The Fourth Word - Word of Desperation
Author: Josué Mora PeñaIf I were to put a title to the Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross, I would name this fourth word the "Word of Desperation". It was a cry of despair, of abandonment, of loneliness. It is believed that this is the only time that Jesus called God His Father, "God". In the first Word from the Cross, Jesus said "Father" and in His last word, He also said Father. Probably for the same reason that Jesus did not call His Mother, "Mother" when He began His short public ministry. Jesus was more to His Mother than just a Son. He was her Savior, her Messiah but now, as He hanged from that cross, He could not call His Father "Father" because He was dying as a sinner. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, "God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God". In other words, "He became a sin offering for us".
Why that cry of despair from Jesus? Was it because He was just dying one of the cruelest death of His time? No! Or was it because of the physical pain which was unbearable? Maybe! Or perhaps the thought of dying like a criminal knowing that He was innocent and He felt no different than the other two who were guilty? Well, probably! And yes, His cry to God was of the above but most of all, His cry of anxiety was because His Father had abandoned Him. He was as guilty as the other two. He was the "guilty innocent". He could not address His Father as such but only as God, a merciful God.
He no longer had a "Daddy", an "Abba Father", that expression of a very close relationship to God between Jesus and His Father. As much as Jesus was suffering on that Cross, His Father also was suffering that same kind of pain, His agony, His suffering. God loves the sinner but hates the sin in the sinner. Even though it was His own Son, His only begotten Son who was being punished, God could not spare Him. Someone had to pay for your sins and mine. Jesus was the Lamb of God, perfect , without blemish, sinless. Thats why John the Baptist said of Him, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world". (John 1:29b). if we personalize this verse, we would say "He takes away Josué Moras sins, and yours, and yours, and yours.
Why this cry of anguish? Because 2000 years before, on top of that same hill, on Mount Moriah, God was able to spare the life of Abrahams son, Isaac. But now, as much as He wanted to, He could not spare the life of His own Son. He was bearing upon His shoulders a very big load of sins, all our burdens. The Bible tells us, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a ). The God-Man, who had been lifted up, needed to die so that you and I can live and live eternally with Christ. Thats why now we can sing, "Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary. Burdens are lifted at Calvary. Jesus is very true."
Oh, yes, we also have our cries of despair, anguish and suffering but the day will come when we will not have to cry out anymore: "Why me, Lord?" The great difference between Jesus cry and ours is that He was innocent, we are not. We are guilty of all our sins but before God the Judge, He only sees that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sins. Our Savior and Lord did not deserve to die but He did. He died alone. Thats when He could have called 10,000 angels but did not.
You and I do not have to suffer anymore. Jesus suffered for you. Dont cry, He already cried for you. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" said Jesus in John 14:1.
May God bless you now and always.
josue.mora@iglesiabautista.org
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And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 