Tony Smith

She killed his kid. He divorced her.

When I was Muslim, man, this verse used to mess me up. Jesus on the cross saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As a Muslim, I used to think: how does God feel forsaken by God? That sounds like weakness. That sounds like a prophet in pain. But then I dug deeper. And I realized Jesus was not speaking randomly. He was quoting Psalm 22. That entire Psalm, written by King David centuries before Christ, is a prophecy about the crucifixion: “They pierce my hands and feet.” “They divide my garments among them.” “All who see me mock me.” In Jewish culture, quoting the first line of a Psalm pointed people to the entire passage. So Jesus was not crying out in confusion. He was declaring fulfillment. He was saying: “This is that.” And at the same time, He was carrying the full weight of sin, shame, abandonment, and suffering for humanity. Every moment humanity has cried out, “God, where are you?” Christ stepped into that pain Himself. That is not weakness. That is intentional. That is prophecy unfolding in real time. That is the King bleeding on purpose so humanity could be brought near to God. That is the Gospel.

Here’s the inconsistency I deal with as a Messianic Jew. Because I believe in Yeshua, the Jewish community often labels me an idolater or treats me like an outsider. Yet I have Jewish family members deeply involved in New Age spirituality... psychics, mediums, communing with the dead. These are occultic practices the Torah firmly forbids. And yet they remain fully embraced within the Jewish community. They attend Reform synagogues, participate openly, and no one questions whether they are still Jewish. Meanwhile, I love Hashem with all my heart, seek to honor Torah, and strive to walk faithfully before God. And I’m the one pushed out. Why is someone who consults mediums still unquestioningly accepted as Jewish, while I am told that I no longer am?