Good Friday, April 22, 2011
The Fourth Word of Jesus on the cross was gMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?h We usually hear these words like this: gOh, my God! Oh, God!h Often these words are spoken at a time of shock or horror or dismay. gOh, no! What has happened? What have I done? What am I going to do?h Actually the words are a prayer. gOh, God! Help me! Amen.h
Often times people use these words casually in such a way that they break the Second Commandment, gYou shall not use the Name of the Lord your God in vain.h gOh, my God!h means the same gOh, oh!h or some curse or other foul language.
But actually the words are a prayer when only God can help you out of a situation. And so it was with Jesus on the cross. Jesus as God knew that God would help him. But Jesus as human would feel the pain and realize that there was no escape now. Jesus cried out for all humans who have felt the same. gOh, my God! What has happened? Why have you let things get out of hand? Why arenft you helping me? Why have your forsaken me? I am about to die!h
And when we see Jesus on the cross, we should say the same. gOh, my God! What have I done? Look what my sin has done! It has nailed Jesus to the cross! An innocent man is taking the punishment I would have. He is going to die, and there is nothing I can do to help him now!h
But remember that these words are a prayer. gOh, God. My God, the God who loves me and takes care of me. The God that I claim as mine, and the God that claims me as His. The God that made me his child in Baptism. The God that can take my sin and my problems upon himself on the cross. The God that can raise the dead. The God that is almighty. This is my God. Amen. This is the God that never forsakes me. Amen.h
This is the prayer of Jesus. The Last Word on the cross was gFather, into your hands I commit my spirit.h He knew that God had not forsaken him. He knew that the work of salvation was now finished. That is the Sixth Word, gIt is finished.h The work of salvation is finished. Our sins are forgiven. We are reconciled to God. The promise of eternal life is made. The eternal covenant is ratified.
gOh, my God!h This is an expression of shock and horror and dismay. We make it a prayer. Then it becomes an expression of hope and trust and peace and thanksgiving.
gOh, my God. Amen.h
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church