Jon Gary Williams
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Article 0157 - Eli, Eli, lama sa-bach-tha-ni

"Eli, Eli, la-ma sa-bach-tha-ni" - Matthew 27:46

Jon Gary Williams

In His passionate remark of Matthew 27:46 we see the human side of Jesus showing through. He cited from David in Psalms 22:1 with:

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sa-bach-tha-ni? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

During those long hours of hanging on the cross and knowing his earthly life was ending, Jesus suffered enormous pain and unfathomable emotion. The writer of Hebrews vividly spoke of Jesus' weakened fleshly despair. "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared" (Hebrews 5:7).

Prophetically, Jesus' condition was a unique parallel with that of David who, as seen in Psalms 22, was suffering from bitter hopelessness. What a perfect analogy - two men suffering in different ways, yet both experiencing similar bodily distress.

Jesus did not believe His Father was forsaking Him - - this, we understand, was impossible. He also asked to be spared of the crucifixion when he knew the request was not to be granted (Matthew 26:39). Knowing of his imminent death, and under enormous pain and agony, the human side of Jesus can be seen.

Jesus did not speak these words for the benefit of those standing near the cross. In fact, some standing there did not even understand his words. "Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias" (Matthew 27:47). Rather, Jesus cited these words for all those who would later read His quotation from David's Psalm. Seeing the fulfillment of this prophetic scripture, people would realize that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Today we can clearly see the accuracy and importance of this amazing prophecy.