‘At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”’ (Matthew 27:46 NLT).
This is one of the seven last sayings of Jesus from the cross. The apostle Matthew recorded them in the original Aramaic that Jesus spoke, followed by its translation. Perhaps he recorded the actual words because they were so emotionally heart rending. Or perhaps it was because Jesus repeated David’s haunting words verbatim from Psalm 22:1.
For the first time in eternity, fellowship between the Father and the Son was interrupted. Jesus who knew no sin, became our sin. Jesus who is the Life, took our death. Jesus the eternal Son of God, took our separation. So, we might receive His righteousness, life and sonship by believing in Him.
What was Jesus’ seventh saying? “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus accomplished His mission for our salvation. Now because of Jesus, we can place our trust in Him to be made right with the Father. Christ was forsaken that we might be accepted. For now the Father has said to those who believe: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at Your love for us. That You would forsake Your own Son in order to accept us. Yet by Your great power You have raised Jesus from the grave, so that He lives, always interceding for us. Strengthen us this day by Your Spirit that we might always live for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.