Studying Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, it seems there are seven separate considerations spoken by our Lord, as He hung on that cross, during the last few hours of His natural life (that is, as He walked these sands of time in the flesh of a man.)

It appears, of these seven separately recorded passages, three were spoken before the three hours of darkness, one was spoken during the three hours of darkness, and three were spoken after the three hours of darkness.

It seems quite befitting, for there to be a total of seven things spoken; understanding, the number seven (7) to commonly carry the meaning of "completion" or "fulfillment."

I will attempt to relate "numbers" to these considerations, in what limited understanding I have on the subject. Understanding, some reject numbers as they relate to scripture, I do not intend to offend nor am I trying to convince any concerning these things. But, as these wonderful thoughts were given, so was the relation to the numbers and the beauty of the correlation. It then seems befitting to include them in my feeble attempts to write.

1^st Luke:23:34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

We understand these to be the first words spoken, since is was just prior to the four soldiers parting Jesus' raiment and casting lots for His coat.

We see here, our Lord began this sentence with "Father." This is in harmony, as the number one commonly refers to God the Father and His sovereignty. It also refers to unity which is befitting the unity between the Father and the Son.

The love of our Saviour which is manifested here is beyond my comprehension! Our Saviour is suffering the worst physical torment ever inflicted upon a man. A picture of the resulting disfigurement we can see here in: Isa:52:14: As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Moreover, it was His own chosen children who were doing these things unto Him (He would not have asked forgiveness for the non-elect!) In the process of this most horrible torture, our Lord and Saviour said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

2nd and 3rd: These are placed together, because I do not see where scripture definitely points to which was spoken first. Though we know, both (as the first) were spoken by our Lord before the three hours of darkness. My thoughts therefore are as follows.

As I understand the number two to express a type of division at times, and witness at other times; it would seem to fit very well, for this to have been the next consideration: Jn:19:26: When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27: Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (The mother of the man Christ Jesus' and the disciple "whom He loved," were certainly witnesses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And, as far as a division, or separation: Concerning the flesh, the woman was certainly lamenting over the loss of her son, and in that respect, she was facing a separation. The disciple was most certainly also facing a separation in this respect.

As I understand, the number three represents the "Trinity" (three-in-one God-head) and specifically, Jesus Christ.

As one of the malefactors railed on Jesus, the other rebuked him that railed, and then asked our Lord: "remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Lk:23:43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

For many reasons, this brings much peace to this little child. As the Lord said "To day" not "this day," which might be argued to define a time period, but "To day" which can only be defined as, that selfsame day. I understand this to mean, as soon as the child of God leaves this old world of sin and strife, he is in the paradise of God, dwelling in eternal glory with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

(Please bear with me, as I continue for just a moment.) Neither did it matter what the malefactor said to our Lord: He was a "malefactor." Unlike our Lord, that man was absolutely deserving of that punishment (he said so himself!) Just because he acknowledged our Lord in the moments before death, did in no way make him deserving of the grace of God ("grace" is not something that can be "deserved." Otherwise, it is not grace!) Had that man not said anything to Christ, he would still have been with Him that very day in paradise.

And yet, that man's labor was not in vain. There is surely a blessing to the obedient child of God, here in this life: Because he did make a final show of true humility and acknowledging of the Lord, he did receive a blessing, while still in his natural life: He was allowed to pass this life with the peace of knowing, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Is this not a wonderful picture of "time salvation?"

Now that we're back from chasing that rabbit. The finished work of Jesus Christ, the covenant of grace, the elect of God chosen in that covenant before the foundation of the world, all represented in the above scripture: seems proper to connect with the number three.

4TH: If I understand correctly, these words are the only recorded words of our Lord during the three hours of darkness. (To clarify why I believe this was the only thing spoken during these three hours, the following scriptures enlighten us to how truly dark it was during that time Job:5:14: They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. Isa:60:2: For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Joel:2:31: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. Amos:5:18: Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. Amos:5:20: Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? For those reasons (and many others,) I do not believe, that darkness was merely a "solar eclipse" as some affirm. But rather, that darkness was such that man "felt" it (if you will.) They certainly could not have seen to walk nor run.)

Mk:15:33: And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34: And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

As we understand the number four to represent trials, tribulations and testing, this appears to be a fit representation of our Lord during this time (Heb:5:8: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9: And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;)

5TH: The fifth thing spoken by our Lord was after the three hours of darkness (for, one "ran" / filled a spunge with vinegar / put it on a reed / and gave him to drink: Mt.27:48) Grace, being often represented by the number five, is certainly that which had been shed upon the Lord's children before He said "I thirst." Jn:19:28: After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

For "all things" to have been accomplished, all things necessary to secure eternal redemption for the elect of God, it could only have been by the grace of God. Which grace was manifest in the body of Jesus Christ as He offered up Himself for our sins

6TH: Some may not be certain as to which scripture comes next. But when looked at closely, we will notice in John, it says: "It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." The first "and" here would generally tend to indicate, "It is finished" would have been the last thing spoken before giving up the ghost. But when compared to the passage in Luke, where it is written "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." We must conclude, one must have come before the other.

Admittedly, my understanding of the English language is not what I would desire. Nevertheless, I am led to believe, the lone "and" in John is not expressly definitive, as expressing "It is finished" came immediately before giving up the ghost. But, the "and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." as written in Luke, is certainly definitive. Thus, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:" must have been the very last thing spoken before giving up the ghost.

Number six, as we know, is the number of man. But how would that relate to what is under consideration? Jn:19:30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished : and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

We must first understand, what sacrifice was given and for whom. The Lord gave Himself as a living sacrifice for man (His elect)/ for the sin of man/ and He offered that sacrifice as He Himself being the "son of man." Please suffer me to chase another rabbit for a moment: As I wrote "son of man," Son of God was intentionally not placed there (though, they were one.) Since the scriptures differentiate the works of each, I'm impressed to keep them in that context.

Just before our Lord was to be taken and crucified, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and prayed to the Father. In this prayer, our Lord spake these words: Jn:17:4: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Now, if Christ said here that he "finished the work," then it most certainly was finished! But if the work of paying the sin debt for His elect was not finished until the cross, then what work was finished prior to the cross? The work of the Son of God. For, he said "I have glorified thee on the earth:" As yet, the living sacrifice was still to be offered. Which was the offering up of the son of man, unto the redemption of His chosen children.

Though they were one, it was the son of man that said "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me." It was also the son of man that prayed in the garden, "Lk:22:42: Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

Number seven: As we understand the number seven to carry with it the understanding of completion, finality or fulfillment; we see a wonderful correlation here. First, in the fact that there were a total of seven things addressed while our Lord was on that cross. And especially here, being the seventh; we see the conclusion of all matters on earth. Not only for our Lord, but being the example for "all" His chosen, for every one of His beloved children, when they pass their time here on earth: Luke:23:46: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit : and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

What a most blessed understanding we have been given! To know, when our travels through this old world are finished, when the sin of this flesh has finally finished it's course; the spirit within will be made free. It will not be left here, it will not sleep, it will not wait somewhere for another time to come; but it will be immediately commended to the Father.

Thinking of attempting to speak of the number eight (new beginning.) A most beautiful subject, but I will digress for now. I've probably already taken too much of your time.

Just some thoughts, from the feeble mind of a poor child, submitted to my Brethren for consideration. If I've spoken something amiss, please correct me as you see fit, and share your thoughts as you are impressed.

May the Lord richly bless every child of the Kingdom and may His Great Name be praised, this day and the next.

Elder Chuck Campbell
Zion's Rest (old-line) Primitive Baptist Church
McAlester Oklahoma
February, 26th 2004