Christ is risen

As Jesus hangs on the cross, he cries out in Aramaic, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? Which means My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew recorded these words for us in 27:46

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

At first glance, it appears that Jesus cries out in despair, but far from it, here Jesus is quoting scripture, he quotes the first verse of Psalm 22.  You probably know this already, just like those who stood by him at the cross certainly would have recognised that Jesus was quoting scripture.

Psalm 22 begins as a lament but in the third section, verses 22-31 the focus of the psalm shifts from personal despair to praising God for his faithfulness. Hope rises in verses 24-25 where the Psalmist reveals that the Almighty has not abandoned Jesus or hidden his face from him, and has heard his cry for help.

For he has not despised or scorned
   the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
   but has listened to his cry for help.

Indeed, if you read the whole of the Psalm, it becomes apparent that this Psalm is a messianic prophecy about Jesus and the Cross.

Verse 18. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing, which were fulfilled by the Roman soldiers.

Verse 16, they pierced my hands and my feet” foretells of the means of his death, the Cross.

Psalm 22 is all about Jesus. And his words on the cross, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" are not words of despair, rather as he hung there dying, he gave his followers hope by telling them where to look in scripture to understand better what was taking place. The cross was not a failure that heralded a cry of despair, rather it was a fulfillment that proclaimed triumph as Jesus surrendered his life through total obedience to the Father, and in his love for each of us as he paid the price of our sins.

The Psalmist ends with the words " He has done it" In this God's sovereignty is declared in Jesus's ultimate triumph over death and sin in verses 29-31

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
   all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
   those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him;
   future generations will be told about the Lord.
They will proclaim his righteousness,
   declaring to a people yet unborn:
   He has done it!

Today as we remember that first resurrection Sunday morning when the women found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. We rejoice knowing that Jesus is alive, the Father had listened to his cry for help and had raised him from the dead.

And from that first resurrection Sunday, all humanity can rejoice knowing that "Christ is risen” and we can cry out in response - "He is risen indeed. Alleluia!"

Happy resurrection day,

Trev.