Thursday 18 October, 2018

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

“My god, my god, why have you forsaken me?” (v46)

To me, these are the most heart wrenching words in the whole bible. Coming from Jesus himself. Words that signify when all hope is gone. Yet Jesus chose to walk this path – to die on the Cross – for us. In this moment, Jesus, the Son of God, became most like us: separated from God because of sin. By doing so, he now identified with us and understood what it was like to be separated from the Father. His extreme suffering resulted in his death.

How could he willingly choose such a thing?

I believe Jesus was able to walk through the hardest and darkest part of his life because he entrusted himself to his Father’s care (1 Peter 2:23). For me, when things don’t make sense or don’t work out as I hoped, or when hardship or tragedy happen, Jesus is my greatest example. He entrusted his whole life to his Father. Every. Single. Part.

Jesus knew that his work was now done. But it was not the end. Jesus fully relied on his Father to do his part – the resurrection part! I can learn to do the same.

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross in my place and showing me that I can trust our Heavenly Father. Because of You I know that tragedy is not the end, resurrection is! You are the Resurrection and the Life. With all my heart, I thank you.

Written by Gab Martin