2006-03-31 - Seven Last Words of Christ

Part 5

Matthew 15:34 (NIV) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Some find these words of Jesus to be disturbing. They have a hard time dealing with the fact that He could experience such a very human emotion as feeling abandoned by His Father. They seem to think, somehow, that it takes away from his holiness. Paradoxically, it does just the opposite.

Because we human beings are sinful, and God in His holiness cannot tolerate sin, if left on our own, we ourselves would feel this abandonment. But Jesus' experience of feeling forsaken by God is proof of His love for us. For Jesus experienced this because He, in His perfection, was bearing OUR sins. He went through this emotional pain, so we wouldn't have to, and so we could spend eternity with God.

Also this is a reassuring passage, because it teaches us that Christ understands our deepest pain. When He was here on Earth, He didn't live an Ivory Tower existence. He resided in the "real world," and can identify with our emotions. If we feel abandoned by our friends or family, we can know that our Lord truly understands.

I hope you will join me in thanking God that this passage was included in the Scriptures.

Comments or Questions?
Jan

CFDevJan@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org