Skip to content

Soul Preaching

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Popular Updates
    • Preaching Methods
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Sermon Construction
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
  • SUBSCRIBE
Menu

My God, My God, Why….?

Posted on January 1, 2015

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

On the cross Jesus uttered a fascinating sentence. We find it in Matthew 27:45-46, Jesus said “My God, My God, Why has thou forsaken me?”

If you have been in the church for even a short time you have heard this quoted. Perhaps you have even heard sermons on the subject, but have you thought about that text and what it means about Jesus and what it means for us who find ourselves attempting to preach on this weekend?

Here is Jesus, who the Father calls God in Hebrews 1:8. That Jesus who is fully God is also fully connected to humanity. A connection so strong that he yelled out the cry that we also find in Psalms 22. A connection so strong that he could feel forsakenness.

Yes, Jesus felt the strength of the curse that comes from sin for as we are told in Galatians 3:13 connected to Deuteronomy 21:23, cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. Yes Jesus decided to take that curse on himself. But that curse ripped from his lips this anguish cry of forsakenness that we see here. We preachers love to preach about that Sunday morning.

It is hard to find a Black preacher who has not uttered the words “EEEEEAAARRRRLLLLLYYY Sunday morning” and that is good. But if you ain’t felt Friday evening, your bellowing about a Sunday morning shout will have an emptiness.

Without Friday evening, our Sunday morning shout will not connect to the people as it should. Now I am not attempting to preach a sermon on the incarnation or on the deity of Jesus Christ in this article, but I do want to talk about preaching that gets to Sunday morning without coming to terms with Friday evening. Because truth be told Friday evening is where some of your congregation is living during the week.

In fact some of us know that feeling of forsakenness, but we don’t want to talk about it, we don’t want to come to terms with it, for fear. We get up and preach a tame sermon. It is as if we talk about God’s power to get us past the stubbed toe we had this week, when someone has been shot this week.

It is as if we talk about God’s ability to help us keep our temper under control at work when someone has lost her job this week. It is as if we talk about how God scraped together money so that we can go on a vacation when someone has lost their house this week.

It is as if we fear that our God won’t go into the hell where some live. Does God have something for the rape victim? Does God have something for the family of the murdered man. Does God have something to say to those who live in areas where their children seem destined to failure and defeat. Does God have something for the truly forsaken?

Now, as I look at this scripture, I must admit that we don’t get an apologetic. We simply get a statement of forsakenness. That tells me that ain’t nothing wrong with feeling forsaken. It also tells me that there may not be an answer right now.Even if there is an answer, we may not be in a position to hear it right now.

So what does this mean to preachers? It means that it is alright to allow your own pains and hurts to show. If Jesus could, then we can. It means that if we will go into the depths of human pain, we may have to sometimes recognize that there may not be an answer that we can give in a nice 30 minute sermon.

It means that just because we don’t know why, doesn’t mean that we can’t allow for pain to be articulated. In fact, it means that there is power in just articulating your pain. I am reminded of the old Negro Spiritual, “Sometimes, I feel Like a Motherless child, a long way from home.” or “Deep river, my home is over Jordan, deep river, I want to cross over into camp ground.” The Black slave knew that sometimes you just had to sing from your pain. Sometimes you just have to have some “Lamentations.”

There may be a time to shout, but there is also a time to cry. And you have a God that is with you while you are shouting and while you are crying. In our rush to get to the “shout”, we skip Friday evening. And as long as we do that, we take something away from Sunday morning. Sister and Brother preachers. I know you have been there on Friday evening. Let people see Friday evening. And then when you talk about Sunday morning, it adds greater power to that proclamation.

Image – © oscar williams – Fotolia.com

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Related posts:

Nommo – Creative Power of the Word Default ThumbnailKerygma and Didache Default ThumbnailProphetic Preaching Default ThumbnailAuthenticity and Preaching

13 thoughts on “My God, My God, Why….?”

