Matthew Chapter 27
38Two rebels were crucified with him, one on His right and one on His left.
39Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads
40and saying, 'You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!'
41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
42He saved others,' they said, 'but He can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for He said, 'I am the Son of God.''
44In the same way the rebels who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
45From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'Â ('My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?).
47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, 'He's calling Elijah.'
48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, 'Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him.'
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up his spirit.
Those who have been part of a church for a while, are probably familiar with Matthew verse 46 (see above). Even if you have I think actually this Easter is the time to remind ourselves of what (not in isolation Jesus did on the cross for us) but what God (the Trinity) has done.
‘My God, My God why have you forsaken me’ is known as the cry of desolation and has been considered in two ways.The first being a punishment and abandonment by the Father for our sakesorthat as Jesus in His human form cries out in despair, His humanity begins a journey where He is lead ‘in Faith’ to victory.
I invite you to let that one settle...Jesus in His human form cries out in despair, as He begins a journey where He is lead ‘in Faith’ to victory.
During, this recount of events we often focus upon Jesus- and we rightly should - that is what is intended! But some question where is God, the Father & the Spirit.
Some take the view that Jesus is crying out to God the Father and because we can’t see Him, He isn’t there… I’m going to go out on limb and tell you that I don’t believe that is the case.
The Father & the Spirit is there in our suffering, they are there in Jesus’ suffering.
God is God therefore He can’t suffer like us, which is one of the reasons Jesus HAD to be born into a human life. He HAD to come/ be born into the suffering. This was not something that could be achieved by any other form.
Born into a world where we die and Jesus had to experience a fully human death.
What this means is that ‘God embraces the suffering through his Son. The Son takes onto himself & then transforms that suffering into LIFE for us’
Again let that really permeate your thoughts... ‘God embraces the suffering through his Son. The Son takes onto himself & then transforms that suffering into LIFE for us’
Looking at the painting, above this text, called the ‘The Adoration of the Trinity’ by a German artist called Durer. This painting shows Jesus on the cross, The Father (holding Him or with Him on the cross), and the Holy Spirit hovering around them…. You see, God cannot and will not forsake Him.
As Jesus cries out in verse 45 ‘My God, My God’ from a place informed by his human nature let us not forget that He is bearing the weight of everyones sin… past, present and future… on that cross.
God doesn’t have flesh, He doesn’t have a life that can be lost, He is The creator who creates everything from nothing. God- (The Son) has chosen to take on our death & our sins for our sakes.
God chose, to keep his promises and make the absolute sacrifice on that Cross for us and Good Friday is about remembering and meditating upon that.
Remembering that even when we cannot see above the clouds, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit is with us.
Be blessed
Jess