Caryn Rivadeneira 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose the word of God. I'm Caryn Rivadeneira. I serve as Director of Care and Worship Planning. This week's Alpha question is, "Why did Jesus die?" I'll be reading Psalm 22, verse 1.
Caryn Rivadeneira 0:20
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me? From the words of my groaning?
Caryn Rivadeneira 0:29
If the first part of his passage sounds familiar, it's likely because these are the last words Jesus spoke from the cross. Both Matthew and Mark tell us in their gospels that Jesus said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", at just about 3pm; right before his final cry and his death. I need to give full credit to pastor Gregg for me knowing this tidbit. Although I'd read through the Bible many times (and through the Psalms even more times), I was a good 40 years-old before I made the connection that Jesus was quoting a Psalm - the words of David - and not just saying this out of nowhere. Pastor Gregg suggested that in saying this, Jesus was offering a clue to those standing by. Psalm 22 is a dark and difficult Psalm, but like all good laments, it ends by pointing to the hope found in God - I love this.
Caryn Rivadeneira 1:22
Even in his worst moments of pain, suffering and despair, Jesus was pointing people (unlike me, would have recognized the quote), toward the goodness of God and the hope on the horizon. Even in his death, Jesus points to the life to come. Which, kind of answers this question of why Jesus had to die. Of course, it's not the official answer. Our church believed that Jesus died to atone, or to pay the price for our sins. And yes, that for sure. But Jesus birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and even those words of Jesus on the cross, show that this wasn't a simple transaction. Jesus' death wasn't just so we can be forgiven (if I can say such a thing), but so that we too would know that the worst wasn't the end. That death wasn't the end. That even in our worst moments - our deepest despair, our alienation, and even as we cry out and wonder why God has forsaken us - we can point and cling to the hope that is to come.