Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Jesus’ last words were a question and a statement. “Why have you forsaken me?” is the deepest question of a believer’s experience. Many would not say it, even though they thought it – because they fear that in some way this honest cry of despair might be an affront to God. There are many questions in the life of seeking – philosophical, anthropological, etc… The most profound are those however that are experiential. They are the cry of our heart, from the perspective we hold.
It is comforting to me that Jesus himself cried out to his father with this profound question of loneliness and pain. It’s comforting because I sometimes think if my faith were stronger, I wouldn’t feel some of these feelings of loneliness, wondering where God is, and why he doesn’t do something – show himself, heal someone, comfort or encourage someone, provide relief or a way out. That Jesus cried this question gives me affirmation and also makes it clear that the life of faith is not without the questions of faith. If Jesus still had a deep question, then I don’t feel that my questions are just a sign of spiritual immaturity or lack of faith.
I’m also reminded that all questions are in some small way, affirmations of faith. Jesus wouldn’t ask a question to a God in whom he didn’t believe. Nor would we. Any spiritual question demonstrates some level of faith, however small.
“Into your hands I commit my spirit” are the words Luke records as Jesus’ last. Imagine – this statement coming after that question. We can believe deeply and still have questions! We might say, to believe deeply is to keep asking questions. If God is infinite, there is always much about Him we do not know. If we have lived a life of seeking God, praying to him, experiencing life with him – then we are likely to have foundations of truth that we know are without question. We’re also likely to have questions. At times this duality is painful, at other times delightful and fascinating. The life of faith.
