The Most Difficult Verse in the Bible

The Most Difficult Verse in the Bible
Mark 11-16
Mark 15:34
“At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!” which is translated, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me?”
There are many verses, passages, and teachings in the Bible that have given rise to much debate among biblical scholars. Each offers a perspective on what the passage means and the arguments that support their view. But there is one verse in the Bible that we cannot fully understand this side of heaven, perhaps even in eternity, for its meaning and significance are so profound, so deep, that they defy any explanation. The verse is not difficult to understand grammatically, but the significance of the words is beyond our capacity to perceive, and the implications are so profound that we cannot even begin to comprehend. The statement consists of only 4 words in the Hebrew (or Aramaic, depending on the quotation in the different gospels) in which they were stated. They are a quote from Psalm 22:1. However, in light of the intrinsic unity within the Trinity that has existed from eternity past, the significance of these words confounds us. How can the Son, who has enjoyed unaltered and unbroken unity with the Father in all aspects of his being, be abandoned and forsaken by the Father? The words confront us with a paradox. How can the Son, who from eternity past and will continue into eternity future experiences perfect joy, harmony, and communion with the Father, be at this moment in time alienated and abandoned by Him? For a moment in time, the impossible occurred: the communion between the Father and the Son was mysteriously broken. It is a mystery that defines our understanding and ability to comprehend. But in these words, we see the true depth of our sin and its judgment. During this moment in time, Christ experienced the full weight of God-forsakenness, which sinful humanity will experience for all eternity and from which we needed to be saved. The full weight of hell is not the torment of everlasting fire, but the eternal state of being separated from God. We understand the significance of Christ’s separation, nor can we understand the significance for us. Hell and its consequences are not a myth, nor are they a fabrication of humanity to incite fear in people. They are real and eternal. Christ confirms this in Mt 25:46, where he affirms both the eternal nature of heaven and the eternal consequence of Hell, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
These words should arrest our attention and fill our hearts with fear. However, the story does not stop there. Christ’s death on the cross was redemptive. Through his death on the cross, the payment was made so that our sin might be forgiven. He did not experience this abandonment because of his own sin. He experienced it to satisfy the justice of God so that we might be freed from sin’s judgment. He paid the penalty for our sin so that we might be forgiven. The only condition is that we accept this salvation. To be the recipients of his death on our behalf, we need to turn from our sin rather than justify it. We need to recognize it for what it is: not a minor mistake, but an act of deep rebellion against God and an abhorrent affront to his character. Then we need to accept his forgiveness by surrendering our lives to him and living in obedience to his word. Then Jesus’ cry on the cross becomes our cry of victory and forgiveness. We will never fully understand what happened on the cross, but we can be the recipients, by faith, of its results, which are the forgiveness of our sin and the attainment of eternal life. How have you responded today?