Word 4: My God, my God, why have you forskae me?

Matt 27:46 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Theme: Humble Servanthood

These words spoken by Jesus from the cross are the opening lines of Psalm 22.  This saying is unique because it is the only one mentioned in more than one Gospel and it is also the only one recorded in Aramaic.  Because these words are recorded in Aramaic and not Greek, we can assume that these were the actual words of Christ in his mother-tongue.  These words also draw us back into the Aramaic/Jewish context of Jesus, particularly Psalm 22.

Before we look more closely at an episode of Jesus’ life, it is important that we understand Psalm 22 and also take the time to read it.  Psalm 22 is both a cry of despair and a Psalm of praise for all God has done.  There is almost an inner dialogue the writer has between his anguish and his realization that God is in control.  Jesus quotes verse one, but by verse three the Psalm reads, “Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”  The Psalmist begins to remind himself, and all those who would later these words, all that God has done for Israel.  The author admits that his only hope is in the God of Israel.  Verse 24 is key to the whole prayer, “For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.”   

The opening lines of Psalms are always meant to draw the speaker and the hearer into the whole Psalm.  Jesus’ use of verse 1 is incomplete without an understanding of how the Psalm ends.  And the Psalm ends in praise and worship of the God who is faithful to his people.[1] (Interestingly there are other allusions to the Passion of Jesus in this Psalm as well, can you find them?) Thus, it is unfair for us to characterize this statement as Jesus actually being abandoned by the father.  Rather, perhaps Jesus felt abandoned as he took on himself the sin of the world.[2]

I think perhaps we should view these words as showing just how far Jesus was removed from his heavenly home with the Father.  The Gospel that most closely ties the relationship of Jesus and the Father together is John.  It says, for example, “I [Jesus] and the Father are one.”  Yet, John also portrays Jesus as the one who washed his disciple’s feet; an act of servitude.

John 13:1-17

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

¹² So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ¹⁶ Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

What is missing from John’s account of the Last Supper?

John alone among the four Gospels fails to mention any account of Communion, or the Eucharist, if you prefer.  Rather than an institution of the Lord’s Supper, John tells how Jesus humbled himself by washing his disciples’ feet, and even seems to command us to do likewise.  This has led many some to include feet-washing as one of the Sacraments alongside Communion and Baptism, the traditional Protestant Sacraments. (In what ways is feet-washing similar to these other Sacraments? notice they all have a command and a promise attached, the classical definition of a Protestant Sacrament.  Foot washing is also wrapped up in symbols, the water and feet, which point to something much greater--a servant's attitude.)

Why did Jesus wash his disciple’s feet?

It cannot be that he did so because he was truly cleaning their dirty feet.  Remember, Jesus did this during the meal.  All of them would have washed before they arrived or before they ate.  Verses 3-4 tell us that Jesus washed their feet intentionally; He knew his time was short and decided this was how he should spend his last meal.  Jesus did this to show the type of servant he was.  The act itself, washing feet, can be substituted for other acts of service; in fact, Jesus showed this servant attitude ultimately less than 24 hours after this dinner when he died on the cross.  So, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet as an example of who he is and who we are to be as his disciples.  Verse eight also alludes to baptism in a lot of ways.  Are there parallels to Jesus washing us, like he did the disciples?  Remember, they weren’t dirty in the physical sense and the little water used didn’t clean them.  Yet, unless they were washed by Jesus they could have no part with him.  Baptism is the same way; we don’t go into the water to be clean physically. (we don’t bring soap in with us) But in baptism we allow Jesus to wash us clean.

Who seems to be in charge during this dinner?

The obvious answer is Jesus.  He was, of course, the leader of the disciples.  But, notice how Peter tries to take over twice and tell Jesus how to act. (v. 8, 9) Jesus rebukes him both times and places Peter under Jesus’ authority even as Jesus serves him.  Notice also that Jesus is aware that not only will someone betray him, but who that will be.  Three times in these verses it says that Jesus “knew” what was happening or what would happen.

Have you ever been betrayed?

Not everyone has experienced a deep act of betrayal, but we have all certainly been let by down by people we trusted or thought couldn’t bring us harm.  A fact of being human is that we are imperfect and we let each other down.  But, the betrayal Jesus experienced runs much deeper than human error or imperfections; he was willing handed over to death by one of his closest friends.  We don’t need to spend much time here, but keep in mind that Jesus washed all his disciple’s feet, including his betrayer Judas.  Jesus is still in charge because he knows Judas will betray him and that Peter will deny him (John 13:38), yet he still decided to wash their feet.  This makes it all the more incredible.  No one is fooling Jesus here, yet he serves and shows his love to all.

