How can Jesus' cry in Matthew 27:46 inspire us during personal trials? The Weight of the Words • “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out… ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ ” (Matthew 27:46). • He lifts Psalm 22:1 straight from David’s lament: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” • The Son experiences real abandonment so our adoption could be eternally secure. Christ Identifies With Our Pain • Hebrews 4:15: “We do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” • Isaiah 53:4: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” • Because He tasted the depth of forsakenness, no agony we face is foreign to Him. • In seasons when heaven seems silent, He has already walked that silence for us. Confidence in the Father Despite Silence • Even while feeling deserted, Jesus still says, “My God.” Relationship is affirmed, not denied. • His cry models honest lament that remains tethered to faith. • When words fail, we echo the same address—“My God”—trusting covenant love over feelings. The Fulfillment of Scripture and Assurance • Jesus’ citation of Psalm 22 signals prophecy fulfilled, proving God keeps His word. • Romans 8:38-39 guarantees that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God.” • The cross turns apparent defeat into confirmed victory; our trials become stages for God’s faithfulness. Invitation to Throw Every Care on Him • 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” • The One who bore the ultimate burden welcomes every lesser burden we carry. • His forsakenness secures our access; we approach without fear of rejection. Living Application in Our Trials • Speak honestly with God—lament is biblical, not faithless. • Anchor identity: “My God” comes before “why.” Relation precedes explanation. • Remember fulfilled prophecy; let the certainty of God’s past acts steady present storms. • Lean on the body of Christ; He cried publicly, inviting witnesses into His anguish. • Serve others in pain; comfort “with the comfort we ourselves receive” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). |
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