“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34

Judas had kissed him off.
Nine of the others had escaped into the night.
Peter followed, but from afar.
Only John navigated the darkness to remain somewhat near.

Suspended on a cruel executioner’s tree, Jesus was alone. Alone, that is, but for the strengthening assurance of His ever-present Father. That is until…

“When the sixth hour had come, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour…” Three hours of “alone.” Stretched out between earth and heaven. Forsaken by earth and finally forsaken even by heaven! “My God, My God, why have YOU forsaken Me?!”

According to Jewish tradition, prayer has 10 names. And the very first name on that list is “cry.” These cries come when we see no indication whatsoever that God is on our side, when we find His very silence deafening. When isolation suffocates.

“Crying” begins by calling out God’s name in a moment of distress:

• As an expression of grievance against Him
• As an outline of one’s distress
• As an expression of perplexity at seeming victories by enemies
• As an urgent pleading for relief
• As an honest laying bare of true emotions of anger and disappointment

We often fear that the raw honesty of our “cry” may cause God to reject us, yet:

• Moses “cried” out to the Lord when Pharaoh intensified the afflictions on the Hebrew slaves. Exodus 5:22-23
• Joshua “cried” out when Israel suffered defeat at Ai. Joshua 7:7-9
• Gideon “cried” out when Midian ran over them for seven years. Judges 6:13
• Job “cried” out when he had lost everything but God. Job 29-31
• Jeremiah “cried” out when God allowed the fall of the nation. Jeremiah 4:10

The reality is that it is only the abused child that stifles their cries when times of pain come on them. They do so because they do not believe that their parents really care. Those who know that they are loved unconditionally find the freedom to “cry” out when trials come.

Jesus’ cry from the cross reveals that faith will not let go of God even when overwhelmed by the greatest of suffering!

“Father into YOUR hands I commit My spirit!” Luke 23:26

It was not a “Good Friday” that day outside Jerusalem. But on that not-so-good-Friday Jesus never forgot that His Father was always good!

See you Resurrection Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom