The "real" meaning of Christmas (part 4)

[Dr Denis O'Callaghan]

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Gospel of Mathew Chapter 27 verse 46)

Gentle Reader,

It is this fourth word from our dying Saviour that causes me to begin to cry and weep as I see our dear Lord the sinless perfect Son of God who came from the very Throne room of the Most High God

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke

So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." (the prophet Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 1-5)

It is here where I see the Christ's Isolation; the Word of Anguish!

A. It is a profound Mystery

B. A positive Manifestation

These words have been called "The cry of Desolation"

"The cry of Desertion"

"The cry of Despair"

"The cry of Desperation"

This fourth word of Christ is a prayer

The First prayer is "Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

The second prayer "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Gospel of Mathew Chapter 27 verse 46)

The Third prayer "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)

Perhaps this prayer was a question?

It was a mystery of Darkness something happened!
His words were the exact quote from the Hebrew Scriptures

Psalm 22 A Psalm of David.

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

In this Psalm we see... Christ Dying Verse 1
Mockers Verses 7, 8, 12, 13
Torture by crucifixion Verse 16
Distorted body verse 14, 17
Parched tongue verse 15
Divided garments verse 18

You see Gentle Reader, the Bible is in fact the inspired word and Jesus Christ is the very Word of God wrapped in human flesh. "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Book of Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 12)

That innocence should be condemned, that the guiltiness should be persecuted, that a benefactor should be cruelly put to death, was no new event in history. From Abel to Zecharias there was a long list of such martyrdoms. But He who hung on that central Cross was no ordinary man, He was The Son of Man, the One in whom all excellencies met- The Perfect One. Like His robe, his character was "without seam, woven from the top throughout."

In the case of others there were demerits and blemishes which might afford their murders something to blame. But the Judge of this One said "I find no fault in Him."

This Sufferer was not only the perfect man, but he was the Son of the Living God! The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) such is his wish. But it is strange that He who was God manifest in the flesh should allow Himself to be so treated by His enemies. It is exceeding strange that the Father who delighted in Him, whose own Voice had declared from the open heavens, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," should deliver Him up to such a shameful death!

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are words of appalling woe. "Forsaken" Have you ever been forsaken Gentle Reader?

He who hung on the accursed tree had been from all eternity the object of the Father's love. To see Christ in ages past one only has to look at the book of Proverbs Chapter 8 verse 27 and following

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Here Gentle Reader, Is the reason that Christ Jesus, the Son of God came to earth walked among men lived and died a most horrible death For You and for me to bring us into a real relationship with the creator of the universe. The Most High God! Why He would even allow Himself to be forsaken by the Father.... To bring you back with Him! Who is standing in the way of your fellowship with the living GOD? There is nothing on His side so it must be......

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

What must have it meant to be forsaken by God! Ah, the hiding of God's face from Him was the most bitter ingredient of the cup which the Father had given the Redeemer to drink.

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are the words of unequalled pathos. They mark the climax of His sufferings.

The soldiers had cruelly mocked Him. Yet He suffered it all in silence.

The vulgar crowd taunted Him "He SAVED others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him." (Matthew 27:42)

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These words are deepest mystery. Of Old The Lord Jehovah had not forsaken His people. Again and again He was their refuge in the time of trouble. But here at the cross He is abandon by God!

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" These are the words of profoundest solemnity. These are the words which conduct us to the very throne of God.

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" The words that show us the absolute Holiness and inflexible justice of a thrice Holy God. What could you have done to merit pleasing God? Father God had provided His own Lamb. As a Father He could look on the sin of mankind and His Beloved Son became sin [as our Substitute] for you and me. God turned as it were His back on His Son But at the cross we see the Love of God as He gave himself for all mankind you and me Gentle Reader ... if you accept what he has done for you.....

Have you?

Denis