Jesus, The Orphan

February 11, 2026 

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” Matthew 27:46

In every prayer Jesus prayed he called God Father, with only one exception. 

From eternity the Father has been calling him Son, and Jesus has been calling God Father. In one of the great messianic Psalms, it says, "The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you'" (Psalm 2:7.) This was not spoken at Jesus birth, but rather 1000 years prior to his birth. This is the type of conversation the Father and Son have had throughout eternity. There was never a moment when the Father did not call Jesus Son, and when Jesus did not call his Dad Father. Jesus is eternally begotten, that is to say he is eternally born from the Father. He has always been the Son to the Father.

Now, however, for the first time in eternity, the Son calls God by another name. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' This is not the prayer of a Son; this is the prayer of an orphan. It's the prayer of abandonment.

Why?

Jesus prayed an orphan prayer because he became an orphan. Imagine! The only legitimate Son became an orphan, so that orphans like me and you might become legitimate children of God. He became an orphan so you can call God Father.

What a miracle. What love. What a Savior!

Don't ever undervalue the extreme price Jesus paid to make you his son. And don't underestimate the name Father.

Loving Father, thank you for the sacrifice of Christ, your Son, who became an orphan so that I could become your legitimate child. 

YEAR ON FIRE

© Fred A. Hartley, III

All rights reserved

The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.