Good Friday

“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  At three o’clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’  When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’  And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’  Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’”  -Mark 15:33-39

Jesus was forsaken by God?!?  That doesn’t seem right...  Don’t we believe that God is always with us?  That we are never alone?  So much so that as kids we were creeped out to think of God hangin around while we were in the bathroom?  Right?!  So what gives?
We are never alone.  Jesus promises this in the last part of the gospel of Matthew.  God is always with us.  And yet Jesus felt forsaken by God...
What is sin to you?  Bad stuff that we do or say?  Everyone sins right?  Except Jesus, of course, He was without sin.  Which was why He was the perfect sacrifice.  Out of love, Jesus died for our sins.  And because He took on the sin of the world He felt far from God.  Far enough to feel forsaken.  Sin to me is anything that does just that- takes us further from God, from following His will in our lives.  So if Jesus took on the sin of the world, that’s an awful lot of stuff to take Him far from God.  I think this agonizing question that Jesus cries out while on the cross is here to show us that our sin does turn us away from God.  But, Jesus can turn us around.  If we ask for forgiveness, we will never feel forsaken because we will never, ever be forsaken.  Praise Him for this act of love!!!  I think it also is meant to connect us to God.  To know that Jesus, though He Himself did not sin, felt the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that comes from sin.  Does knowing He has felt that way make you feel closer to God, more understood by Him?

Prayer:  Gracious Father God, thank You for Your outstanding sacrifice.  We pray today for those who are persecuted for their faith and even accept death over betrayal.  As we mourn Your son today, may the feeling of hopelessness and sadness, make the Easter celebration all the more hope-inspiring and joyful.  Amen.