How do you think this passage relates to Jesus’ cry of abandonment on the cross?

This is one of the great examples of Jesus showing how far he has come from his heavenly abode; a time when it might look like Jesus has either been abandoned or voluntarily abandoned his place.  At many times in Jesus’ life, we see him serving others through healing and feeding people.  But, this moment almost seems superfluous.  Jesus isn’t healing anyone or calling someone to follow him.  He is willing serving those who already follow him and who will very shortly deny and betray him.  It is at this point, where I think this episode, on the night before Jesus is crucified, resembles Jesus’ death on the cross.  In both cases, Jesus willing humbles himself for the goodness of humanity.  In both cases, he also reveals the nature of the God we serve: a God of love and grace and not one just of vengeance and power.

I know we have been trying to keep these studies mostly in the Gospels, but this message of Jesus’ humility is so beautifully described by Paul that we have to turn there.

Phil 2:5-11

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸ Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What attitude did Jesus have?

Jesus was both humble and obedient.  Beyond what attitude he has, it also seems like Jesus was willing to give up something when he came in the Incarnation.[3]  Jesus emptied himself (willingly and very much still in charge) to become “in the likeness of men.”  Although aspects of the Incarnation are a mystery, somehow Jesus is both fully God and fully man.  Also, it is by the very attitude of humility and obedience, and the act of dying on the cross, (and washing his disciples feet we can add) that Jesus is exalted.  At the time when it appears Jesus is at his most lowly, defeated, or un-“godly” place, serving and dying, it is then his divinity is most fully revealed.

What attitude are we to have?

This brings us back to Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.  Jesus tells us that we are also are to wash each other’s feet.  Jesus’ attitude and actions are example for us to follow.

Concluding thoughts:

What implications does this have for how we live?  The implications for how we live are very practical and permeate every aspect of our lives.  We all have a certain amount of power and those who follow us, in some sense.  Jesus’ example of authority is one of sacrificial servant hood.  In our finances, our families, at work, and at school, Jesus’ example of humble love and service is our guide.  Remember Jesus’ words in Matt 20:25-27, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.”  We are also to show God’s humble rule in terms of creation, or the environment.  We have been placed as stewards with authority over this earth.  We are God’s representatives on earth and as such, we are to rule with humility, love, and care, not with harshness and disregard for the harm we cause.  As Jesus says, a slave is not greater than his master.  In his example Jesus is the master and we are the slaves.  Jesus humbled himself to serve in every way possible.  As his slaves we must do likewise or else we place ourselves above our master Jesus.  May we always look to Jesus for our example.

Deeper thinking

Explore the use of the Old Testament in the Holy Week and Passion narratives of the Gospels.  Particularly, review Psalm 22, which we explored this week, and Psalm 69, the two most frequently quoted Psalms in the New Testament.  Why was it is important for the authors to ensure later readers understood and interpreted Jesus’ life through the Old Testament?  For example in just one chapter, Matthew 21, Old Testament is quoted in verses: 4-5, 9, 13, 16, 33, and 42.  For an example from Jesus’ ministry outside Holy Week, see Matthew 8:17.

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[1] Interestingly, Jesus also alludes to the last line of this Psalm in his sixth word from the cross, “it is finished.” (John 19:30).

[2] N.T. Wright for example, said Matthew and Mark’s use of Psalm 22 has left “generations of interpreters to puzzle over whether they meant it as a cry of dereliction or, remembering how the psalm continues, ultimate hope.  Perhaps it was both; perhaps Mathew and Mark might have said that for Jesus it was the former, but that they were hinting at the later as well.” Either way he continues, “It hardly matters.” (How God Became King, 180-181).

[3] Much debate has been had over what exactly Jesus “gave-up” in the incarnation.  Did Jesus only use some divine attributes in secret, or did he not use them all?  In these two views he still possesses the divine powers, but the issue is over their use.  In the last 150 years it has been argued that Jesus might have actually set aside these attributes from his birth until his Resurrection.  In contrast to this view it is argued that Jesus didn’t give up any divine attributes, but rather he gave up his divine glory and privilege.  In fact his divine nature is evident at his Transfiguration.  (For a discussion on this see http://www.ntslibrary.com/Online-Library-How-Could-Jesus-Be-Both-Divine-and-Human.htm; For those wishing a print source see Alister E. McGrath’s Christian Theology, 4^th ed. 302-303).