Day 33 :: Abandoned
...Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Mark 15:34(34-36)
Separation from those we love. We’ve all experienced it at times. Sometimes it is only for a short time. Or it can be for many months with an ocean in between!
While we as humans can know this pain, I don’t believe that we can even come close to understanding the magnitude of the anguish Jesus suffered when He was separated from His Father while on the cross.
The separation was not one of nature or essence; Jesus never ceased to be the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity. Jesus prayed in John 17:21, “you, Father, are in me, and I am in you.” This shows us the sweet communion that Jesus had known with his Father from ETERNITY!
Now, for a short time, it was gone.
This is what hell will be like: eternal separation from God while enduring the full fury of His wrath, with no comfort at all.
Why would Jesus do this? Why would He, on the cross, endure the full reality of hell’s torments, including abandonment by His Father?
He did it so that we would not have to! Friends, don’t draw back from Jesus! Draw near to Him through faith.
As the writer of Hebrews says, “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.” (10:23)
May we keep our eyes on Jesus. he suffered abandonment for us, and all who flee to Him will never be alone. What a friend we have in Jesus!
Passages to read: Mark 15:34-36, Matthew 27:46-49
A thought to remember: Jesus suffered abandonment for us.
A question to ask: Will you run to Jesus today?
A song to sing: What a friend we have in Jesus