Matthew 27:46 "And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani...

And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

Question:

Why did Jesus feel he had been forsaken? I thought that he understood in advance that he was to die on the cross and be resurrected, and that this was part of God's plan for him- not that I understand THAT either, to be honest ... Thanks in advance for your interpretation. I love this Web site!

Comment:

There is no agreement among the four Gospels as to what, if anything, Jesus said upon the cross. (John mentions no words at all.) No one can know with any accuracy. So the question really becomes what the author of each Gospel intended to communicate through the statements each attributes to Jesus. This statement from the Gospel of Matthew is a direct quotation from Psalm 22, which is appropriate for the Gospel that tries very hard to tie Jesus to Jewish tradition from its very first page.

Several points have been made about this particular statement. George Lamsa, in his translation of the Bible from the Aramaic version rather than the Greek, points out that the Aramaic could also mean "My God! My God! For this I was born!" This suggests, rather than the depths of despair, a height of spiritual awareness and even willingness. And if Jesus is, indeed, quoting Psalm 22, it's a psalm that begins in despair but rises to a ringing affirmation of God's constant Presence, even in times of conflict.

The point is, I think, that our own crucifixion experiences—and there are many in the course of a lifetime spent in spiritual exploration—may well engender a sense of despair. But out of that despair comes an ever-deeper realization that God is present through it all. Out of that realization comes the profound surrender that allows us to fully express our Christ energy.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed