Meditations One of the worst feelings in the world is to feel as if we have been rejected or forsaken. When Jesus (as he was dying on the cross) asked God His Father “why have you forsaken me”? His words were a quote of King David who had prophetically asked the helpless question centuries earlier in his Psalms (22:1). In His despair Jesus was reciting the entire passage of David from memory as a source of comfort and strength in the face of uncontested su ering. The Psalmist goes on to say that he is “scorned by men and despised by the people.” Jesus is near to death at this point on Friday, and those around him started to divide His garments. “A company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and my feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them and for my raiment they cast lots.” Many evil-doers were gathered to witness the destruction of Christ our Lord. The devil had already failed in his attempt to overcome Jesus by luring Him with false promises; so he moves then to discredit and destroy Him through the judgment and condemnation of evil men by a dishonorable humiliating death on the cross. This prophecy could refer to no one else in history more clearly than to the cruci ed Savior Jesus Christ. Even during the time of His most intense su ering and a iction Jesus knew why God would turn His back on Him. That was always the plan. And no, the words of Jesus spoken to the Father from the brutal cross “why have You forsaken me” were not the doubtful confession that His enemies wanted to hear; but rather it was Jesus reciting the great hope foretold... everything promised of old was being ful lled and now coming full-circle.Knowing all this did not make it easier for Christ, it just made it more meaningful for us. This was an unparalleled act of courage, love, and mercy – a sacri ce never seen before, and never seen again. Was Jesus truly forsaken and forgotten? No, not in our way of understanding - not even for a moment. But yes, for a moment... He hung suspended and timeless in the darkness that exists between two worlds. He was suspended between heaven and earth to make the only way possible to a world without sin and sorrow, death and su ering, to a world without end. Jesus was in that moment, carrying everything that is evil upon Himself to create eternal hope, and new life for people such as you and I.
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Hope for all people from all times, and all places. And as we know rst hand – because He did what He did, He will never ever be forgotten.