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Jesus- Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?
July 4, 2020

Jesus knew the time of His crucifixion had arrived and He spent His last moments with His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane and took Peter, James, and John with Him to pray. Like any person expecting to endure an agonizing situation, Jesus was facing an emotional and spiritual burden that was becoming easy for these three to see. Jesus asked these three to watch and went off in the distance to pray. Jesus knew that with God all things are possible and asked that if it was God’s will, that this burden be lifted from Him. Jesus knew that through God, He was able to bring sight to the blind and restore the ability to walk for people who could no longer walk. He knew that anything asked in God’s name according to the will of God would be answered.

In making this request to have this burden lifted from Him, Jesus did not sin. This shows that there is no sin when there is a difference in will between what we want as people and what God’s will is, as long as we, like Jesus, are willing to align ourselves to the will of God. Sometimes things do not go our way even when we pray, sometimes even when we fast. Like Jesus, it does not mean we have fallen out of favor with God; it means God’s will is different than our will and we must align ourselves to God’s will.

After praying Jesus found the three disciples asleep instead of watching and cautioned Peter to not fall into temptation, because while the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. Jesus prayed multiple times that night and each time found these three asleep instead of watching. What is it we are to watch lest we fall into temptation? Our minds control our bodies, we must watch our minds. When we are asleep what control do we have over our minds? Why is it we sometimes have unusual dreams? It’s because when we are asleep, we lack control over our minds. Similarly, when we do not control our thoughts, temptation will follow.

Mark 14:32-42
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

Jesus was arrested and taken to the palace of Caiaphas the high priest, and the mob that took Jesus was followed by Peter from a safe distance. Inside the palace was the religious establishment who sought a reason to have Jesus put to death. They even sought the testimony of false witnesses to incriminate Jesus, and finally found two who misquoted Jesus claiming that Jesus said He would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Jesus did not respond to these accusations which was frustrating to the panel. Finally, the high priest asked Jesus in the name of God to declare if He were the Son of God and Jesus replied that the high priest had said this. Jesus then explained upon His return He would return in the clouds of heaven and sit at the right hand of power. This statement was enough to be convicted of blasphemy, and the council agreed Jesus should be put to death.

Matthew 26:57-68
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

This group marched Jesus over to Pilate who tried to convince the Jews that Jesus had committed no crime worthy of death and should be released, but the Jews insisted that Jesus be put to death instead asking that a prisoner named Barabbas be set free. Finally, Pilate acquiesced to the crowd’s demands and sentenced Jesus to death while releasing Barabbas.

Once being sentenced to death in the early morning, Jesus was taken to Golgotha, the place of the skull where executions were carried out. They offered Jesus a drink of vinegar and gall and Jesus would not drink what He was offered. The drink Jesus was offered was a Roman vinegar wine which typically had a drug mixed in to lessen the pain of being crucified. After Jesus declined the vinegar mixed with gall, they then crucified Jesus and divided His clothes among themselves. Above His head was the accusation for which He had been officially put to death. Jesus was the King of the Jews.

Being crucified with Jesus and on either side of Him that day were two criminals. As was the custom, people would pass by those being crucified either shaking their heads or saying unpleasant things about Jesus and mocking Him. It was so intense that even the thieves who were crucified with Him mocked Jesus.

In the early afternoon from noon to mid-afternoon, there was darkness over the land. We don’t know from the passage if this was caused by dark and intense storm clouds or something more like a solar eclipse. How this happened was with the hand of God giving a physical reminder that the light that was in the world would soon be no more. This darkness must have been somewhat eerie and foreboding. Birds and animals probably became quiet. Some people probably had a sense of dread. In midafternoon, Jesus cried out with a loud voice asking “Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani?” meaning, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” At this moment during the crucifixion, Jesus felt alone and forsaken by God the Father. As the sins of mankind were being placed on Jesus, God the Father needed to separate Himself from this. Hearing Jesus say this, one of them dipped a sponge in vinegar and lifted it up to Jesus so He could drink. Others waited to see if Elijah would save Jesus, but their wait would be over as Jesus died.

Matthew 27:33-50
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Jesus was buried in a sepulcher paid for through the wealth of Joseph of Arimathea later that night. Remembering that Jesus said He would rise after three days, the chief priests and Pharisees met with Pilate and asked that the tomb be sealed and protected by a guard, because they thought the disciples of Jesus would steal the body to perpetuate what they saw as a myth.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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