Meditation 6: Good Friday

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

This is not the day to try and make yourself feel better. It is simply not the time. This is not a day to feel good. Nor is it a day to avoid how you feel. It is a day for grief. It is a time to be sorrowful. It is a time to feel the weight of the crucifixion and, for a moment, the sorrow of abandonment.

If you start to cry as you read the words, “My God, my God…” then go ahead. Crying is a perfectly appropriate action and emotion. Maybe it is the only appropriate one. Don’t forget to grieve.



When you hear the words, “Four score and seven years ago…”, you don’t only think about those five words. In and of
themselves they make no sense. These words are a tag that reminds us of what follows them, one of the most important speeches delivered in American history, the Gettysburg Address.

When you hear the words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, what comes to your mind? If you have read, or heard, the story from the Gospels you immediately recognize these words as some of the last words spoken by Jesus just prior to his death. It seems as if Jesus is in an agony that is not only physical but emotional too. It sounds as if he feels alone, abandoned by God.

There is a practice employed by ancient writers known as rezim. The rezim was the quoting of the first line of a passage of Scripture as a reference to the entire piece. When someone says, “Four score and seven years ago…”, we are prompted to remember the rest of the speech. If we don’t remember it word for word we at least remember the main thrust of it.

“My God, my God” is a rezim meant to draw it’s hearer’s attention to Psalm 22. Some scholars believe that Jesus recited the entire Psalm as he was on the cross. This may be possible, however, it is more likely that Jesus mentioned these first lines from the cross recognizing the Messianic prophecies within it. Within this Psalm there are numerous references to Christ’s suffering and crucifixion. For example:

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.” – v.6

“my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;” – 15

“they have pierced my hands and feet” – v.16

“They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” – v.18

When Jesus employs this term from the cross he is undoubtedly feeling a sense of abandonment and estrangement from God. However, this Psalm is fascinating because of the sorrow that it conveys but also because of the hope contained within it. What begins as a Psalm bemoaning abandonment turns into a Psalm of deliverance in spite of great loss and pain.

Pay close attention to these last two passages:

“Yet, you are enthroned as the Holy One;
You are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” – vv. 3-5

“For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.” – v. 24

Our God is a God of hope. On the darkest day of human history, the very day we commemorate now, is also the day of our greatest hope. Not only was Jesus exposed to great temptation but he also felt, more keenly than us I might add, the dark feeling of alienation from his Father.

There is hope even on this day. However, don’t forget to grieve.



the question
Have you ever thought that sorrow, in some occassions, is the most important activity for Jesus' followers? How has your sorrow helped you in your devotion to God? If it has hindered it then let me know.

the psalm
Read all of Psalm 22.

the prayer
How great is your love, Lord God, for sending Jesus to take up a cross and lay down his life for the world. Work in us such true remorse that we may cast out sin, welcome mercy, and live in wonder, praising the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Savior. It is in his name and for his sake that we pray, Amen.