Jesus the suffering man who called to God

Wednesday evening began 14 Nisan, the day when many, like me, commemorated liberation from slavery (of people and of sins as of death).

We recalled the gathering of Jesus Christ at which he first took the evening meal to commemorate the liberation of his people from Egyptian slavery. We also recalled how after the meal he took bread and thanked God for it. But when he broke that bread, he said it represented his body. He then took a cup of wine which he said represented his blood. Jesus further asked them to watch his words because he would drink no more wine until the day he and his disciples would drink new wine in the kingdom of his Father, whom Jesus and his apostles regarded as the One True God.

“26 And when they were taking food, Jesus took bread and, after blessing it, he gave the broken bread to the disciples and said, Take it; this is my body. 27 And he took a cup and, having given praise, he gave it to them, saying, 28 Take of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the testament, which is given for men for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you that from now I will not take of this fruit of the vine, till that day when I take it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Mt 26:26-29 BBE)

After that meal, they sang a song to the glory of God and then went to Gethsémané, a garden on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus asked his disciples to stay there while he took Peter, James and John with him. From the apostles’ notes, we learn that Jesus began to grow anxious and restless. He also expressed to his disciples that he was terrified and that his heart was breaking with grief. It was there in that garden in Jerusalem that he first expressed his agony before God. – Catholics and many Protestants who believe that Jesus is God are then convinced that Jesus was questioning himself, but fail to see how Jesus could have asked God being God, not to let his will happen but still let the Will of God happen (?!?) – in fact, Jesus went a few steps away and knelt with his face on the ground as he prayed to his heavenly Father, asking him to let the cup pass to him. He also requested God to let not his will but God’s Will be done.

“And after a song of praise to God, they went out to the Mountain of Olives.” (Mt 26:30 BBE)

“36 Then comes Jesus with them to a place named Gethsemane, and says to his disciples, Be seated here, while I go over there for prayer. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became sad and very troubled. 38 Then says he to them, My soul is very sad, even to death: keep watch with me here. 39 And he went forward a little, and falling down on his face in prayer, he said, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup go from me; but let not my pleasure, but yours be done.” (Mt 26:36-39 BBE)

Jesus prayed not once to ask his God to make the best happen for mankind. For a second time, Jesus secluded himself and prayed to God (i.e. according to Catholics and many Protestants to himself, him being God) and let it be known to God that if this cup could not pass, without him emptying it, oh let God’s will be done instead of Jesus’ will. (Another strange thing if Jesus were God.) When Jesus returned to his disciples again, he saw that they were overcome by sleep. This time he let them sleep and left for the third time to pray the same prayer.

“42 Again, a second time he went away, and said in prayer, O my Father, if this may not go from me without my taking it, let your pleasure be done. 43 And he came again and saw them sleeping, for their eyes were tired. 44 And he went away from them again, and a third time said the same prayer.” (Mt 26:42-44 BBE)

The next time we hear Jesus praying, it is clear that he is overcome with agony. We even notice there a sign of weakness or anxiety about what was about to happen next. In his life, Jesus had always trusted his God and counted on being at rest with God. But now in the hour of his agony, he still seemed to have his doubts.

Even others watching Jesus being hanged on a torture pole stauros = stake) knew how Jesus always trusted God but wondered where his God was now to save him when Jesus had so often saved others.

“38 Then two thieves were put on crosses with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who went by said bitter words to him, shaking their heads and saying, 40 You who would give the Temple to destruction and put it up again in three days, get yourself free: if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 In the same way, the chief priests, making sport of him, with the scribes and those in authority, said, 42 A saviour of others, he has no salvation for himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will have faith in him. 43 He put his faith in God; let God be his saviour now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 And the thieves who were on the crosses said evil words to him.” (Mt 27:38-44 BBE)

The day Jesus was hanged, a dense darkness hung over the whole country from twelve to three o’clock. At about three o’clock the bystanders could hear Jesus calling out to God, asking Him why He had left him anyway. Some of the people standing there may not have understood correctly and thought Jesus was calling for Elijah. But Jesus called “Eli” which means “My God” and was directed or the One True God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, The God above all gods, to whom Jesus had been faithful all His life.

“45 Now from the sixth hour it was dark over all the land till the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus gave a loud cry, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why are you turned away from me? 47 And some of those who were near by, hearing it, said, This man is crying to Elijah. 48 And straight away one of them went quickly, and took a sponge, and made it full of bitter wine, and put it on a rod and gave him drink. 49 And the rest said, Let him be; let us see if Elijah will come to his help. 50 And Jesus gave another loud cry, and gave up his spirit.” (Mt 27:45-50 BBE)

Jesus entrusted God with his spirit.

“And Jesus gave a loud cry and said, Father, into your hands I give my spirit: and when he had said this, he gave up his spirit.” (Lu 23:46 BBE)

It is to those sad moments that we think today, even if they also have something of hope-giving, because by being hanged on the torture pole Jesus paid the ransom price for our debt to God, for our sins. Jesus who was without fault, gave himself as a lamb before God to be laid on the slaughter bench as a peace offering.

“Do not let his body be on the tree all night, but put it to rest in the earth the same day; for the man who undergoes hanging is cursed by God; so do not make unclean the land which the Lord your God is giving you for your heritage.” (De 21:23 BBE)

“Take of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the testament, which is given for men for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mt 26:28 BBE)

“Christ has made us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: because it is said in the Writings, A curse on everyone who is put to death by hanging on a tree:” (Ga 3:13 BBE)

“That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons.” (Ga 4:5 BBE)

“It is the Lord who has made payment for you: be not servants of men.” (1Co 7:23 BBE)

“Who gave himself for us, so that he might make us free from all wrongdoing, and make for himself a people clean in heart and on fire with good works.” (Tit 2:14 BBE)

“And for this cause it is through him that a new agreement has come into being, so that after the errors under the first agreement had been taken away by his death, the word of God might have effect for those who were marked out for an eternal heritage.” (Heb 9:15 BBE)

It is up to those whom Jesus bought free to now go for the truth themselves and live in a similar way to Christ Jesus, not going against God’s Will, being without error, and doing our best to live well according to God’s expectations.

Dutch version /Nederlandse versie: Jezus de lijdende man die riep tot God

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Published by Marcus Ampe

Retired dancer, choreographer, choreologist Founder of the Dance impresario office and archive: Danscontact-Dansarchief plus the Association for Bible scholars, the Lifestyle magazines "Stepping Toes" and "From Guestwriters" and creator of the site "Messiah for all". - Gepensioneerd danser, choreograaf, choreoloog. Stichter van Danscontact-Dansarchief plus van de Vereniging voor Bijbelvorsers, de Lifestyle magazines "Stepping Toes" en "From Guestwriters" en maker van de site "Messiah for all". View more posts