With forever

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

WITH FOREVER

Matt 27:45-46

45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About 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?"   

NIV

We have come to the words of Jesus which have given much rise to a wide range of ideas as to what he meant. The generally held consensus is that God could not look on sin and therefor turned his back on Jesus at the moment he took all the sins of the world upon him. In our opinion this could be not be true. First we should know the Jews who hurled insults at him were quoting a verse from Psalm 22.

Ps 22:7-8

7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 8 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

NIV

Jesus quoted back to them the beginning of that Psalm showing them how he knew they were but following a plan and where it came from. However the point of contention many Christians are dealing with is that Jesus felt as though God had forsaken him. This is based on his humanity, his physical pain and suffering. However God was pleased with the work of Christ on the cross as this was his plan before the foundation of the world. If God was pleased with his work he would not forsake him in the middle of the finest act of redemption of his creation. There is also a great debate among the scholars of old throughout the ages and theologians who diligently searched the various manuscripts or copies that exist. They have translated these words from the original languages in all the gospel accounts which are slightly different in the words used. The whole of this comes down to whether Jesus felt left alone on the cross. If he was pure man, he might have felt that. But he was pure divine otherwise his sacrifice would not be acceptable for our salvation. So being pure divine he would not feel left alone by the Father. If God cannot look on sin, and turned his back on Jesus then how is it possible he can look upon us? Yes, he sees us through the blood of Jesus. But the blood of Jesus was on the cross and God was with him. The translation which many of those scholars are settling on carries the meaning that Jesus was asking what kind of people the Father had left him too. The wickedness of mankind that would crucify him. Although that might work in the original language it seems most the modern translations do not reflect that idea. However it is also inconsistent with the fact that God has said, the he would never leave nor forsake us.

Heb 13:5

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  

NIV

If God would never leave us nor forsake us then it would be inconsistent that he would leave or forsake Jesus. Again would Jesus feel in his humanity forsaken? He knows within his own being that the Father would never leave or forsake him, as the words in Hebrews were inspired by the Spirit as it was also a quote from the Old Testament.

Deut 31:8

8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

NIV

Jesus was more than aware of this fact and being divine he would never think that the Father would ever leave or forsake him. This would be horrific if there were times in our lives when we are involved in sin to think God turns his back on us, that he leaves us, and that he forsakes us. Where can we go to hide from the presence of God?

Ps 139:7-12

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,  if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

NIV

God was with Jesus all throughout the entire experience he endured. He never left him, he never forsook him. Therefore we can also have the confidence God will always be with us.