Matthew 27:46 - Why?

I once met someone who had more than their share of tragedy in life. They felt like they couldn't pray anymore, but then felt guilty that perhaps God wouldn't let them into heaven because of their prayerlessness.

Their distress prompted four responses...

1. There is no merit badge for prayer. We don't get into heaven based on how good we are at praying. God isn't impressed with incantations; He responds to humble cries that can barely be put into words, if at all. (Numbers 21:9; John 3:14-16; Luke 18:13, 23:42; Romans 8:26. Cp. Romans 10:9-11 with Matthew 7:21)

2. Prayer is talking with God. Any conversation involves speaking and listening; asking and answering. Asking God "Why?" is as legitimate as praying the Lord's Prayer.

3. Hearing God's answer may take a while. Job is a man who lost his livestock, his crops, his home, his children and then his health. Repeatedly he asked God, "Why?" "Why was I born?" "Why does God box me in?" "Why don't bad people suffer... and I do?" "Why even talk about this?" God's only response was finally to start asking questions of Job that surprisingly ended all of Job's own questions.

4. As Jesus was dying by crucifixion He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Matthew 27:46, New Living Translation) The verse Jesus quoted goes on: "Why are you so far away when I groan for help?" (Psalm 22:1, NLT)

Ironically, the crucifixion makes the most sense to me when I'm in a place of helpless desperation. It is the one thing that gives me sustainable comfort. God understands. More than that, "For our sake God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, English Standard Version) 

Thank you, Father, that when Jesus asked "Why have You abandoned Me?", You took three days to answer Him. The answer wasn't words. It was Resurrection. It is in His name we ask "why," in His name we hope, and in His name we pray. Amen.

Illustration: Study for Crucifixion, 1947 - Graham V. Sutherland {KJC photo; Vatican Museum}