Article: Why did Jesus say this on the cross?
Welcome to the Minister’s Desk!
Greetings, dear readers, and welcome to this sacred space where we explore the depths of faith, seek the truth, and meditate on the profound teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, we delve into a question that has long captivated the hearts and minds of believers: What did Jesus mean when He uttered those poignant words on the cross, recorded in Matthew 27:46? In this blog post, we will embark on a journey of theological reflection and Scriptural exegesis, drawing from the rich tapestry of biblical wisdom to unveil the true meaning behind Jesus’ haunting cry. So, join me as we unravel the layers of this profound passage and discover its timeless significance for our lives today in the briefest way possible! (I understand you only have so long on your breaks.) ;-)
In the question, the person asks why did Jesus say “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46) Anyone who has ever been in a Bible class with me whether it be in the classroom at Central Texas Christian School or Bible classes at the Ave. G Church of Christ know I love getting to talk about this question. We know that Jesus is quoting the often famous Psalm 22, a lament.
Jesus is quoting the popular lament found in Psalm 22. The form of the laments is beautiful in that they usually follow a pattern where you see a believer lamenting/complaining to God about a problem. You see them confirm that God is mighty and he has delivered them or others before. There is then a transition that challenges God to do it again. The lament will usually end with the lamenter announcing their problems as over even though they are still in the midst of the trouble. They know that God is going to make everything OK again. What I love most about this Psalm is that the last portion in Hebrew speaks about how God will reverse the fortune of those on the margins and in trouble. And the last words in the Psalm are...
"they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it." ESV
In Hebrew, it can be roughly translated as "It is finished!". So, Jesus is not sad are woeful in the end, He is triumphant in that God's mission is successful and the Gospel plan is about to be carried out. All people can proclaim with a loud shout, HE HAS DONE IT! or IT IS FINISHED!
What are your thoughts? Share them with us. Let us reason together.