Moment of Meditation: Elijah (Matthew 27:47-49)

''And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him" (Matthew 27:47-49).''

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!" Jesus cries out the first line of Psalm 22. He very likely prayed the entire psalm on the cross as He hung there. This may be the sermon that changes the repentant thief's heart from railing to repenting.

But those around Jesus thought He was calling for Elijah the prophet. They mocked Him as though He thought He could bring about the Messiah's coming. The Jewish leaders were waiting for Elijah to return as Malachi prophesied (4:5).

Would Elijah come to save Jesus? No. Elijah had already come. Jesus told the people that John the Baptizer was Elijah who is to come (Matthew 11:14). Jesus was not calling for Elijah. He was crying out to His Father. The Father who had forsaken Him for you. The Father who has redeemed you in Jesus' being forsaken. Amen.