Why Have You Forsaken Me? - Mark 15:34

Mark wrote when they crucified Jesus, “they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 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 said, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, you that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, Save yourself, 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. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-four of his book, Mark shared how Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” where we read:

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 have you forsaken me?

The verse reads, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Mark began with the words, “and at the ninth hour” or “and at the time of the ninth hour or at three o'clock in the afternoon” “Jesus cried” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “with a loud voice” or “with a great, majestic and powerful sound or tone of uttered words”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking”, “Eloi, Eloi” or “my God, my God” “lama sabachthani” which means “why have you forsaken me”? Mark shared how Jesus cried out with a “loud voice” and asked, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”.

The verse continues, “which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark added the words, “which is” or “that is”, “being interpreted” which means “translated into the language of one with whom I wish to communicate”, “My God, My God” which means “Jesus' Father and Godhead and trinity spoken twice”, “why have you forsaken me” or “for what reason and cause have you God abandoned, deserted, left in straits and helpless Jesus Himself”? Mark shared how Jesus questioned God the Father as to the reason He “abandoned and deserted” Him.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we discover what happened when the “ninth hour” of the day came. As the “darkness” was being completed, Jesus cried out and questioned loudly why His Father in Heaven, God, abandoned Him. This was the time when the “sins” of the whole world were placed upon Jesus, and God “turned His back” upon the “sins” Jesus bore. Paul the apostle wrote, “For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21), and because He was “made to be sin”, God “abandoned” Him. This was done for the “salvation” of mankind, and those who believe and trust in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” may be “forgiven” of their “sins” and receive “everlasting life” with God.

Next time Mark shares how some of the people standing by Jesus' cross cried, “Behold, he calls Elijah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".