As Matthew the apostle wrote concerning Jesus, he declared, “then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself. If you 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. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse forty-six of his book, Matthew wrote how, “Jesus cried out with a loud voice … My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” where we read:
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?
The verse reads, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” Matthew began words, “and about the ninth hour” which means “and around the ninth hour of the day which was three o'clock in the afternoon” “Jesus cried” or “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate raised His voice” “with a loud voice” which means “with a massive, intense and great sound of uttered words”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Eli, Eli” which means “My God, My God”, “lama sabachthani” or “why have you forsaken me”? Matthew shared how Jesus employed Hebrew words, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” to “cry aloud” to His Father in Heaven.
The verse continues, “that is to say, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew added the words, “that is to say” or “which is interpreted”, “My God, my God” or “Jesus' God, Jesus' God”, “why have you” or “for what reason and cause has God” “forsaken me” which means “abandoned, left in straits and helpless and utterly deserted Jesus Himself”. Matthew shared how Jesus cried out to His Heavenly Father as He wondered for what reason “God” “abandoned” Him.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we should know there are two meanings to the word “why” employed by Jesus. The first meaning is though Jesus did not have understanding for “why” He was going through such suffering, however, the second meaning, “for what reason and purpose” was Jesus going through this suffering is closer to Jesus' purpose. The words, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” are taken from Psalm chapter twenty two and verse one where we read, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”, and in Hebrews the writer proclaimed, “he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (See Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus wanted His Heavenly Father to demonstrate to mankind the reason He had to die, and because He suffered in this manner, all people who believe and trust in Him shall be saved and inherit eternal life with God. Jesus was “forsaken” by God so we might be “saved”, and blessed are those who understand and yield to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Matthew wrote what, “some of them who stood there … said”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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