“I could never reconcile Jesus saying “My God, why hast thou forsaken me?,” with what he said in the Book of John. All throughout the book, Jesus already understands what is to happen to him. If we understand the Trinity, why would he at the last moment ask and act in doubt. Why not say “I’m coming home?”
Good topic for me. I understand what you wrote but it seems to be a stretch. . . . ‘why did you forsake me” sounds like he is separate . . acting different . . . thinks his father ran out on him. He’s acting pretty mortal at that final moment.
You call it “the single most difficult moment in the bible”. Interesting, it is for me too.” — A reader of yesterday’s Lenten Message
The passage troubles me as well. Maybe Luis, Andy, or Cathy have given a clarifying sermon on this one. If so I would love to hear it or from them.
I am not a theologian, a biblical scholar, or a simple parish priest, nor are these meditations meant to bring an answer to our reader’s questions.
Yet, he/she poses a wonderful opportunity for meditation. So here goes.
This passage troubled (troubles) me as well. I find comfort that Jesus’ cry is from Psalm 22:1. Perhaps he is reminding his audience of a few onlookers to go to the scriptures and find the following: Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.” That Jesus is not calling on his father to save him, but reminding his followers, “ To you they cried, and were saved;” — Psalm 22:5
Before you think Psalm 22 is the complete answer, read it all. It can be a difficult read as well.
That is the point. Matthew and Mark did not leave us a “Commentary,” to explain why they thought Jesus’ last words were so important, nor did Luke and John explain why they left them out. More importantly, as Keats observed, “ That he ( Jesus) so great a man, that though he transmitted no writing of his own to posterity, we have his mind and his sayings and his greatness handed to us by others. …. Yet through all this I see his splendour.”
I am not sure that during Lent we are called to find the answer to the theological debate whether Jesus was a man or God in man’s image. ( However if anybody has perfect clarity on this point we are happy to publish their revelation first on http:thehubbellpew.blogspot.com .) I think, and it is only one person’s opinion, that Lent and our daily meditation is better served on the fact that it is okay to cry to the Lord, “ Help me. Are you there?” Then to listen and hear God’s answer. These are the Lenten conversations we are called to have in the quiet of our private moments with God.
They do occur. “To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.” ( Psalm 22:5 ).
Webb
P.S. Thank you to our reader’s contribution to our meditations. It made writing this evening a whole lot easier. W.
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