Eli, Eli, Lama Sabakhtani?         Matthews 27:33-56; Psalm 22:1-2

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)

A loud and heart-stabbing cry was heard from the Cross. No one could understand this, not even David. Indeed, under the gift of the Father, David wrote this word in his psalms, according to his bitter experience when he was pursued by his enemies. David's experience was unique because not everyone had a position and condition like he had. And this indicates to us that Jesus' experience was super-unique because on Earth there was and would be no one that have the same position and condition as He had.

The suffering was uncomprehensible by mankind because it was so cruel and devastating. For David, the suffering left a deep wound in his soul; for Jesus, that suffering even destroyed His entire soul. How could the "unity" between the Father and the Son got separated because of the load of sin that was burdened on the back of the Savior? No one can think and reflect this because this suffering can only be understood with a godly mind that we don't have.

Even though we cannot understand it, this matter don't have to hinder us from getting close to Him, because even if it was only Him that can lift the burden, He has done it for us. He willingly endured the most suffering moments on the Cross once and for all in mankind's history. He did it heartily for us so that the wrath of God will not be poured upon us. That's why the scriptures said that He understands us verily, no matter how many sufferings we have, He can feel it because what He endured was uncomparable to our pains. Let us be thankful to have a God like Him, even He is there, wherever and whenever we endure our pains and sufferings. He endured them and strengthened us so that we will be able to pass through the valley of shadows to the land of glory.


••• Thursday, April 08, 2004 •••