"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (11)
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?"(15:34)
Psalm 22 represents the suffering of innocent people. Jesus’ cry comes out from here which says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.” (Psalm 22:1,2)
We can imagine the heart of the author of Psalm 22. He was in trouble that he thought he had been forsaken by God. God did not help him and nor listened to his groaning nor answered for his cry for help. He experienced the same intensity of suffering Jesus had on the cross.
The Psalmist further appeals saying, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads： ‘He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’” (Psalm 22:6-8)
People take pleasure in mocking the man who is placed in a miserable situation in which he looks like someone forsaken by God. They say, “Let the Lord recue him?” This is the statement which is unbearable for the Psalmist to hear. In a way, the psalmist would not mind if they mocked at him along. It could be considered as something normal for there has been no generation that recognized a true prophet. However, the situation in which God is mocked is absolutely unnatural and ironical.
On the cross, while he was being mocked at, did Jesus think that God was being mocked at rather than him? For those who believe in God, there is no other more desperate incident than such thing that had happened to Jesus which impelled him to utter, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"
Showing posts with label Mark 15:34. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark 15:34. Show all posts
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Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (10)
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (10)
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)
Jesus’ cry for being forsaken by God represented the ‘suffering of the innocent people’. Jesus suffered as a representative of the innocent people. After the crucifixion of Jesus, no one has ever borne the magnitude of such a suffering. Jesus suffered for the sake of all the humanity once and for all. However, we should not be satisfied with the shallow understanding of religious teachings. There are some deeper and more crucial points which we should not avoid.
The state of suffering faced by the innocent people is, in theological term, called theodicy. Though we may be able to get some theological answers, it cannot be the ultimate and the suitable one. It is clear that human suffering and infirmities are rampant around the world. For example, there is congenital disorder. Who will be held responsible for the destiny of a permanently visually impaired person or die young? Can we believe in God in such situation? In such desperate situation, can we especially believe in God who is believed to have abundance of love and almighty power?
Jesus answered to his disciples who asked him as to whose sin it was that a man being born blind, saying that it is neither the sin of his nor his parents’ but it was done to reveal the glory of God. And he healed him. Is it not the task for us all to bear?
Even today there are people who cannot but cry out desperately, “Why have you forsaken me?” Only those who have the same experience of being forsaken can feel the pain of Jesus in their hearts. Jesus is the representative of all humanity. Jesus is the microcosm of suffering of all the people who have the feeling of being forsaken by God.
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)
Jesus’ cry for being forsaken by God represented the ‘suffering of the innocent people’. Jesus suffered as a representative of the innocent people. After the crucifixion of Jesus, no one has ever borne the magnitude of such a suffering. Jesus suffered for the sake of all the humanity once and for all. However, we should not be satisfied with the shallow understanding of religious teachings. There are some deeper and more crucial points which we should not avoid.
The state of suffering faced by the innocent people is, in theological term, called theodicy. Though we may be able to get some theological answers, it cannot be the ultimate and the suitable one. It is clear that human suffering and infirmities are rampant around the world. For example, there is congenital disorder. Who will be held responsible for the destiny of a permanently visually impaired person or die young? Can we believe in God in such situation? In such desperate situation, can we especially believe in God who is believed to have abundance of love and almighty power?
Jesus answered to his disciples who asked him as to whose sin it was that a man being born blind, saying that it is neither the sin of his nor his parents’ but it was done to reveal the glory of God. And he healed him. Is it not the task for us all to bear?
Even today there are people who cannot but cry out desperately, “Why have you forsaken me?” Only those who have the same experience of being forsaken can feel the pain of Jesus in their hearts. Jesus is the representative of all humanity. Jesus is the microcosm of suffering of all the people who have the feeling of being forsaken by God.
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (9)
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (9)
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)
What does it mean by the term “forsaken by God”? Why did Jesus cry out like this? The answer is simple. His death on the cross is the most visible evidence of being forsaken by God.
Christians today are suffering in approaching the reality of cross because they premise Jesus’ crucifixion as the way of salvation. We first have to know the reality in order to understand the salvation that is brought by the crucifixion of Jesus. I told you earlier about the method of executing on the cross. I have also mentioned that death on the cross is a curse. We now would like to experience the spiritual world in which Jesus lives and which drives him to boldly face the crucifixion. His determination and bold step to encounter gruesome crucifixion shows that he maintains his relationship with God that supersedes the pain of gruesome crucifixion and shame of the mockery of the world. Jesus was able to withstand all these hard tests as he fully depends on his relationship with God who gives him the living spirit.
