Matthew 27:45–46: Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 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?”
Matthew made no reference to the time when the crucifixion began. But Mark indicated that it began at the “third hour,” around 9 a.m. Matthew noted specifically that from the sixth hour, noon, until the ninth hour, 3 p.m., darkness came over all the land. In this period of darkness Jesus became the Sin-offering for the world and as such was forsaken by the Father. Near the end of this period of time, Jesus could bear the separation no longer and cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? These Aramaic words mean, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (a quotation of Ps. 22:1) Jesus sensed a separation from the Father He had never known, for in becoming sin the Father had to turn judicially from His Son. 1
Your Word is Truth
He chose to be forsaken, so we would never have to experience a spiritual separation from Him again. He was forsaken so we would never be. So why would any Christian chose to be separated from Him by continuing in a lifestyle of sin? May we forsake sin and live for Him! Rejoice each day in your blood-bought justification.
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. –Romans 3:24–26
You Alone are God
He justified me through His blood, not through my good works. – TWEET IT
Your Will be Done
Lord, thank you for making a way that I will never be forsaken.
1. Walvoord, John F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary
