Dumb Idols - Spiritual Thoughts of Daniel J. Clausen

"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' which is, being interpreted is, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' . . .  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost." - Mark 15:34, 37 The last words of Christ dying on the cross are disturbing to many. They look and say, "See? Even Jesus despaired in that great hour," or "See? Even Jesus felt like God had abandoned Him."  No doubt, the travail of the crucifixion would be enough to break even the best of us, however, there is a more likely, and I daresay, a more encouraging understanding on these pained words.  First, some cultural context Back in first century Jewish culture, and even in some communities in the present day, it was the standard practice of all children to memorize Scripture, that is, the Old Testament. Scribes and scrolls were scarce in those days - not everyone had more books than they know

Examples of Sibyllian Oracles: "With five loaves at the same time, and with two fishes, He will satisfy five thousand men in the wilderness . . . He will walk on the waves. He will release men from disease. He will raise the dead and drive away many pains. And from the bread of one pouch, there will be the satisfying of men."  "He will afterwards come into the hands of the unjust and the faithless, and they will inflict blows with impure hands on God."  "Know Him as your God, who is the Son of God." "Do you not tremble, nor fear God most High? There is only one uncreated God, who reigns alone, all-powerful, very great, from whom nothing is hid." "But there is one God of pre-eminent power, who made the heaven, the sun, the moon, the fruitful earth, and the waves of the sea . . . Worship Him who alone is ruler of the world, who alone was, and is from age to age." In the ancient days of Rome, Greece and Babylon