We have to understand that if Jesus practically trusted the impending kingdom of God he would humbly accept the cross of crucifixion. Even if Jesus was convinced that though the death on the cross which is associated with the extreme physical suffering that he would be able to bring the glory of resurrection, wouldn’t he cry out, “Why have you forsaken me?” I am not sure but there were quite a lot of people who have been executed on the cross like Jesus accepted their deaths resolutely.
Here the most important key that provoked him to utter the particular statement is associated with his relationship with the Father. There is no one who can bear the pain of destroying the relationship. What is more, it is certain that if the one who absolutely trusted God loses his intimate relationship with God, he would be greatly shocked and would say, “If you are living, if you are my father, how can this thing happen to me?”
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)
What does it mean by the term “forsaken by God”? Why did Jesus cry out like this? The answer is simple. His death on the cross is the most visible evidence of being forsaken by God.
Christians today are suffering in approaching the reality of cross because they premise Jesus’ crucifixion as the way of salvation. We first have to know the reality in order to understand the salvation that is brought by the crucifixion of Jesus. I told you earlier about the method of executing on the cross. I have also mentioned that death on the cross is a curse. We now would like to experience the spiritual world in which Jesus lives and which drives him to boldly face the crucifixion. His determination and bold step to encounter gruesome crucifixion shows that he maintains his relationship with God that supersedes the pain of gruesome crucifixion and shame of the mockery of the world. Jesus was able to withstand all these hard tests as he fully depends on his relationship with God who gives him the living spirit.
We have to understand that if Jesus practically trusted the impending kingdom of God he would humbly accept the cross of crucifixion. Even if Jesus was convinced that though the death on the cross which is associated with the extreme physical suffering that he would be able to bring the glory of resurrection, wouldn’t he cry out, “Why have you forsaken me?” I am not sure but there were quite a lot of people who have been executed on the cross like Jesus accepted their deaths resolutely.
Here the most important key that provoked him to utter the particular statement is associated with his relationship with the Father. There is no one who can bear the pain of destroying the relationship. What is more, it is certain that if the one who absolutely trusted God loses his intimate relationship with God, he would be greatly shocked and would say, “If you are living, if you are my father, how can this thing happen to me?”
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (8)
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (8)
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)
I would like to add some more supplements to the meaning of the last sentence of the foregoing meditation. I have mentioned that Jesus experienced a deep sense of despair on the cross. In this we may ask, as the Messiah, would Jesus ever feel a sense of despair in public life on earth?
Surely people do not fully understand the nature of Jesus. They judged and evaluated Jesus based on their own viewpoints. People fervently supported Jesus when his activities and movements are in tune with their personal mood and intentions but if Jesus’ action is found to be contradictory with their intentions, then they outrageously reject him. Neither the Jewish religious leaders such as the Pharisees nor those sincere religious person like Nicodemus can understand Jesus. Not one of them can fully understand Jesus. Even Jesus’ disciples were not exception in this matter. Once Jesus replied to someone who would like to be one of his disciples saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matt. 8:20)
Based on the above verse, we can say that Jesus’ life was a life with absolute solitude. It does not merely mean that there are not many people who understand Jesus. An absolute solitude does mean here the availability of people in relation to one’s close relationship with God. Jesus absolutely trusted the impending kingdom of God. However people thoroughly neglected the kingdom of God. Little by little Jesus was driven into a corner. Did he experience deep sense despair in such situation?
Jesus who proclaimed the impending kingdom of God was hung on the cross helplessly accomplishing nothing. Where is God’s kingly rule? What hope can one have, for the one who promised life is going to lose his own life? Where is God? Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
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)
I would like to add some more supplements to the meaning of the last sentence of the foregoing meditation. I have mentioned that Jesus experienced a deep sense of despair on the cross. In this we may ask, as the Messiah, would Jesus ever feel a sense of despair in public life on earth?
