THE PRICE: CHRIST’S DARK MOMENT OF ULTIMATE SUFFERING.
HOLY WEEK DEVOTION – DAY 2
THE PRICE: CHRIST’S DARK MOMENT OF ULTIMATE SUFFERING.
MINISTER GRACE JAMES
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) Matthew 27:45-46
Have you ever gone through your darkest moment that has caused you great suffering? This may be the death of a loved one, an illness that has stricken you or a family member, a betrayal of a friend or your spouse, a loss of a job and the inability to find another one, the list can go on and on. Through that darkest moment of suffering, have you ever felt abandoned by God? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is someone who can relate to many of us when we are going through our darkest trials. Leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross, he dealt with some intense physical and mental sufferings, but Jesus knew what his mission was as he hung on the cross. While he was in agony hanging on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, it says in Matthew 27:45-46 “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (which means “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”.) The physical darkness that covered all over the land represented the deep agony that Jesus felt during his cry which revealed how deeply he felt abandoned by God the Father as he bore “the sins of the world”.
This verse was also quoted by David the Psalmist in Psalm 22:1-2 where it says:
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not heal and in the night season, and am not silent.”
When facing a trial, we may often feel like there is a separation from God. We may question if God can hear us when we cry out to him. We may feel that he is distant from us. When our trial is long suffering, we may feel that God has forgotten us. May I encourage you that when you are going through with these trials, our Savior Jesus knows exactly what you are going through. He was made fully human and the ultimate suffering that he felt in his darkest moment was that God the Father had forsaken him. To clarify, we know that God the Father and Jesus the Son worked together as one in this plan of redemption for you and me. It says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus, God the Son) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” It is the fact that Jesus had to take upon ALL the sins of humanity and that in God’s holiness, there was a momentary separation that was felt by Jesus.
Jesus knew that he had to go through the suffering that was prophesied in Isaiah in order that you and I may be saved. It was all part of the plan and His mission. In Isaiah 53:3-5 it says:
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”
This is clearly speaking of peace, deliverance, and hope for all of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ as he paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Although some of you may be going through the darkest moments in great suffering and may feel that the Lord has forsaken you, we can apply what David says in the following verses in Psalm 22:3-5. It says “But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were delivered; they trusted in you, and were not ashamed.”
Recognize that God is Holy, and, in his holiness, it means that God cannot commit any wrong deeds and he can’t lie. He is always faithful to His Word so we must look to his Word daily when we are in the moment of suffering.
Call to action: Flip to the index section of your Bible and look up the word suffering. Read and meditate on passages regarding suffering.
Reflect on God’s faithfulness to the earlier generations such as Abraham and Moses. Be encouraged by their trust in walking with God even when they had no idea what the outcome was going to be, God knew the outcome and delivered them.
Call to action: Reflect and create a journal entry on how God has been faithful to you in a previous experience where there was uncertainty of Gods direction. What verses came to you as a comfort when you were going through those moments? How did God deliver you in that situation?
Although circumstances can overwhelm you, don’t be subdued to it, rather seek, and cry out to the Lord and He will deliver you.
Call to action: Take some time to seek and cry out to God over some current hardships that you are going through.
Although our Savior had to experience such a dark moment of ultimate suffering, may you be encouraged that He freely accepted it because of His great love for you and me. What an AWESOME Savior that is worthy of our praises forever. Join us tomorrow as Pastor Dan reflects on The Announcement: Angels proclaim Christs resurrection.