JESUS' 7 LAST UTTERANCES from the THRONE of the CROSS

Jesus' 7 last utterances from the throne of the cross:"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do"(Luke 23:34). Mercy came out of Him, because that's what was truthfully inside of Him.  Are we capable of doing the same, knowing that many people do not actually know what they do?  And deeper, because Christ still says this intercessory prayer to His Father on our behalf."Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). It doesn't matter what you've done in the past or what you can do in the future. No! The only thing that matters is whether or not you see Jesus for who He is in your present--Lord and Savior--and you choose Him in spite of your circumstances."Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" (John 19:26-27). Relationships are united and re-united at the foot of the Cross.  At the base, restoration abounds! Can we make Christ the center in order to grow our family circle?"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46) Not only a question expressing agony! But also a word of information prophetically!  He was clueing in--any with an ear to hear--that He was fulfilling Psalm 22.  The entire worlds sin was hurled upon Him on the cross--the propitiation--causing Jesus to feel His first and only spiritual separation from the Father. He endured indescribable pain--physically, psychologically, emotionally, and even relationally-- for you and I.  For the joy that was set before Him, and that JOY was YOU! "I thirst" (John 19:28). Was Christ actually thirsty?  No doubt, after six hours of suffering in ways unimaginable, He was certainly dehydrated.  But which thirst would have been heavier after experiencing a disconnect from His Father--the physical or spiritual?  Now we're learning. Christ was thirsty to be in communion again with His Father."It is finished!" (John 19:30). Not even close to a statement of defeat.  Actually, had He been able to throw His arms in the air in victory, He would have simultaneously done so with this statement.  Can we recognize that victory is ours through the blood shed on Calvary and begin to walk accordingly?  There ought to be nothing "defeated" about Christianity.  We are covered."Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46). Death didn't take Jesus, He took death.  As a result, we live in the "shadow of death" now. When was the last time a shadow was able to harm you?  Exactly.  My God controls even death; And when in Christ, on the other side of death is true LIFE.