Word@Work 202 - Mark 15:33-34
Published: Thu, 09/04/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 15:33-34 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (NIV)
Three hours into the crucifixion, an eerie darkness cast its shadow over Israel. It was not just to hide the suffering of Jesus; it was a cosmic sign of God's judgement on human sin (cf Amos 8:9-10). That strange silence was pierced by the voice of Jesus, calling out in the moment of ultimate desolation. The first, and only, time the Trinity experienced separation had now come with great intensity. The word 'Father' was, for that moment, impossible. As Jesus became sin for us, His appeal was simply to God, His God who was so distant, for the only time in eternity.
The weight of God's wrath against our sin crushed Him (cf Is 53:5), and the 24/7 communication link with heaven was demolished. The Bible's answer to His question is that Holy God cannot be polluted by sin (cf Is 59:2): that would wreck His Holiness. Instead, Jesus chose to be wrecked - totally. There was no way back from the utter loneliness of being abandoned by Father God: Jesus bore it, all alone ... for you and me.
A fresh gaze at the cross may bring us tears of shame, or the joy of relief. One thing the cross can never do for the Christian, is to promote indifference. That is reserved for those like the characters round the cross, who do not see their own sin there; who have no weeping for their selfish past, and no gratitude for their dying Saviour. Yet, some of those known to you will seek Him and find Him - through your unrelenting trust in Jesus and your patient witness to His grace.
Prayer: Father God. I thank You that I shall never be cut off from You, because I am so grateful that Jesus suffered that agony instead of me. Help me to be the grateful witness you have called me to be, by the power of Your Holy Spirit (cf Acts 1:8), so that my colleagues, friends and family may not be condemned in the final judgement. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Three hours into the crucifixion, an eerie darkness cast its shadow over Israel. It was not just to hide the suffering of Jesus; it was a cosmic sign of God's judgement on human sin (cf Amos 8:9-10). That strange silence was pierced by the voice of Jesus, calling out in the moment of ultimate desolation. The first, and only, time the Trinity experienced separation had now come with great intensity. The word 'Father' was, for that moment, impossible. As Jesus became sin for us, His appeal was simply to God, His God who was so distant, for the only time in eternity.
The weight of God's wrath against our sin crushed Him (cf Is 53:5), and the 24/7 communication link with heaven was demolished. The Bible's answer to His question is that Holy God cannot be polluted by sin (cf Is 59:2): that would wreck His Holiness. Instead, Jesus chose to be wrecked - totally. There was no way back from the utter loneliness of being abandoned by Father God: Jesus bore it, all alone ... for you and me.
A fresh gaze at the cross may bring us tears of shame, or the joy of relief. One thing the cross can never do for the Christian, is to promote indifference. That is reserved for those like the characters round the cross, who do not see their own sin there; who have no weeping for their selfish past, and no gratitude for their dying Saviour. Yet, some of those known to you will seek Him and find Him - through your unrelenting trust in Jesus and your patient witness to His grace.
Prayer: Father God. I thank You that I shall never be cut off from You, because I am so grateful that Jesus suffered that agony instead of me. Help me to be the grateful witness you have called me to be, by the power of Your Holy Spirit (cf Acts 1:8), so that my colleagues, friends and family may not be condemned in the final judgement. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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