Last Saying Of Christ: 4th Saying
Last Saying Of Christ: 4th Saying
Read: Matthew 27:45-47
Jesus’ ‘the fourth word on the cross’ is recorded in Matthew 27:4. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?” (Which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
The criminals on either side were still alive and might have lived for days on the cross. He has somehow endured a cruel scourging that would have killed lesser men. He has lost a lot of blood, even before climbing the hill to Golgotha and having his hands and feet nailed to the rough cross.
Mark tells us, "It was the third hour when they crucified him" (Mark 15:25). Sometime after the crucifixion took place, Luke tells us, "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour" (Luke 23:44). Jesus’ physical body lasts only six hours on the cross.
If we read further we see that the darkness filled the sky. It might be because of two reasons, i.e.:-
1. The anger of the father.
2. A fulfilment of prophecy. Joel 2:31 and Amos 8:9-10.
In the Fourth Word from the cross, Jesus is quoting the first verse of Psalm 22. This psalm full of predictions of his crucifixion. It is unusual that this is the only time that Jesus addresses "God" this way in prayer. In all His other recorded prayers He uses the term "Father," probably reflecting the intimate form as Abba. But here in His hour of greatest desolation, He addresses God as would any other supplicant. This doesn't represent the loss of faith. The fact that He is praying, "My God," shows that He still trusts God. But the closeness of fellowship seems to have been broken because of our sins. There is a loss of contact. Jesus can no longer feel his Father's presence.
So, the cry of our saviour is to declare that the pain has been taken away and we can breathe freely now in His love. AMEN
Mark tells us, "It was the third hour when they crucified him" (Mark 15:25). Sometime after the crucifixion took place, Luke tells us, "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour" (Luke 23:44). Jesus’ physical body lasts only six hours on the cross.
If we read further we see that the darkness filled the sky. It might be because of two reasons, i.e.:-
1. The anger of the father.
2. A fulfilment of prophecy. Joel 2:31 and Amos 8:9-10.
In the Fourth Word from the cross, Jesus is quoting the first verse of Psalm 22. This psalm full of predictions of his crucifixion. It is unusual that this is the only time that Jesus addresses "God" this way in prayer. In all His other recorded prayers He uses the term "Father," probably reflecting the intimate form as Abba. But here in His hour of greatest desolation, He addresses God as would any other supplicant. This doesn't represent the loss of faith. The fact that He is praying, "My God," shows that He still trusts God. But the closeness of fellowship seems to have been broken because of our sins. There is a loss of contact. Jesus can no longer feel his Father's presence.
So, the cry of our saviour is to declare that the pain has been taken away and we can breathe freely now in His love. AMEN
Amen 🙏
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