Famous Last Words : Part 3: Why?
Pastor John Choi continues our series, "Famous Last Words."
Christ’s anguish on the cross cannot be overstated. It was real in every way. Christ not only suffered physically but did so spiritually as well. After all, he took on the sins of the world. In the mix of that we find Jesus uttering these famous last words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This fourth word spoken from the cross is offered directly to God. It is an intimate plea on the part of Christ asking God to help him make sense of the seeming desolation he was experiencing in his most desperate hour.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is a direct quote from Psalm 22:1 where David expressed his heart in the mix of the vicious and prolonged attacks of his enemies. Most of those who heard Jesus quote that verse would have been well-aware of the rest of that Psalm. As Psalm 22 plays out a hopeful word emerges, “You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” (Psalm 22:24)
Regarding Christ, God would have the last word and that word was one of hope. Sins would be forgiven, eternal life would be offered, and on this side of the cross and Christ’s resurrection we can do no other but praise him.