Elijah, the Rescuer of the Righteous

The four Gospels were originally written in the common language of the Roman Empire, Greek. However, Jesus would have spoken the common language used in Israel at the time, Aramaic. While we typically have Jesus words translated to us, in the case of this cry from the Cross we have the original. He said:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

In the Gospel of Matthew, the original Aramaic is also quoted “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”

At least one of the reasons the Gospels provide the saying of Jesus without translation is because when people heard those first words, Eli, Eli, they thought “Oh, He’s calling out to Elijah”. Eli, Eli, sounds like Elijah, Elijah.

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
–Matthew 27:47-49

Indeed, Elijah was the one who was known as the rescuer of the righteous. Elijah was one of the last remaining righteous prophets of God in a season when all of Israel had become corrupt. Not unlike during the days of Jesus, the very administration of the Temple and the Jewish government were all conspiring against the Anointed One of God. Elijah lamented to the Lord:

“I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” –1 Kings 19:14

The kings of Israel were sending their soldiers against the prophet of God. Elijah, though – this is very interesting – Elijah never died.

Elijah was one of the two people we find in Scripture – Enoch being the other one – who was literally transported into the heavenly realms by the chariot Throne of God. In the presence and sight of his successor Elisha, the Lord took him right up into the heavenly realms without death.

Some people who were there underneath the Cross thought that by calling out to Elijah, Jesus was asking God to swoop down with His chariots and rescue Him off the Cross if He truly was a prophet like Elijah.

The people of this world are often looking for some dramatic sign of God’s power and reality before placing faith in him. Yet God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. In some of the most difficult and dark moments, God does amazing and powerful things. While a dramatic rescue by Elijah would have been a sight to see, it would have completely nullified the victory being won by the Cross.

Paul writes of the Jewish insistence on signs from God through mighty acts of intervention:

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. –1 Corinthians 1:21-25

Satan once accused Job only believing in the LORD because of the Lord’s blessing. However, the faithful like Job have continually shown throughout history that they will glorify God even in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances.

Here is the true spirit of Elijah. Elijah never forsook God even when all others had rebelled and worshiped the false god, Baal, and abandoned the Lord and His prophet. Yet, God revealed to Elijah that He always has His faithful people. The Lord said to Elijah, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)

God’s strength is made perfect through your weakness. In the times of seeming abandonment, God is doing His most profound soul work in your life. The very difficulties of the fallen world are all worked into His plan of restoration and redemption. Nothing will be wasted, not even your worst experiences. God is working all things for your good. (Romans 8:28) Even the darkest sufferings caused by your enemies, evil and death, even their worst attacks on you, you will be redeemed to create the character of Christ in you.