Ask a Pastor Column

Q: Why did Jesus say on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Part One of Two)

A: There are a couple of reasons I know of for Jesus’ statement about being forsaken by God, both of them are incredibly profound. In fact, it’s going to take two articles to explain it all! The first thing Jesus was doing by His statement was employing a common rabbinic teaching method. Through the Synagogues (Jewish religious schools), all Jews were instructed in a common body of teaching from an early age. Most Jewish men (and many of the women) knew the Old Testament so well that a rabbi could...