Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (2)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (2)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

At the ninth hour which is 3 p.m of today, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" The language used here is neither Greek nor Roman but Aramaic. Aramaic was the official language of Palestine those days. The author of Mark correctly translated its meaning as, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

We can find this word of Jesus only in Mark and Matthew’s gospels. Luke and John’s gospel have no comment on this. What could be the reason behind? One reason could be that by emphasizing on such matter the weakness of Jesus who is the son of God and Messiah could be exposed. It is very clear that such word of Jesus does not match with the messianic figure of Jesus based on the belief and tradition of the early Christian community who believed cross as the way of human salvation. Or the author of Luke’s gospel and John’s gospel might not know this passage. Inconsistency with the tradition, the authors of gospels secured is natural because Jesus’ teaching did not transmit in batches but through very complicated processing according to region and time.

Jesus’ utterance on the cross is so called ‘The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross. It means Jesus said seven words on the cross. The contents are as follows: 1) "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (Matt. 27:36, Mark 15:34) 2) Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) 3) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." ((Lk 23:43) 4) [26]. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciples whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," [27] and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciples took her into his home. (John 19:26, 27) 5) Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." (Jn 19:28) 6) “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that word, he bowed down his head and gave up his spirit.” (Jn 19:30) 7)” Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) The interpretation about it varies from one gospel to another.