Learning From Jesus' Final Words

 

"MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

What did Jesus say?  Shortly before his death, Jesus called out:"My Gode, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ( Matthew 27:46) The Bible does not explain why Jesus said this.  Consider though, what those words tell us.  For one thing, by saying these words, Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy found at Psalm 22:1.  Furthermore, the words made it clear that Jesus was not keeping "a protective hedge around his Son.  (Job 1:10)  Jesus understood that his Father had released him fully into  the hands of the enemies so that he could be tested to the limit as no human has ever been tested.  In addition, these words confirmed that he was innocent of any crime deserving of death.

What can we learn from Jesus' words?  One lesson we can learn is that must not reject Jehovah to  shield us from challenges that test our faith.  Just as Jesus was tested to the limit, we too must be prepared to prove faithful to the death if necessary.  (Matthew 16:24, 25)  However, we have the assurance that God will not let us be tested beyond what we can bear.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)  Another lesson we can learn is that, like Jesus, we may suffer unjustly.  (1 Peter 2:19, 20)   Those who oppose us do so, not because we have done something wrong,  but because we are no part of the world and we bear witness to truth.  ( John 17:14; 1 Peter  4:15, 16)  Jesus understood why Jehovah allowed him to suffer.  Unlike him, however, faithful worshippers under trial have sometimes wondered why Jehovah allowed certain things to happen.  (Habakkuk 1:3)  Our merciful and patient God understamds that such ones do not lack faith; they need the comfort that only he can provide. - 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3, 4. 

Next time: Learning From Jesus' Final Words - "I AM THIRSTY"

From the jw.org publications