Jesus’ crucifixion lasted six grueling hours. He was put on the cross at 9 AM (third hour of the day; Mark 15:21-26), darkness covered the land from 12 noon until 3 PM (sixth – ninth hour; Matthew 27:45), and Jesus died at 3 PM (ninth hour; Matthew 27:46, Luke 23:44-46).
But why did Jesus, quote Psalm 22:1, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” For Jesus already knew God’s preplanned promise never to leave or forsake anyone (Hebrews 13:5), even sending needed sunshine and/or rain for the evil/unjust and the good/just (Matthew 5:43-48), simply because God loves people, regardless of lifestyle.
Jesus knew, as the spotless, sacrificial Lamb, He, as Man, would absorb all the sins of disobedient humanity (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 Peter 2:21-25), and for a space of time, He and the Father would be separated, until, as Man (Romans 5:12-21), His spirit, soul, and body totally paid the debt for sin, its guilt, and enslaving power (1 Corinthians 15:56-57); then when done, He presented His overcoming spirit to the Father, and said, “It is finished”; then died..
Yet during this struggle, war, overcoming, victorious, six hours, Father never left, abandoned, or turned His back on His Son, the Man (Psalm 22:24), and never will God leave, abandon, or turn His back on any of us, so we can give everything to God and see the new us in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)—that is God’s greatest desire for humanity.
Stop fighting against addictions or problems that overcome us; simply give us, our addictions, and problems to God and let Him fight our battles (2 Chronicles 20:15), for He, not us, overcomes addictions and problems—He really does want all our addictions and problems.
Jesus loves us, so ask Him to change things for us, and then thank Him for doing it.
Jim Nabors
