Did God Leave Jesus
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And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Many read this and believe God abandoned Christ on the Cross yet I believe the Bible shows a different story
Could it be that Jesus is actually claiming the opposite?
Yes I believe he is. You see I believe He is quoting Psalm 22
In ancient Israel, rabbinical students were expected to have all 150 Psalms memorized. One of the ways that a rabbi might test the proficiency of his talmidim (disciples) would be to recite the first line of a psalm, and then observe as his students recited the rest of the psalm back to him.
So, when Jesus cried out the first line of Psalm 22, every learned Jewish man present at the scene of His crucifixion would have immediately recognized it, and each one in his mind would have rehearsed to himself the rest of the psalm. And then realized it was being fulfilled right in front of them.
Not only this but Psalm 22 is not about God abandoning either Christ or even David the original author. Rather this Psalm is a contrast between one’s circumstances and feelings vs the reality of who God is.
God’s Trustworthiness
God’s Trustworthiness
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
We have all felt like God is afar off
said if God loved me then he wouldnt allow me to suffer like this
Why doesnt God answer me why not answer my prayers
3 answers yes, no and wait
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Yet our experiences are not the only experience look at the past
Our fathers trusted God and God delivered them
They cried to God and were rescued
They were not put to shame
God’s Protection
God’s Protection
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
I am a worm - a nobody
scorned despised and mocked - people hate me and make fun of me
They make fun of my situation and ask why God hasn't saved me If I am favored of God why won't he rescue me
Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
Yet you caused me to be born and from birth you have been my God
You have provided for me from my mothers breast until now
Therefore I will call upon you in this hour of need for no other can help me
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion
Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Bulls of Bashan - description of powerful enemy originally referred to the assyrians as in Amos 4:1
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
They are like ravening and roaring lions- again a powerful animal seeking his destruction
The Call of Faith
The Call of Faith
But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!
Plea for help
vs 21 personal remembrance of past help
I will tell of your name
praising God in the midst of the struggle for the help yet to come
The reason
He has not despised or abhorred the affliction
He has not hidden his face
He has heard
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied
Those who seek him shall praise the Lord
The Endgame
The Endgame
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
Due to the sacrifice of Christ - his suffering
Every tongue shall confess and every knee shall bow
all generations will serve him
Even the unborn shall proclaim his righteousness
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I shared this passage for two reasons first to show I do not believe that God abandons us in our sin nor did he abandon Christ but rather Jesus was quoting this psalm which is a dialogue of the contrast between our circumstances and the feelings they cause versus the reality of who God is and what He actually does. It ultimately shows that God is with us and is guiding us through our suffering to a better end. Secondly I believe this passage encourages us to obedience in the midst of suffering so that we might both receive honor from God and cause God to be glorified.
