Jesus cried out in a loud voice...
Mark 15:33,34
And when the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”
As Jesus sensed that the moment of His death was approaching, His mind was focused on Scripture, specifically the twenty-second Psalm: “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken Me? Far from my salvation are my words of groaning! O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night but I have no rest” (22:1,2).
Both Matthew and Mark gospels include Jesus’ quote from Psalm 22 in Aramaic, Jesus’ native language. There are minor variations between the two versions that have created controversy for some (e.g. “Eloi” vs “Eli” for “God”). The explanation is likely a matter of the process of transliteration, going from Aramaic to Greek. It is how two Americans with different dialects might phonetically spell “Gawd” vs “Goud” depending on how they heard and remembered it said.
Psalm 22 was written by David in ancient Hebrew (~1000 BC), translated into the Greek Septuagint version (200-300 BC), memorized by first century Judean men who heard in both Hebrew and Greek, and subsequently spoken and quoted in their native Aramaic tongue.
It was translated back into Greek in the first century, into English fifteen centuries later and subsequently into a proliferation of different contemporary versions. It is not at all remarkable that we should find minor variations between versions. What’s remarkable is that we find so few. God meant that we should know Him in each generation, and He has provided His word as a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105).
He has also provided it for comfort and encouragement in our moments of trial and travail.
It's not a pleasant thing to think about. But every one of us will ultimately have last thoughts before we transition from this life into the next. How wonderful it would be to have our very last thoughts profoundly grounded on the truth of God’s Word, His story, His character revealed through Christ, manifested in the lives of our brothers and sisters (compassion, graciousness, patience, lovingkindness and faithfulness, Exodus 34:6); to focus on His abundant blessings and His presence in our lives.
We cannot predict the moment. We all know too many people for whom it came suddenly and without warning. Would that our last thoughts might be of Him because that was where our minds were trained to go amid the hectic pace of life. Would that we had learned in the moments when the clouds of earthly busyness parted, to look for the light of heaven and His truth to shine even briefly through.
It comes from practice. And such practice can begin today.
So, between spreadsheets and bedsheets, between studying and scrolling, commuting and communicating, labor and life, may our hearts and souls be found in Him.
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble.
You will surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7).
“You are holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers trusted. They trusted, and You rescued them” (Psalm 22:3,4).
