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I was asked to speak in the church today on this word and my first reaction to this was: "My God, My God - why this passage out of the 7?"
But I am so glad, I was asked to preach on this, as I learnt something new and very important for my Christian faith.
The common understanding of this passage is: Because Jesus was carrying the sins of the world; the Father couldn’t bear to see it, because He is a Holy God – which is why He turned His face away!
While it’s a good concept, I always found it very hard to believe … because God came in search of men, who were sinful - in fact, it started off like that in the Garden of Eden, when Adam & Eve sinned.
Also, when Jesus was on this earth physically, He made a very bold declaration in John 8:29 – “The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him”
Now on the Cross, was Jesus doing what God wanted Him to do? Absolutely!!
- Then why did God leave Him?
It doesn’t make sense that God would leave Jesus alone, on a Mission which was His initiative?
And if that's true, I have a problem with that because I am committed to the Great Commission - and as per Matt.28:18-20 He promises He will be with me always, even to the very end of the age.
But if God deserted Jesus while He was on the cross, there is no assurance, that He will be with me, while I endlessly pursue the Great Commission!
If God can forsake Christ, He can certainly do that to me, because I am not perfect!
I would like to explain 2 things here:
1) Did God really forsake Jesus – at that point?
I would say ‘NO’ – not really!
Naturally, the next question then is: Was Jesus lying? - well, an EMPHATIC 'NO' to that as well!
So, how do we get around it?
A good Hermeneutics (~ the art of interpreting the Scriptures) when dealing with difficult passages is always allow the Scriptures to interpret Scriptures - because the Scriptures don't contradict itself!
Psalm 22:1,2 - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent"
What Jesus is doing here is adapting a common rabbinic teaching technique known as REMEZ (a Hebrew word ~ hint).
By the way, the English word 'reminiscence' comes from this root!
- This particular technique alludes to / hints at something which would have been known on that day, by the majority of Jewish people – given the fact, that they knew the entire Hebrew Scriptures by memory (the Torah & the Psalms).
Similar, to how people respond now-a-days with 'ALL THE TIME" when we say, “God is good …”
Jesus used this technique on quite a few occasions during His ministry and here at the Cross, it's no different - because He is telling people (without actually telling them, but making them think), that this is NOT THE END!
Take a look at Psalm 22:
Vs.4,5 – “In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed”.
The Jewish people, though slow in picking things up (including the disciples), would have certainly understood what Jesus meant at that time and would have reflected on the Psalm.
The Roman soldiers and others were unaware of the Scriptures, so they kept taunting Him.
Vs.7,8 – is what they have been doing to Him – mocking Him, taunting Him, hurling insults …
The whole Psalm is a reflection of what God can do, when things are looking bleak.
2) Secondly, have you ever noticed that when we go through struggles, it always seems to be the biggest struggle ever, in the face of the earth? Be it a cold or a headache?
And it feels like God has left us alone to battle it out.
I am not saying that Jesus is doing that here – but as I had mentioned earlier, He’s getting them to think that this is not the end.
- The call is to see the problems in God’s perspective & not be bogged down by it.
For eg: if you place a small coin against a big table – the table looks considerably big. But when the small coin is kept against the eye, the table (which is much bigger) is covered – and we can’t see it!
Our problems are like that compared to a God who is big – but we don’t see Him, because we put the problems so much in front of us.
The famous story – FOOT PRINTS ON THE SAND (Mary Stevenson)
“One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied, "The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you."
So, though it seems like God is far off – realistically He is there.
Jesus knew His Scriptures and He quoted Scriptures right throughout His life-time - from the beginning, when He was 12 yrs. old, when He interacted with the Religious leaders; and in the wilderness when satan tempted Him; and during His ministry ...
And on the Cross, it was no different – He was quoting Scriptures …
Jesus said these words only once … but it’s echoing all over the world every time, as people say it all the time - and usually quoting it out of context.
And in times of trouble for us – rather than, just quoting half the Scriptures and sulking in our problems .. it’s time, we realize the fullness of His Word and see the Lord’s presence carry us through that struggle – as we see Jesus come through victoriously from the Cross.
God did not abandon Him and He wouldn't do that to us as well!
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