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Father, Why have You Forsaken Me?: God the Father does not look upon the face of sin Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 record these words cried out in a loud voice by Jesus Christ in the sixth hour after being nailed to the Cross in crucifixion: "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Why did Christ say these words; what is their significance? The quick answer is that God withdrew His Holy Spirit from Jesus, turning His back, because God the Father cannot and will not look upon sin. In being crucified, Jesus had taken upon himself all the sins of humanity. God the Father hides His Face from sin and will not allow one iota of His Character to be changed by even observing it. Isaiah 59:2 records: Your gross immorality and wickedness have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. It was when Jesus knew the absence of the Holy Spirit that He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" All this is prophesized in Psalm 22 [excepted below]:
My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me? I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, "Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!" You have been my God from the moment I was born. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count every bone in my body. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my clothes among themselves and cast lots for my garments. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. People from every nation will bow down before him. For the Lord is king! He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Let all mortals--those born to die--bow down in his presence. Future generations will also serve him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything he has done. Easter, the Christian Passover, each year memorializes all the sacrifice that Christ gave on behalf of us for our Salvation. The debt had to be paid in full for our sin. In the manner of Old Testament requirements under God's law, it had to be paid with the blood sacrifice of an innocent. This page was updated on February 3, 2004. |