Expert: Eric Christy - 3/12/2004

Question
Hi Eric!

I have a quick question about Jesus. I appreciate you might be busy but I would really appreciate any sort of an answer that might help me.

We understand Jesus as 'God incarnate'. Why then, does Jesus cry out 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'(Mark 15:34).
It would seem odd that Jesus would be talking to Himself. And if Jesus were talking to someone else, wouldn't this imply Jesus is not God incarnate at all? I'm confused!

I'm really grateful for as much help as you can give. Thank you!!!!
~Aaron~  

Answer
Hi Aaron,

I would have responded much sooner, but I did not get your first email to me.  I only found out about it from AllExperts sending me a notice that I had pending unanswered questions.  So, here then is what I think the answer to your question might be:


I believe that Jesus came to us as God, per John 1:1, etc.  There are a number of NT passages showing us that Jesus came to us as God.  But, something amazing transpired between the time of His incarnation and the time of His trial on the cross, death, and subsequent resurrection.  There are over 10 NT passages teaching us that Jesus *has* the same God we believers have.  So then, while He came to us as God, He left us now having the same God we believers have, namely His Father.

The same one who wrote John 1:1, wrote John 20:17.  In John 1:1-14 we see Jesus *is* God.  But by the time John 20:17 is written, we see that Jesus now *has* a God!  A change has taken place.  A change so momentous, it defies adequete explanation, but nonetheless, the teaching of the NT clearly states that Jesus came to us as God, but left us now having a God.  And you pointed out that Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me", clearly indicating a difference between Jesus and God.  Actually, all throughout the gospels, there is a clear difference between Jesus and the Father, but while Jesus was on the cross, that difference is even more clearly made.  If He were God, then He would have known why He was being forsaken.  After all, up until a few hours beforehand, He was telling His disciples that He would die for them and that their evening meal would be His last, until He rose from the dead.  Weeks before this night, He was telling His disciples that His death was imminent.

Yet, on the cross, He says something very odd.  It's as if a change is transipiring right before our eyes.  And, in point of fact, a change was occuring.  For, after His resurrection, the first person He visits (Mary Magdalene) has Him telling her to tell His disciples that He is going back to His Father and their Father and *His* God and their God.  Apparently, God now has...a GOD.  That is, there is a GOD of God, namely the Father of the Son.

There are over 10 NT passages teaching that Jesus has a God, namely the same one we believers have.  They -ALL- occur either on the cross of after His resurrection/ascension.  So clearly, a change in Jesus' nature has occured.  Yes, He came to us as God, but left us now having the same God we believers have.  This is how much He loved us.  He gave all that a God *could* give.  He gave up being God!  This was the cost to Him in providing us salvation.  No wonder we love Him so!  He gave up more than His life, He gave up being God.  You can't give any more than that, and He gave it all.  He deserves our love, adoration, and respect.  He has it from me.

Eric