And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” vs. 46
Matthew 27:33-54
For some people, this saying of Jesus’ from the cross is arguably the most reassuring and hopeful thing that he ever said. For in these few words, Matthew lets us know that Jesus was fully human and at the tortuous end of his life felt totally alienated from God. He felt forsaken–and those feelings are not foreign to his followers. If at times in our lives there are occasions when we feel alienated and deserted, somehow it makes us feel better to know that Jesus knows exactly what’s going on. He’s walked this rocky road before us! In fact, some people of faith have reported that these are the moments when they felt closest to him–as they cried out in despair to God they realized that Jesus had done exactly the same thing, and he became their companion in their despair. It would be nice if life was not like this and we could live in a Pollyanna world where brokenness was unknown and pain was a stranger. But that’s not how it is! Death shadows us through our entire lives, it comes for friends and family, and one day it will come for us. And if we feel forsaken, we’re not alone. And the better news is that on that day, when we’re feeling the pain of Good Friday, we can know in our hearts that Easter is just around the corner.
Thought for the Day: When might we feel forsaken by God?
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