(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What is Jesus referencing when he cries out from the cross?
Intro:
I do love me some aha! moments, and I’ve gone one for you today.
Today we read the story of the crucifixion I’m asking the focus question, “What is Jesus referencing when he cries out from the cross?” Matthew actual translates the Aramaic, Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni, but there’s a reference there I never knew about. You might enjoy this, too.
Here’s a hint. One thing that’s true of hymns, particularly older ones, is that the first line of the hymn is also the title (or is it that the title is the first line? LOL)…like “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” or “Amazing Grace".”
With that, let’s roll.
New Testament segment:
Passage: Matthew 27:11-66
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 55
Words: ~1163
So, when Jesus cries out on the cross, he does so in Aramaic (which Matthew translates for his Jewish audience, most of whom I’m guessing didn’t speak Aramaic):
“Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mt 27:46b, CSB
So that line is the first line of Psalm 22. And you’ll hear that in a moment. That said, more than one commentary said something like this:
The psalm anticipates Christ’s outcry from the cross (22:1; Matt 27:46), the mockery He received (Ps 22:7; Luke 23:35), His pain and thirst (Ps 22:14–15; John 19:28), the piercing of His hands and feet (Ps 22:16), and the casting of lots for His clothes (22:18; John 19:23–24). But it also looks forward to His victory and the coming of people from all nations to submit to Him (Ps 22:27–28).(1)
What this quote doesn’t emphasize, is what I found to be a big aha! moment. We are inclined to think Jesus was quoting this line as a means of expressing anguish, and that’s not wrong, per se. BUT…culturally that opening line would have been like citing the title of a hymn like we were talking about earlier. And what’s significant about that? That hymn ends with an eye a future of victory that was — you’re going to love this — all about hope!
Old Testament segment:
Passage:
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Psalm 22
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 31
Words: ~509
The bottom line:
Friends, Jesus came to live a sinless life, die an atoning death, and exhibit a bodily resurrection and ascension as God’s act of mercy and grace toward the humans he so loves. And he’ll come again to make all things right as perfect Judge and King (which, as I’ve said many times lately, is what’s so amazing about grace). What is Jesus referencing when he cries out from the cross? Not just anguish, but reference to ultimate victory as well.
That said, let me close with a bonus nugget for today’s focus on the crucifixion. Remember that moment when, as Jesus was crucified that Matthew mentions that the curtain in the temple was ripped in two? Remember what we behind that curtain? God’s dwelling place. The place that only the High Priest went into, and that only once a year. Ironically, this is the power of reading the OT, so here’s the bit from Exodus 26 that Jesus’ finished work on the cross reversed:
31 “You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it. 32 Hang it on four gold-plated pillars of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the curtain, so the curtain will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place. (Ex 26:31–33, CSB)
Don’t let anyone fool you. There is no worldview, no story, no love like Christianity. Thank you, Jesus, for what you did for me.
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 334.