  1. Vincent Johnson says:
    September 7, 2012 at 11:02 am

    This is good meat for the soul. Without a beginning, I can’t get to the ending. The problem is I can’t handle Friday either. But if it had not been for Friday, I wouldn’t know that only my Heavenly Father, without a shadow of a doubt, can give me a shout on Sunday. Thanks Professor Cox II. You turned the light on this dark situation. I was blind and could’nt see, but now I can hear what thus saith the Lord.

  2. Franklin Hairston says:
    September 7, 2012 at 11:21 am

    This absolutely on point, we must show the pain of the Gospel. We are so afraid to preach Jesus these days that we commonly avoid the gospels and go to every other chapter in the Bible!

  3. Chet says:
    September 7, 2012 at 11:25 am

    Preach it brother! Without Friday we do not see the terrible price sin inflicts on us nor God.

  4. Minister Samuel Andrews says:
    September 7, 2012 at 12:58 pm

    Greetings fellow suffers of he Gospel,
    I firmly believe that when we experience 2Timothy 2:15 as God intended, we will find that studying the word of God involves all of our senses. This is how we are able to lift the life off of the 66 and make every situation relative to our human experience. By the power of example, Christ has gone before us and has shown us …as any true leader would do..our do’s and don’ts, our wills and won’ts. When we follow his lead, we express the life force in scripture and become eye witnesses that 2 Corithians 12:9 will make us (along with Paul) boast even more about Friday every time it comes around. It is the Grace of God that is essential and noteworthy because Christ Himself never said life would be easy, but scripture does tell us that God’s Grace is sufficient..it is the Grace of God that we lose sight of during those moments of despair and tragedy. It is also the Grace of God that keeps us…inspite of our temper tantrums or growing pains.

  5. Sandy says:
    September 7, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    I have been through much pain, and this has all made me who I am today. That pain sometimes comes through in my sermons, and blessedly makes them more meaningful. And we wouldn’t have Sunday morning if the pain of Friday had not happened! Great article, Pastor Sherman

  6. Evangelist P. Spencer says:
    September 8, 2012 at 3:06 am

    Thanks, for shedding the light on a dark subject! I am reminded, to allow God’s word to deal with the pain in my life. Too often we preachers think we have to push beyond our pain, to stand and preach with purpose, to persuade and inspire!

  7. Minister Jimmie says:
    September 8, 2012 at 7:26 am

    Thank you. This was a great eye opening article. I never realize that our own fears can distract from the hearer and myself receiving full deliverence. Pastor Cox truth was told in this article and as a minister I receive it for my better and those I speak to good. Thank You again.

  8. B. Soto says:
    September 8, 2012 at 8:37 am

    Expressing pain in a sermon needs to bring hope to others that might be going through a process and needs a word to give strengh so they can see that joy comes in the morning . If Christ being Son of God felt how one can feel forsaken in time of darkness, we also can preach out of our darkest times knowing that we must keep going on knowing God will bring good out of the hurt, it will make us stronger. Keep sharing .

  9. Jimmy Stanfied says:
    September 8, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    “We preachers love to preach about that Sunday morning. It is hard to find a Black preacher who has not uttered the words “EEEEEAAARRRRLLLLLYYY Sunday morning” and that is good. But if you ain’t felt Friday evening, your bellowing about a Sunday morning shout will have an emptiness.”

    Excellent observation! Great article Brother Cox!

  10. min. walker says:
    September 14, 2012 at 7:30 am

    Now this right here is what I am talking about. I truly believe that in the ministry the Lord has presented to me I am going at it with transparency and truth. There are people out there who are going through the exact same type of problems as I am and some even worse. Who am I to stand and preach at them instead of to them. My transparency about what the Lord has done for me is my ministry. People already put preachers on a pedestal and then when we fall then all seems to be lost. I know spiritual discernment is key in being transparent without putting yourself in danger. When I minister it is my transparency about my “Friday Nights” (plural) and how the Lord brought me through onto Sunday morning!!! excellent read and thank you.

  11. Dr. David Copeland says:
    January 13, 2015 at 10:40 am

    That is good stuff brother! Praise the Lord and thank God for you!

