in one translation. in another it is slightly different, so lets go to the words in the Bible that are NOT translated, but rendered through the centuries in the original Aramaic. Our Lord’s very last words:
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which, translated into English become “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”
and while it is a quotation from Elijah, is is also a shout of pure despair, and yes, doubt.
Do not let your hatred of Obama warp you away from the central truth of Christianity: Jesus was FULLY human AND fully divine. He was capable of every human emotion we are, and yes the bible does show him in moments of sorrow, joy, anger, and even doubt. If Christ had no doubts then could he truly be said to have faith?
What is faith but the decision to believe even in the absence of evidence and the presence of doubt? How could Christ be our exemplar and model if he operated without faith? Does not Paul tells us, that without faith,we cannot have hope of the Resurrection?
Consider the passage where the devil tempts Jesus three times in the desert. What is that about except a reflection of the human jesus overcoming his doubts to serve the father? Can you even be said to be tempted if you never have any doubts as to the proper way to proceed?
In that story Jesus is on the cusp of beginning his ministry and Satan offers him three paths to take, that while they are not the one his Father intends, appeal to Jesus’ human side, and even his human compassion. They reflect Jesus’ own doubts about how to carry out this incredible task he’d been given.
Each of the temptations SEEMS like a good thing, at first. Jesus COULD make bread from stones, and by extension he could easily have used his divine power to alleviate hunger and disease in the world. But that was not what the Father intended. Jesus was on a mission to save our immortal souls not our bodies, and by focusing on the one,Satan hoped Jesus would be overwhelmed and unable to deal with the more important one.
So then Satan, realizing he can’t sidetrack Jesus’ mission attempts to “help” him fulfill it. If you are here to convert the world, says Satan, why not use your power to FORCE the world to believe, either by demonstrating miracles so powerful that they have no choice but to admit you are the son of God, or by using your power to bring the world under your rule and kingship (and would the world ever have had so wonderful or enlightened a ruler? Would not the Pax Christorum have saved the world incredible misery and hardship? wouldn’t YOU want to live in a world ruled by Jesus?)
But again, Jesus knows that is not how the Father wants him to use his time on earth, and again he remains steadfast. But surely, that passage is in the Bible to demonstrate to us that even the Son of God can be tempted, to strengthen US when we have uncertainty about whether what we want to do is serving ourselves or God.
Take away Jesus’ ability to doubt and you take away his ability to be a relevant guide to us fallible humans whose lives are FILLED with uncertainty and doubt
“My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”
Thank you. And I believe that Jesus WAS separated from God (somehow? not sure how - in that He is God?!?) as he had all the sins of the world laid on him. And while perhaps Jesus had no doubt that He, in three days, would rise victorious - he still asked “Why?”
Interestingly, how many times do we ask “Why have you forsaken me?” And unlike with Jesus perhaps - God IS still there with us.
Read Psalm 22 and get back to me.
Cheers!
I believe your reasoning is flawed. He had the ability to sin, but He did not. He had the ability to doubt, but He did not.
It's also a reference to the 22nd psalm which presages Jesus' betrayal, crucifixion and death in great detail. Jesus was letting Us know that in His death and resurrection prophecy was being fulfilled.
CC
If you look at Psalm 16 vv. 8-11 (cited by Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2:22-28) you will read of One whose confidence was in God because he “had ever set the Lord’s face before me.” Those verses refer to the Savior’s state of mind while ever drawing nearer to the cross (”My heart did rejoice, My tongue was glad, My flesh shall rest in hope”). His confidence leads Him to trust fully and completely in His Father (”thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption”) as He draws near to his ultimate sufferings—and the grave of which Peter spoke in Acts 2:24 that “it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” Peter’s conclusion about his Savior was that it was an absolute impossibility for Christ to die and remain in the ground (for it is sin that bringeth forth death and this man did no sin, knew no sin neither was there any sin in Him!) The concluding verses of Psalm 16 speak of the risen Savior and His exaltation to that place where He dwelt before in eternities past - in the bosom of the Father (”Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”) There ever to dwell with the Father - the Father once more united with the Son of His Love, the One in Whom He is well-pleased.
I’m not sure where to fit the idea of doubt in there. I’m sure there was something along the lines of experiencing the horrors of God’s judgment raining down on Him as he bore our sin in His own body on the tree (for it says, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!”). But doubt in the character and nature of God—never. He and the Father are One.
Quotation from Elijah? That wasn't a quote from Elijah. It's a quote from Psalm 22--King David. It's a Messianic Psalm.
1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring...
13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (KJV)
It is not a Christian thing to accuse somebody of being hateful because of a disagreement. And, it is a fool who accuses another of being hateful and then attempts to engage that person in a conversation. As I do not presume you to not be a Christian or to be fool, I’ll dismiss the insult as a mere slip of the pen.
Traditionally, Christians take Jesus statement, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” to be the opening verse of Psalm 22.
The following is a rather standard commentary on this:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Apr2004/Feature1.asp
The traditional Christian arguments are very similar concerning the three temptations, Jesus’ overturning the bankers’ tables at the Temple, his condemning the barren fig tree, and so forth. I also like the humor and sarcasm of Jesus, such as Jesus’ banter with the woman at the well, and when he told his disciples that two swords would be enough.
Your point, that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine, and so personally experienced the full range of human emotions that we experience is valid and very important. Jesus is our intermediary with God. Because of Jesus, we can be confident that God will understand us.
It seems to me that you would also say the human side of Jesus doubted even though the divine side of Jesus knew. Actually, this sounds like a reasonable position, and if it helps you to understand the mystery of Jesus’ dual nature, then it’s a good thing. But, the other position, the traditional one, is that Jesus said what he said for our sake, so that we would know that there are times when questioning God is o.k.
Having thought about this, I think the Copts may be onto something, that it’s a mistake to think of Jesus as having two natures, one human and one divine. Jesus had one nature that was both human and divine. This inclines me to think that Jesus allowed himself to be tempted and invoked the beginning of Psalm 22 for our sake, not that he ever felt tempted or actually doubted God.
As to doubt and fear, we, being human, certainly doubt and have fear. Therefore, we need to have faith and hope. Faith and hope, along with love, are therefore the Christian virtues. Paul says that in the fullness of time, we will not need faith or hope, because we will know. But, we will still have love. Jesus, being divine, was from the beginning of time, in the state we will be at the end of time. He knows, therefore, he neither doubts nor fears, and he doesn’t need faith or hope. Jesus loves.
Finally, I come to the verse invoked by the President, where Jesus said he was full of sorrow. The traditional Christian understanding of this verse is that Jesus was about to take upon himself the sins of the world, which made his full of sorrow. This verse is certainly not a proof with regard to Jesus’ doubt or fear.