“Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:45-46)
We live in an age that is oppressed with wickedness. The Lord has allowed all this so that we, who deserve condemnation, might have the opportunity to repent and be united in love with Him. We live in an age that seems forsaken; except for Christ, it is. Our hope is in the One who declares both the forsaken nature of this age and offers the only hope which is ours through faith. Sin separates us from God. Jesus, who became our sin experienced that absolute separation that sin brings.
Lord, I hear Your cry. You knew You were loved, but the separation that sin brings, You took upon Your body. Our sin is a grief that cries out through eternity. I hear the anguish of an unanswerable “why?” crying out. Why have we forsaken You, the One through whom all things have their being. The pain of this world is great, but greater still is the love of the Father which grants us access through the Son.
Lord Jesus, some mock You and say that because You are God it was easy for You. Only because You are God could You do this, for the anguish caused by sin is more than we are able to bear. It kills us. Only You could die for our sins and be resurrected for our sake. My Lord and my God, unite me with You that I may die to sin and never be separated from You. Unite me with You that I may be resurrected to new and everlasting life. Amen.