Surely people do not fully understand the nature of Jesus. They judged and evaluated Jesus based on their own viewpoints. People fervently supported Jesus when his activities and movements are in tune with their personal mood and intentions but if Jesus’ action is found to be contradictory with their intentions, then they outrageously reject him. Neither the Jewish religious leaders such as the Pharisees nor those sincere religious person like Nicodemus can understand Jesus. Not one of them can fully understand Jesus. Even Jesus’ disciples were not exception in this matter. Once Jesus replied to someone who would like to be one of his disciples saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matt. 8:20)
Based on the above verse, we can say that Jesus’ life was a life with absolute solitude. It does not merely mean that there are not many people who understand Jesus. An absolute solitude does mean here the availability of people in relation to one’s close relationship with God. Jesus absolutely trusted the impending kingdom of God. However people thoroughly neglected the kingdom of God. Little by little Jesus was driven into a corner. Did he experience deep sense despair in such situation?
Jesus who proclaimed the impending kingdom of God was hung on the cross helplessly accomplishing nothing. Where is God’s kingly rule? What hope can one have, for the one who promised life is going to lose his own life? Where is God? Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (7)
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (7)
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?"(15:34)
If we are to define the statement, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”, we would say that it is an expression in which Jesus himself accepted his death on the cross as a failure of his mission. Everybody judges that crucifixion is the epitome of failure. In fact, the proclamation of the imminent kingdom of God is Jesus’ real mission. He said, "The time has come," and "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). Jesus dedicated his total life for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is God’s kingly rule. It is the kingdom where justice and peace of God truly prevailed that everybody irrespective of the Jews or Gentiles enjoys living in the kingdom. Believing that the kingdom of God was near, Jesus proclaimed forgiveness and expelled evil spirit. With God’s heart he taught people and loved them. However, his mission and devotion for the kingdom of God came to an end with his brutal death on the cross.
Jesus’ ultimate destiny that ends up with the crucifixion on the cross could come under one of the following three conclusions: First, God does not exist. Second, God is helpless. Thirdly, God abandoned Jesus. We cannot deny the existence of God. If God is helpless God cannot do it. At this juncture, Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” We have to deeply understand Jesus’ spiritual, existential suffering he had undergone on his way to the cross or on the cross.
To see the deepest of his agony, we have to first for the time being push off the thought that Jesus was resurrected. If we see him with a dogma that he has already resurrected and ascended to heaven, we would lose the aspect of the critical situation Jesus had to face. When Jesus was hung on the cross, I would like to say, he was captured by despair albeit momentarily, that even God had forsaken him. Such kind of despair looming large in his heart might have prodded him to utter, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"
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?"(15:34)
If we are to define the statement, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”, we would say that it is an expression in which Jesus himself accepted his death on the cross as a failure of his mission. Everybody judges that crucifixion is the epitome of failure. In fact, the proclamation of the imminent kingdom of God is Jesus’ real mission. He said, "The time has come," and "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). Jesus dedicated his total life for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is God’s kingly rule. It is the kingdom where justice and peace of God truly prevailed that everybody irrespective of the Jews or Gentiles enjoys living in the kingdom. Believing that the kingdom of God was near, Jesus proclaimed forgiveness and expelled evil spirit. With God’s heart he taught people and loved them. However, his mission and devotion for the kingdom of God came to an end with his brutal death on the cross.
Jesus’ ultimate destiny that ends up with the crucifixion on the cross could come under one of the following three conclusions: First, God does not exist. Second, God is helpless. Thirdly, God abandoned Jesus. We cannot deny the existence of God. If God is helpless God cannot do it. At this juncture, Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” We have to deeply understand Jesus’ spiritual, existential suffering he had undergone on his way to the cross or on the cross.
To see the deepest of his agony, we have to first for the time being push off the thought that Jesus was resurrected. If we see him with a dogma that he has already resurrected and ascended to heaven, we would lose the aspect of the critical situation Jesus had to face. When Jesus was hung on the cross, I would like to say, he was captured by despair albeit momentarily, that even God had forsaken him. Such kind of despair looming large in his heart might have prodded him to utter, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"
Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (6)
Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (6)
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And 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?"(15:34)
Think more of the factual dimension of the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. In relation to his death, one may ask, “Was Jesus crucified voluntarily?” No. It is impossible. The death on the cross was a curse. It was the culmination of total failure. Jesus knew this fact. Naturally, he did not want to die on the cross. If he would like to voluntarily die in this manner, he must be abnormal. We can confirm this fact through his prayer the night before his crucifixion on the Mount of Gethsemane, in which he prayed to his father that that the cup of suffering and his eventual death may be taken way if it was God’s will.
Many Christians think that through Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross, salvation of human kind has been accomplished. It is not wrong; but it has a clue of misunderstanding in this belief. The fact that Jesus’ crucifixion is the unique way of redemption is the interpretation of the disciples, long time after his death and resurrection. It is not certain as an assured content of belief from the beginning.
