Daily Blast - Easter: Day 9
Scripture
“33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.”
Reflection
This scripture is incredibly emotional. This is the moment when Jesus is dying slowly and agonisingly through crucifixion after being tortured and tormented by those around Him. Here a small echo of His despair is captured through the description of Him crying out loudly. This is not the act of a man free from pain but one who is enduring suffering.
Jesus’ final words are some of the most poignant throughout the whole Bible – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This one line holds so much weight and can reveal a lot about what happens when Jesus is dying. Here, Jesus calls to God referring to Him as Eloi. Whilst this conveys a relationship with God, it is in sharp contrast to how Jesus has previously spoken to God, calling Him Abba, a far more intimate name. This switch in name showcases a shift in the relationship between God and Jesus.
To fully understand what has happened we must refer to two sections of the Bible: firstly, in Isaiah 59:2, the Old Testament states that sin causes segregation from God and; secondly, in 2 Corinthians 5:21 it states that Jesus bore the sins of the world so that humanity can be free. These two scriptures help us to understand Jesus’ final cry. Jesus has taken on the world’s sin and because of this feel separated from God hence His feeling of being forsaken.
However, there is yet another layer of understanding to be gained from Jesus’ words. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” is a mirror of King David’s cry of desperation to God in Psalm 22. In this passage, David calls to God through his anguish. Yet, towards the end of the Psalm there is hope and triumph through the coming and going of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, by calling out this line, Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy David makes in Psalm 22, resonating the fact that mankind is now saved.
Challenge
Have a look at some suggestions as to why Good Friday is called Good Friday. There are different historical and religious views – which one(s) do you agree or disagree with?