  12. SAMORA TYOBEKA says:
    March 12, 2015 at 4:22 am

    AS A PROBATIONER IS IT POSSIBLE TO IMPACT THE CHURCH IN PREACHING GOD’S WORD?SAMORA
    my denomination is Baptist ,i serve under a native Baptist mission in southern africa.still trying to find my footing in the pulpit

  13. Bernell says:
    March 26, 2015 at 5:47 pm

    A few years ago I became aware of something that bothered me. I God said He would never leave or forsaken us sinful humans why would He forsake His son in the process of making the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world? “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6. God wouldn’t forsake Jesus but how or why did the scriptures say this. So, led by the Holy Spirit I came across George M. Lamsa’s Aramaic Peshitta, the language many scholars believe was the primary language Jesus spoke and taught His disciples in. What I found brought peace to my heart and made perfect sense. What pastors have taught here in the West for hundreds of years is a gross mistranslation of Matthew 27:45-46 that says “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” should read Eli, Eli, lemana shabakthani. The proper translation is – My God, My God, for this I was spared (this was my destiny).

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
  • Thou Shalt Have Good News
  • The Answer Is In The Records
  • Just Keep the Ball In Play
  • The Importance of Good News
  • Preaching Advent With Imagination
  • Why The Thorn

Free Email Training

Sign up for the New Preaching TIPS Email Newsletter. You will recieve 5-7 emails a week.

Click Here

Revised Common Lectionary

    Instagram

    shermancox

    Instagram post 18041906996079829 Instagram post 18041906996079829
    Instagram post 17910296783919000 Instagram post 17910296783919000
    Instagram post 18035493148903548 Instagram post 18035493148903548
    Instagram post 17887097775081541 Instagram post 17887097775081541
    #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning
    I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal
    Instagram post 18087447073438590 Instagram post 18087447073438590
    Instagram post 17851233018147535 Instagram post 17851233018147535
    Instagram post 17907649217946063 Instagram post 17907649217946063
    Intro to prayer Intro to prayer
    Instagram post 17982108473571505 Instagram post 17982108473571505
    Instagram post 18030258256647195 Instagram post 18030258256647195
    Instagram post 18128574130309862 Instagram post 18128574130309862
    Instagram post 18388873843007811 Instagram post 18388873843007811
    What’s on the wall when I’m singing? What’s on the wall when I’m singing?
    How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist. How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist.
    Goodness of God cover. Goodness of God cover.
    Instagram post 18229306630087412 Instagram post 18229306630087412
    Instagram post 17972316937910455 Instagram post 17972316937910455
    Logged into lose it and it said Logged into lose it and it said
    Load More Follow on Instagram

    Recent Posts

    • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
    • Thou Shalt Have Good News
    • The Answer Is In The Records
    • Just Keep the Ball In Play
    • The Importance of Good News

    Archives

    • September 2024
    • March 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • March 2019
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
    • November 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • December 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • September 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • February 2007
    • January 2007
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • October 2006
    • September 2006

    Categories

    • 11Cartoons
    • 11Fiction
    • 11Instruction
    • Associate Ministry
    • Audio
    • Basic Preaching
    • Bible Study
    • Black Church
    • Black Preaching Style
    • blog
    • Book of the Month
    • Book Reviews
    • Devotional
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
    • feedburner
    • Fixing the Sermon
    • Funeral
    • General
    • Gospel Music
    • Headline
    • History
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Issues
    • MiniBlog
    • Ministry
    • Negro Spirituals
    • Planning
    • Podcast
    • Practice
    • Prayer
    • Preaching
    • Preaching Methods
    • Preaching Style
    • Premium
    • Questions and Answers
    • racism
    • Scripture Selection
    • Sermon Analysis
    • Sermon Construction
    • Sermon Craft
    • Sermon Editing
    • Sermon Outline
    • Sermons
    • Software
    • Theology
    • Titles
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Web Ministry
    • WebSeminar
    • Whooping
    • Without Notes
    ©2025 Soul Preaching | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme