I wrote a series of devotion for my church on the Seven Last Words of Jesus for this Lent season and sharing them here. I am happy to discuss the answers to the questions in the comments below. So feel free to engage me in a dialogue. =)
Fourth of Seven Last Words of Jesus
Matthew 27:46 (NASB): “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”” (also in Mark 15:34)
Theme: ABANDONMENT
Read: Mark 15:22-41.
- Is Jesus affected by the insults and jeering by the people around? What do you think was His feelings and thoughts? (Try not to project your own feelings and thoughts to Jesus but look for evidence in the Bible to understand His focus and mission.
- In what way(s) did God forsake Jesus?
JESUS’ TEACHING AND APPLICATION
Read John 8:25-30.
Jesus declared that all He said is true as His source is the Father who is true. It is baffling to human mind that Jesus is pleasing to the Father and yet He had to go through the suffering of the cross, even to the extent of being forsaken by God for that moment. The intimate relationship between the Father and Son is not self-contained, but self-giving even to the point of momentary giving up what is most precious to Them – their relationship. The Father’s suffering is as intense as the Son’s suffering when on the cross. If we as believers are one with Christ in His resurrection, we are too in His suffering.
- Read John 8:29 again. The reason why God never left Jesus was because He always does the things that pleased God. What is the key reason God left Jesus in Mat 27:46 since He was obedient to God even to death on the cross (Phil 2:8)?
- Do insults from people around you affect you more than the sacrifice of obedience to God?
REFLECTION & MEDITATION
Spend quiet moments to allow the reason why God forsook Jesus on the cross to sink into your spirit. Reflect upon the motivation and focus of Father God and Jesus in this episode. Write in your journal your response and pray for God’s empowering to live out your response.
SONG OF MEDITATION
Paul Carr Seven Last Words from the Cross 4th Movement https://youtu.be/-6WC-tSRzRA
