“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”
I can’t help myself but to try to understand as I enter into the text. With the intent of entering in the audience, glimpse of the context, what they were feeling what they were thinking;
As I entered into the text, I was troubled within myself.
Sometime, I feel as if we merely enter into the text form a distance. As if we saw a tragedy that takes place on the news. We have a hard time emotionally engage and we may simply sigh. It is hard for me to see the reality after going through the story of Jesus Christ who was fully God and fully man who went through and now hanged on the cross. Yet, with my own limitation of my own flesh and sin, I will never know the weight and the pain that Christ felt.
Jesus experienced rejection, betray, mistrust, injustice, frustration, sorrow and pain. He was betrayed by his friend and denied by his close friend three times. Jesus was send back and forth Sanhedrin, Pilate, Antipas, Pilate being mocked, beaten, tortured and abused. Jesus was weary and couldn’t perhaps take the cross any longer. Drove nails to the wood, the pain he took as he laid his back on the cross. I cannot fathom or bear to understand.
Luke 23:33-35 then says, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”
As I enter into the text , I feel uncomfortable.
As I read the text, I realize that it was my sin that held him there. As I look into the mirror of my own soul, I recognize myself that truly needs forgiveness. Though contextually I was not present, although I was not there beating him with the rod, I realized in Romans 4:25 it was my sin that held him there. It was my idolatry that bought him the lashes, it was my pride that ridiculed to Jesus, it was lack of integrity that conjured up on an innocent man, it was my sin that put Jesus on the cross 2000 years ago. It is I that need forgiveness.
Jesus there turns away from the crowd where he can barely speak or breathe, he turns to the Father and prays for the people and say, “Forgive them for they do not know what they do”. We have put Christ on the cross for our ignorance. This ignorance leads me to want to know who Christ is and cling to the power of the Holy Spirit that enables me to come in repentance by faith
How deep the father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
My sin in the past; forgiven. My current struggle; covered. My future failures; paid in full all by the marvelous, infinite, matchless grace found in the atoning work of the cross of Jesus Christ!