Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46
“All ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain.” – Ian Morgan Cron
During 2020 as COVID-19 reared its ugly head and kept surging, lockdowns increased and people of all ages continued to die, most of us felt forsaken at times. That Easter when we read that Jesus “bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30), we grieved the loss of so many people, including loved ones, who had joined Him in death.
“All ministry begins at the ragged edges of our own pain.” – Ian Morgan Cron
During 2020 as COVID-19 reared its ugly head and kept surging, lockdowns increased and people of all ages continued to die, most of us felt forsaken at times. That Easter when we read that Jesus “bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30), we grieved the loss of so many people, including loved ones, who had joined Him in death.
God, however, never leaves us without hope. Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection changed everything people thought they knew. Once more, God turned that which was meant for evil and pain so that it became a force capable of saving and healing a multitude.
Jesus declared that “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:13-14)
By His words, Jesus expanded the definition of “friend” to include all of humanity who followed Him and who sought to do the will of His Father. As He lay dying on the cross, Jesus was willing to take on all of our sins, even if that meant it would temporarily separate Him from God. The result of His suffering and sacrifice was that it provided us the opportunity to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4
– Zetta Garrett, EFM, Year Four
Zetta and others,
I am having a hard time with this reading in our Lenten booklet, and a concept or two around this topic.
I do not like the concept that Jesus was abandoned by God, that a curtain was drawn between heaven an earth, etc. He felt abandoned, most assuredly, as the time of His death approached and He was suffering terribly, but was He really separated from God? Was not God there, suffering right along with Jesus and those at the foot of the cross? I hate the idea that God would ever abandon any of us, at any time, for any reason.
I always thought that the definition of sin was separation from God, and while Jesus took on ALL our sins to save us, He never sinned Himself, so by that definition was not separated from the Father.
Please help me to better clarify and understand this, as it was quite troubling to me when I read it this morning.
Thanks!