The big danger for Christians to misunderstand Christian faith is to follow the kind of chain of salvation that comes mechanically and deterministically. They firmly held the view that Jesus voluntarily died upon the cross for the sake of human salvation and he also knew the assurance of his resurrection. Think of it. If Jesus knowingly did it all, then what value does it have? As it is clear from Jesus’ statement saying, “Only the Father knows the day”, Jesus also lived in its epistemological limitation.
Jesus was crucified on the cross not voluntarily but inevitably. Jesus accepted it as God’s will and he obeyed it.
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And 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?"(15:34)
Think more of the factual dimension of the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. In relation to his death, one may ask, “Was Jesus crucified voluntarily?” No. It is impossible. The death on the cross was a curse. It was the culmination of total failure. Jesus knew this fact. Naturally, he did not want to die on the cross. If he would like to voluntarily die in this manner, he must be abnormal. We can confirm this fact through his prayer the night before his crucifixion on the Mount of Gethsemane, in which he prayed to his father that that the cup of suffering and his eventual death may be taken way if it was God’s will.
Many Christians think that through Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross, salvation of human kind has been accomplished. It is not wrong; but it has a clue of misunderstanding in this belief. The fact that Jesus’ crucifixion is the unique way of redemption is the interpretation of the disciples, long time after his death and resurrection. It is not certain as an assured content of belief from the beginning.
The big danger for Christians to misunderstand Christian faith is to follow the kind of chain of salvation that comes mechanically and deterministically. They firmly held the view that Jesus voluntarily died upon the cross for the sake of human salvation and he also knew the assurance of his resurrection. Think of it. If Jesus knowingly did it all, then what value does it have? As it is clear from Jesus’ statement saying, “Only the Father knows the day”, Jesus also lived in its epistemological limitation.
Jesus was crucified on the cross not voluntarily but inevitably. Jesus accepted it as God’s will and he obeyed it.
Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (5)
Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (5)
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And 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?"(15:34)
On the cross, Jesus experienced total abandonment from God. Does it have sense that the son of God felt that he been abandoned by God? It is not easy to fully understand the intricacy of the question. It is because this question is associated with the deepest faith of early Christian community. We shall go further wherever our thought reaches.
First question is that when and how well did Jesus clearly cognize his own identity? Did Jesus have confidence that he was the son of God and the Messiah? Did he have such proof? For example, once Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered, “"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? These sorts of verses are found quite often in the Gospels.
However, we can not say that Jesus cognized himself as the Son of God and the Messiah based on such verses. Such verses are a religious confession of early Christianity. It is a religious confession of the early Christian community who talked about Jesus’ public life after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. I do not mean to say that Jesus did not have any cognition about self-identification but I mean that it is something that we cannot empirically confirm today.
We can catch a dim outline about the matter of Jesus’ self-identification when we explain ‘abandonment from God’. Why did Jesus cry out such word in such an important moment?
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And 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?"(15:34)
On the cross, Jesus experienced total abandonment from God. Does it have sense that the son of God felt that he been abandoned by God? It is not easy to fully understand the intricacy of the question. It is because this question is associated with the deepest faith of early Christian community. We shall go further wherever our thought reaches.
First question is that when and how well did Jesus clearly cognize his own identity? Did Jesus have confidence that he was the son of God and the Messiah? Did he have such proof? For example, once Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered, “"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? These sorts of verses are found quite often in the Gospels.
However, we can not say that Jesus cognized himself as the Son of God and the Messiah based on such verses. Such verses are a religious confession of early Christianity. It is a religious confession of the early Christian community who talked about Jesus’ public life after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. I do not mean to say that Jesus did not have any cognition about self-identification but I mean that it is something that we cannot empirically confirm today.
We can catch a dim outline about the matter of Jesus’ self-identification when we explain ‘abandonment from God’. Why did Jesus cry out such word in such an important moment?
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (4)
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (4)
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)
We wonder that if Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah, why should he be thirsty and say ‘Eloi, Eloi…’ for he is the God whom we generally know exists by Himself? He has the eternal foundation of Existence in Himself. Omniscience and omnipotence are his unique attributes. The desperate cry of the Messiah, “Why have you forsaken me?” sounds quite unnatural against the traditional image of God.
