Hey Hasbeens

Got a stupid question that I've always wondered about. When Jesus was on the cross, right before dying, it is written that he asked aloud "My God, My God, why have you foresaken me?" (or something along those lines) This always struck me as odd because, all along, leading up to the crucifixion, he knew what was about to happen to him, and why. Why then, did he suddenly wonder if God had left him to fend for himself? Was it just the physical body that couldn't take anymore? Or am I totally misreading this?

 

To me this goes to the whole trinity issue. In order to make Jesus's sacrifice a true sacrifice, Jesus was seperated from God and the Holy Spirit and he descended into Hell for 3 days. I don't claim to understand the idea of the trinity completely but would think that being seperated from something of which you are an integral part and the other two being integral parts of you would be extremely painful in a spiritual sense and that is why his sacrifice was so great.

 

While I disagree with Sly about Jesus descending into hell, he's correct about Jesus being separated from God at that point in the crucifixion.

Basically, God the Father 'turned His back' on Him, so to speak, because Jesus had assumed the total guilt of the sins of humanity Himself. And sin (i.e. rebellion/pride) is what separates us from God.

Does that answer your question, Shrap?

 

So you're saying that at that point, Jesus basically became a sinner like the rest of the earthly people and kind of forgot what his life was all about before then? Never quite had that explained that way before.

 

He didn't become a sinner, he took the responsibility for those sins. Another thing that makes his sacrifice more meaningful is the fact that he was sinless yet paid that horrible price for others.

 

I get all that. Just always been a little confused about why all of a sudden he thinks God has abandoned him when he knew all along that this was going to happen.

 

Lets say you find out your mom or wife has cancer and is going to die in a month. Do you cry more then or when she actually dies?

I don't think there was any way Jesus could prepare himself for total abandonment by God.

 

Yeah. But I guess I don't see why he thinks God totally abandoned him. Did he think God was going to come in at the last minute and rescue him? I don't think so. Just always seemed odd to me that all along, he was telling his deciples and Mary that he had to die to prove God's love for the people, then he suddenly thinks God abandons him.

Not a big deal either way, just always bothered me a little.

 

I wouldn't say it has bothered by but I have struggled with it as well. Kinda hard to rectify Jesus being both human and divine and also that whole trinity thing.

 

The way I understand it is that at that moment, when God looked at Jesus on the cross, He didn't see His Son, He saw the sins of humanity. That's why He withdrew from Jesus. I've even heard some theologians say that at that moment Jesus became sin incarnate, but I don't know if I'd go that far.

As far as Jesus' reaction to being rejected by God, I agree with Sly -- I don't think there was any way He could have prepared Himself for it. It was the first time in all eternity He'd been rejected by God.