps. 22:1). Blood trickled down from the nailed extremities of our Lord and stained the Cross with streams of holy blood. Thus begins the final three plus hours of the Passion. Divine justice will do its mysterious work as the Lamb of God absorbs the full force of divine wrath towards sinners, like the fire of Jewish altars totally consuming the sacrifices until they were reduced to ashes (Article #23).

The Lamb was effectively bound to the altar of Golgotha, even as it was written, “bind the Sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” (Ps. 118:27). Signifying this, Jesus Christ said, “they pierced My hands and My feet” (Ps. 22:16). Literally, the nailing of Jesus Christ to the Cross was a triumphant moment of victory, according to Colossians 2:14-15, because this is how the heavenly ceremony of an Atonement was being performed. Therefore, immediately, upon being nailed to the Cross and lifted up on mount Calvary, the Son of God cried out, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34). The Son of God was thus minded in every hour of the Passion, and especially over the next three hours. Believers can hear this prayer ringing out in every groan, roar, and outcry of the Son of God as at the beginning and until it was finished.

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Contextual Details for Harmonizing the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

12/2/2025

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Article #1 on the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

The 7 Utterances in Chronological Order

(#1) “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34
(#2) “Woman, behold thy son!...Behold thy mother!” - John 19:26-27
(#3) “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” - Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34
(#4) “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” - Luke 23:43
(#5) “I thirst” - John 19:28
(#6) “It is finished” - John 19:30
(#7) “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” - Luke 23:46 (Matt. 27:50)

Contextual Details for Harmony

1st Utterance

Luke gives us the only testimony of the 1st utterance of Christ in Luke 23:33-38. It was spoken immediately after our Lord was nailed and lifted up on the Cross. Hardened sinners heard the gracious words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Following this utterance, the crowd proceeded to revile, mock, scorn, and challenge the dying Lamb, as depicted in Luke 23:35-38, Matthew 27:39-44, & Mark 15:29-32. We can assume that this activity continued for some time without relaxation.

2nd Utterance

The noise and commotion of the crowd eventually calmed down. This gave opportunity for Mary and the apostle John to draw near to the Cross, among others, creating an occasion for the 2nd utterance of Christ (John 19:26-27). “Woman, behold thy son!...Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27). It is doubtful that they would have drawn near at a heated time amidst the throng. Their “far off” position during the 9th hour is intentionally noted by one Evangelist (Mk. 15:40-41). Thus, we can assume that they were in a far off position at the beginning and ending of the Passion of our Lord on the Cross, and they intentionally chose to draw near momentarily during a brief reprieve of commotion from antagonists.

Contextually, the placement of the 2nd utterance at this time makes the most sense. However, admittedly, this is not made clear in a basic reading of John's Gospel. While this placement of chronology might appear to be based on opinion more than objectivity, we can have objective certainty about the chronology of the following five utterances, and this allows for the 2nd utterance to fall into place. Of note, Matthew and Mark start with the 3rd utterance, and while Luke records the 1st utterance, this Evangelist skips two utterances and immediately proceeds to the 4th utterance. It is up to interpreters to do the hard work of harmonization.

3rd Utterance

Before readers even reach the 3rd utterance of Christ, Matthew and Mark are compelled to make a timely clarification. Namely, in Matthew 27:45 and Mark 15:33, the Evangelists report when the supernatural darkness appeared and disappeared at the 6th hour and the 9th hour of the day (noon to 3 pm), emphasizing how this darkness corresponded with the crucifixion and death of our Lord (Note: Luke gives this clarification later in Luke 23:44). However, Matthew and Mark then immediately bring readers to the 9th hour where they record the 3rd utterance of Christ: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46, Mk. 14:34). Anything important overlooked by Matthew and Mark is then brought into view by John.

Granted, some readers of Matthew and Mark had to wonder about the events that transpired in the first 2+ hours of Christ on the Cross, a large chunk of time during the 6th, 7th, 8th hours of the day. But only one scene is provided by John where our Lord commits the care of his earthly mother to the apostle John, and this serves as the 2nd utterance of Christ from the Cross, according to John 19:25-27. Once again, we can assume that this happened at a quieter moment during the first ≈2 hours that were omitted by Matthew and Mark, especially because the remaining utterances, counting from the 3rd to the 7th, were all spoken in close succession during the 9th hour.

4th Utterance

Luke also gives us a scene where Christ speaks to the repentant thief on the Cross, but this couldn’t have happened in the earlier hours, and had to happen during the 9th hour - serving as the 4th utterance of Christ on the Cross (Lk. 23:39-43). Why? Because both thieves were reviling and mocking Christ in the beginning (Matt. 27:44, Mk. 15:32). Therefore, something very profound and evidently miraculous had to happen to bring a mocking thief to repentance and faith in ≈3 hours. Of course, we are talking about something much more impressive than observing Jesus of Nazareth taking care of Mary. Appropriately, the 4th utterance is the reaping of a very unlikely convert, the Thief on the Cross. “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23:43).

5th, 6th, & 7th Utterances

At last, this brings us to the 5th, 6th, and 7th utterances, which closely detail the final minutes and seconds of Christ’s bloody passion on the Cross. The Evangelists make it clear that the 9th hour was the hour of miracles. More specifically, we are speaking about the latter part of the Passion in the 9th hour, namely, everything that followed the 3rd utterance of Christ from the Cross, where He said, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”, according to the predestinated script of Psalm 22:1.

John leads us into the 5th & 6th utterances with the words, “After this”, indicating that there was a time gap in between John 19:25-27 and John 19:28-30. Following the reading of John 19:28-30, detailing the 5th & 6th utterances of Christ from the Cross, it is evident that these things were spoken back-to-back, as in a few minutes of each other, shortly before Christ died.

"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." - John 19:28-30

During the final seconds of Christ’s life, following the reading of Matthew 27:50 and Luke 23:46, we can see that Christ spoke the 7th utterance with the last and final breath of His mortal body, saying: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:” (Lk. 23:46). A glorious ending! These words were accompanied with such mighty signs and wonders, the spectacle shook people to the core, even making them reconsider the events of the day. Now, as readers, it is up to us to take in the full story of the Gospel. The 7 Utterances of Christ markedly guide us through the glorious work of the Passion on the Cross from beginning to end, from start to finish, with a special focus on the finish. There is something to be seen here.

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“Father, forgive them;
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– Luke 23:34