My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? (Matt 27:46)

My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? (Matt 27:46)

       
Polycarp, bishop of the church in Smyrna in the second century was caught and brought to the proconsul to be martyred. But, seeing Polycarp's old age, the proconsul told him: "Respect your age. Swear by the genius of Caesar, repent, say: 'Away with the Atheists.'" Polycarp was silent for a while. The proconsul pressed him, saying: " Take the oath and I will let you go. Revile Christ!" Then, Polycarp answered: "For eighty and six years have I been his servant, and he has done me nothing wrong, and how can I blespheme my king who saved me."
The proconsul persisted again, saying: "Swear by the genius of Caesar!" Polycarp answered: "If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, and pretend that you are ignorant who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the doctrine of Christianity, fix a day and listen."
The proconsul said: "I have a wild beasts, I will deliver you to them, unless you repent." Polycarp answered: "Call for them, for repentance from better to worse is not allowed to us; but it is good to change from evil to righteousness."
The proconsul said: "I will cause you to be consumed by fire, if you despise the beasts, unless you repent." Polycarp responded: "You threaten with fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will."
Polycarp was so brave before death, as he was so sure about what would wait for him.

However, we, human beings, are not all so brave and peaceful in mind in all circumstances. Sometimes, whether we are rich or poor, whether we are young or old, we are naturally afraid of what will happen in the future, after retirement, and after death. Sometimes we feel that we are abandoned by our family members, or church members, or other friends. Sometimes we find ourselves, complaining to God about his ill-treatment or unfairness (or partiality).
 
From noon on, darkness covered the whole land until three in the afternoon. About three o'clock, Jesus cries with a loud voice, "Eli. Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This cry of Jesus reminds us of David's Psalm 22:1-2.

1. David's Cry in Psalm 22
In Psalm 22:1ff David cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest." As a King, he seems to be a happy guy with power, wealth, and several wives and concubines. But, his life has not been a smooth one. He became an object of jealousy by his father-in-law, Saul; David fled from Jerusalem to escape from his beloved son Absalom, who defiled David's concubines on the roof in the sight of all Israel. To David, God seems to have forsaken him for such a long time, although he thinks that he always has been lifting up his eyes to God for help. Yet, Marcion, a second century heretic, thought that God of David could not be a good God, because he showed such a favoritism to some particular persons including David, an immoral wretched fellow.

Marcion was right in that God has shown his hesed--everlasting love to him although David has made so many mistakes. Then, what does this David's cry mean? Does David really think that his God has forsaken him? Does he really complain that God does not hear him when he cries day and night? By no means! David knows that God has always been with him. But, this present tribulation is so great that he needs God's imminent help and healing. That's why he is crying out so loudly day and night. After all, going toward the end of this Psalm, realizing God's immanent presence, David praises and gives thanks to his God, "I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him." Only those who cried out to God for help and sought God in desperation may know his love and mercy, and will praise his name.

2. Abraham's Cry in Genesis 22
   Genesis 22 is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Some unbelievers who know the Scriptures relatively well often say that this is a proof of the Hebrew God's cruelty, testing and watching his faithful servant's behavior by pushing him to an extreme situation.
In this passage, God called Abraham, commanding him, "Abraham, take your son, your only son Issac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." Abraham, as usual, obeys him in silence, without knowing God's mind.
   During a three day journey and even at this very moment when he is lifting his knife high to kill his beloved son, Issac, without knowing nor questioning about God's will, Abraham may have been crying in his deep down inner part, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Killing his son, Issac means that God may not fulfill his promise of the land, a great nation and a blessing. But, on the other hand, Abraham's faith has not been reduced at all. Even at this very moment, Abraham believes that Jehovah-Jireh God will provide a substitute for him and his son Issac, as he said to his son, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son"(v. 8).

3. Jesus' Cry on the Cross in Matthew 27:46 (Mark 15:34)
   Six hours has elapsed since Jesus was hanged on the cross on a hill called Calvary--Golgotha, which is near from the Mt. Moriah. Jesus cries out, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My, God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" In this groaning, does Jesus really think that his Father has forsaken him? Absolutely not! Jesus shouts because he feels enormous pain due to wearing of a human flesh. In this cry, does he really want his cup to be passed away from him against God's will? By no means! As he knows clearly that there is no other way for the human salvation, he does not want the cup to be taken away from him. Satan is tempting him through the people standing beneath the cross, mocking him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself"; and one of the criminals is also deriding him, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" His suffering reaches climax. As a perfect God with the mighty power, he is able to jump off the cross even now if he wills. But, he does not allow himself to do that not to be defeated by Satan. The angel of the LORD stopped Abraham hurriedly, calling him, "Abraham, Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son for me." While Jesus, God the Son, is suffering on the cross, God the Father in heaven is suffering, too. On the verge of his son's death, his killing of him, God is crying out, "My people, my people, why have you forsaken me?"  God stopped Abraham to save Isaac, but there is nobody who will stop him from killing his only Son, Jesus. He does not withhold his Son, his only Son Jesus for the love of human beings although the human stupidity prevents them from realizing this everlasting love of God.
The author of Hebrews testifies us in 5:7-9, "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."

4. Epilogue
Our life is full of paradoxes. Abraham, Job, Joseph, David, Jesus Christ, Peter and Paul had gone through so many afflictions, crying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" inwardly or outwardly, yet they are those who truly praised God and gave thanks to him, having kept their faith.
We, today's Christians, should also cry out to God, struggling with him, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" for us to forsake and to kill our old selves, and to live every day life of a new creation in Christ!