If it is asked whether God is omnipotent? The natural answer would be, of course, positive. Even the Apostle Creed begins with “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” The Lord God is the omnipotent Creator. He has the capability to create the heavens and the earth out of nothing. He can also completely wipe out this world beyond our imagination.
On the other hand, if we are asked to answer whether God is a helpless being in relation to other matter? The answer would be again “Yes”. God was not able to protect Jesus from being crucified. Such similar cases are generally happing surround us. God cannot protect innocent children’s death caused by Swine Flu.
As such God has the contradictory nature. Why does such contradiction exist? We can never clearly understand about God. As we partially experience the world, we partially understand God. It seems that God and his nature has its point of contradiction. There is a pathway through this contradiction. We may need keen eyes to see the path.
Jesus who was crucified on the cross was a helpless God. He cried out on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me? The very voice is the voice of God.
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)
We wonder that if Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah, why should he be thirsty and say ‘Eloi, Eloi…’ for he is the God whom we generally know exists by Himself? He has the eternal foundation of Existence in Himself. Omniscience and omnipotence are his unique attributes. The desperate cry of the Messiah, “Why have you forsaken me?” sounds quite unnatural against the traditional image of God.
If it is asked whether God is omnipotent? The natural answer would be, of course, positive. Even the Apostle Creed begins with “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” The Lord God is the omnipotent Creator. He has the capability to create the heavens and the earth out of nothing. He can also completely wipe out this world beyond our imagination.
On the other hand, if we are asked to answer whether God is a helpless being in relation to other matter? The answer would be again “Yes”. God was not able to protect Jesus from being crucified. Such similar cases are generally happing surround us. God cannot protect innocent children’s death caused by Swine Flu.
As such God has the contradictory nature. Why does such contradiction exist? We can never clearly understand about God. As we partially experience the world, we partially understand God. It seems that God and his nature has its point of contradiction. There is a pathway through this contradiction. We may need keen eyes to see the path.
Jesus who was crucified on the cross was a helpless God. He cried out on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me? The very voice is the voice of God.
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (3)
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (3)
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)
In yesterday’s meditation, we discussed on the seven last words of Christ on the cross. The similar expression of Jesus’ word is found one word each in Matthew and Mark and three words each in Luke and John. Among the seven words, the most similar verse to ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’ would be ‘I’m thirsty’. These two words are passive while other words are in positive expression. First of all, I would like to elucidate the expression ‘I’m thirsty’. It may guide us to understand ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’ easier way.
Jesus’ appeal “I’m thirsty’ can be very practical. Blood slowly flows down from the palm of his nailed hand. It takes quite a long time to lose blood till the point of dead. Consciousness of a condemned criminal is dizzy. The entire liquid of the body sneaks away. Thirstiness reaches up to the extreme.
The implication of his thirst is not only related to physical aspect. Jesus was forsaken by all the people who surrounded him. Mocking in trial process and on the cross also would contribute to the aggravation of his thirst. Jesus who sighed in his public life saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He could not do anything but feels thirsty.
However, there is a paradoxical scene. Once Jesus said, “…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”(Jn 4:14) And he also said, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (Jn 7:37, 38) ‘Streams of living water’ here signifies the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life. Jesus the source of quenching our spiritual thirst is God who cries “I’m thirsty.” He is our Christ.
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)
In yesterday’s meditation, we discussed on the seven last words of Christ on the cross. The similar expression of Jesus’ word is found one word each in Matthew and Mark and three words each in Luke and John. Among the seven words, the most similar verse to ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’ would be ‘I’m thirsty’. These two words are passive while other words are in positive expression. First of all, I would like to elucidate the expression ‘I’m thirsty’. It may guide us to understand ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’ easier way.
Jesus’ appeal “I’m thirsty’ can be very practical. Blood slowly flows down from the palm of his nailed hand. It takes quite a long time to lose blood till the point of dead. Consciousness of a condemned criminal is dizzy. The entire liquid of the body sneaks away. Thirstiness reaches up to the extreme.
The implication of his thirst is not only related to physical aspect. Jesus was forsaken by all the people who surrounded him. Mocking in trial process and on the cross also would contribute to the aggravation of his thirst. Jesus who sighed in his public life saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He could not do anything but feels thirsty.
However, there is a paradoxical scene. Once Jesus said, “…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”(Jn 4:14) And he also said, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (Jn 7:37, 38) ‘Streams of living water’ here signifies the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life. Jesus the source of quenching our spiritual thirst is God who cries “I’m thirsty.” He is our Christ.
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.
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.
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