Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

In that dreadful cry I find all my consolation, that God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. All my fears are swallowed up when I hear the dearly beloved of the Father--the Father who had commanded "listen to him!" now covers his own ears!--utterly forsaken that I might be justified and reconciled to God. Here I see the darkness and pain and shame and terrors of hell endured, not for self-deserved justice, but for the joy set before him, that he might forever dwell among a people who did deserve, but thanks to him will never taste, the death that he drank to the dregs.

And all the praises of all the redeemed through all the blissful history of heaven will never exhaust, but rather only heighten our love and joy and gratitude for him who was forsaken for our own sake.

Quote
Tell me, ye who hear him groaning, was there ever grief like his?
Friends through fear his cause disowning, foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him, none would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that Justice gave.

Here we have a sure foundation, here the refuge of the lost;
Christ the Rock of our salvation, his the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built.

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted, vss. 2,4; Kelly, 1804

In Christ,
Paul S