Introducing the 7 Utterances of Jesus Christ on the Cross

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.
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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.