Title: Tragedy and Triumph
Mrk 15:33-34 describe about one of the 7 sayings of our Lord Jesus on the cross.
- 7 Words on the cross
(Luk 23:34; Luk 23:43; Jhn 19:26-27; Mat 27:46; Jhn 19:28; Jhn 19:30; Luk 23:46)
Jesus was hung on the cross for 6 hours, from 9am to 3pm. So, 6 hours and 7 words. The same pattern appears in Gen 1, the creation. God created the heavens and the earth and all that lives in it for 6 days and during this time, He said it was good for 7 times (Gen 1:4; Gen 1:10; Gen 1:12; Gen 1:18; Gen 1:21; Gen 1:25; Gen 1:31).
We can see that God used the pattern He had used for creation for crucifixion. Therefore, we can say that 7 sayings on the cross perhaps has equally heavy significance as the creation or 7 sayings on the cross are the true conclusion of God’s creation work.
- My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?
Jesus spoke the first 3 words during the first 3 hours on the cross. However, at the mid-noon, suddenly, darkness fell over the world, and Jesus spoke no words during the second 3 hours. Then, at the end of 3 hours of darkness, Jesus resumed speaking (Mat 27:45-46).
“Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani” is the 4th Word but it was the Word that broke the 3 hours of darkness.
- 3 hours of darkness
Some theologians say that although God planned for Jesus to take the cross, when it was happening, it was too painful and too suffering for Jesus. So, God couldn’t see Jesus anymore and turned aside His face. Therefore, the darkness fell over the land.
This approach is good, but would it be the only reason why God allowed the hours of darkness fell over the land? Jesus already prayed and committed to obey the Father’s will without a flaw on Gethsemane (Mat 26:39; Jhn 5:17).
When Jesus accepted to take the cross, He also accepted the pain and sufferings that will come with it. These 6 hours on the cross is the time that God had been waiting for since the Creation and it is the time of the final battle. Yet, because of pian, Jesus didn’t do anything for 3 hours or delayed God’s will for 3 hours?
1 Pet 1:18-19 says that we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus which is unblemished and spotless. If Jesus delayed Father’s will and paused to think twice, would His blood be unblemished and spotless? So, 3 hours of darkness was not accidently caused by the pain of Jesus Christ or the pain of the Father but should be understood as the part of God’s original plan.
Darkness is the sign of Satan (Gen 1:2-3; Acts 26:18; Jhn 3:19).
However, God also used darkness as He wants (Isa 45:7; 2 Sam 22:10-13). God used 3 hours of darkness during the time of cross on purpose to trick Satan, to make Satan think that it is winning the battle, and to make Satan kill Jesus Christ on the cross.
These 3 hours of darkness were the time Satan was celebrating the victory. He must have thought “See, when we kill Jesus, there is nothing can block us, even God cannot do anything.”
- My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?
It cannot be the cry of Jesus failing His duty of complaining to God. If the 3 hours of darkness was God’s plan, then ‘My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?’ is also God’s plan.
Through this, Jesus opened the way of life for the left side criminal. There were two criminals hung on the cross with Jesus Christ. The right-side criminal represents the people who didn’t believe in Jesus but repented, thus he was promised the Paradise. However, the left side criminal represents the people who didn’t believe in Jesus and don’t want to repent. For such people, there are no way for salvation can be given (Luk 23:39-43).
So, Jesus cried out the prayer that supposed to be done by the left side criminal. Through this, even the people like the left side criminal could have a second chance, they can believe in Jesus later and be saved.
Conclusion:
Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani was the shout of victory
3 hours of darkness was the time God worked; Jesus worked secretly from Satan. Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani was the shout and praise of victory. Therefore, finally, Jesus prepared the way of salvation to all mankind. Once again, when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, He prayed so fervently that His sweat became like drops of blood. And after He finished His prayer, He praised God and sang a hymn (Luk 22:44; Mat 26:30).
King David also used this phase ‘My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me’ in Psa 22. Its conclusion is in Psa 22:22-23.
What is the conclusion? Praising God and glorifying God. If King David withdrew such conclusion, don’t you think our Lord Jesus would be more than able to do the same and bring about greater victory (1 Cor 2:7-8)?
Our Lord Jesus suffered. He suffered exclusively and greatly. However, He used the pain and suffering to help those who are in pain and suffering. That’s how much our God loves us, today.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 