Jesus Questions His Father

Did you know that Jesus questioned his Father? How was that possible? Keep Reading…

READ
Matthew 27:45-46 - At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

REFLECT
When trouble closes in, it is natural for a child to call out for dad or mom. The lost child in a grocery store yells out, "Where are you?" to his parent. Perhaps in moments of desperation, you have called out to God, "Where are you? Why can’t I hear you?" But why would Jesus, the Creator of the heavens and earth, question his Father like this?

You have not embraced Jesus until you have fully embraced his divinity (God-status) AND his humanity. The slightest unbelief in the humanity of Jesus leads to an impersonal and false relationship with him. Though it may be difficult to understand, Jesus really did feel completely lost and alone. And he called out for his Father.

But did the Father actually forsake his son, Jesus, or turn his face away? No. The cry of Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" was the opening line of Psalm 22. Most of the Jews standing around would have been able to recite the rest of the Psalm. They would have known that David was crying out to his God in anguish.  And they would have known how the Psalm ends. David says, "For he (the Father) 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." Psalm 22:24

Indeed the Father was with Jesus in his suffering, even though Jesus felt abandoned. He understands our frailty, our confusion and our questions in times of suffering. Jesus questioned his Father's presence, and at the same time, declared his trust in his Father. We can do the same thing.

Acknowledge your human frailty. Ask your Father where he is and what he is doing. And at the same time, voice your trust in his character. For he has never left you and never will.

Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

RESPOND
Run to your Father with your pain and your questions. Jesus did. And keep pursuing relationship with him by declaring the truth of his character. He is always good, and he will never leave you.