Jesus on the cross

For six gruesome hours, Jesus has tried to get his breath—pushing up on his legs—gasping for air.  But, as the sixth hour came—darkness descends on the land.  It is an ominous darkness—natural but also spiritual.  The gospel writers are all in agreement; this darkness hung over the whole land  from the sixth hour through until the ninth hour.  It is at the ninth hour that the prayer of dereliction left the mouth of Jesus:  “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”  Jesus is dying.  Jesus is physically suffering more than one could imagine.  Jesus is bleeding—his life is being poured out.  But there is more.  Jesus mystically, supernaturally, and miraculously is suffering spiritually.  He, in obedience to Father’s will—is dying vicariously, bearing the sins of mankind as the great sin-bearer.  So, the natural darkness, the physical pain—is nothing compared to the spiritual separation that Jesus knows is happening.  His purpose and destiny are finding reality in the middle of this darkness.  There are no words to explain better than the Messianic Psalm 22.  Scholars tell us that had Jesus the strength He would have prophetically recited the entire Psalm—however with strength leaving Him—He recites just nine short words of the Psalm—but those short words say it best—Jesus is alone.  Jesus is bearing, vicariously, the sins of mankind.  The sinless one—has become sin for sinful mankind. Through Divine calling Jesus is forsaken.  Jesus’ prayer is honest.  Jesus’ prayer is poignant.  Jesus’ prayer is a lament.  There need be no room for sanctimonious  terms.  Jesus let’s all the pain go which had been stirring in His spirit since the garden scene of twelve hours ago.  He is alone—he cried forth in agony of spirit.  Even in the midst of such pain and sorrow—the separation is so poignant Jesus cries out with a loud voice.  This is no weak, gentle, insipid murmuring.  This is a loud cry of pain.  

Jesus turns His attention to His physical thirst—or, is this next prayer further revelation of His separation for Father’s presence?   He prays  “I thirst.”

The writers tell us Jesus receives the drink of wine vinegar—often used to dull the sufferings a little for victims of crucifixion.  Immediately, Jesus prays two more times.

These prayers are now different—maybe a surge of faith?  Maybe a surge of completion of task?  Maybe even the beginning of restoration?  The mission is completed—the sin offering is sacrificed—the wrath of God is appeased and  Jesus cries out.  

These two prayers are  arising from the lips of a dying man—but one who musters up passion and volume to cry out two more times.  First, a prayer of triumph:  “It is finished.”  Second, a prayer of committal, and relinquishment:  “Father in your hands I commit my spirit.”  

Then, Jesus breathed his last breath and was again united with God.  The Psalm 22 lament, which ends in typical praise—prophetically finds fulfillment in Jesus’ prayer of triumph.  Again, the gospels are clear—Jesus cries out.  Not now so much in pain, but perhaps in victory.  There is a shift in momentum in these last two prayers.  The mission was accomplished—Jesus has succeeded.  Jesus finished the race in triumph and committed Himself into Father’s hands.