Matthew 27:45-49: a reflection

45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink. 49The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

As Jesus hangs on the cross, darkness covers the land, and he cries out with a loud voice: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? In that cry we glimpse the depth of what Jesus suffered on the cross, not only the physical agony, but a forsakenness, a being cut off, that pierces to the heart. The Son, who had always known the Father's presence, cried out in the darkness of forsakenness, bearing something we can scarcely fathom.

Notice the depth of Jesus' suffering in this cry: he was forsaken. This was no mere physical pain; it was a forsakenness, a being cut off from the Father's presence, that Jesus, who had always known the Father's nearness, now experienced in the darkness of the cross. He bore, in that moment, a forsakenness we can scarcely fathom, the weight of our sin cutting him off, so that he cried out, why have you forsaken me? The Son was forsaken, in the depths of the cross.

And here is the wonder: Jesus was forsaken so that we might never be. He bore the forsakenness our sin deserved, was cut off in the darkness, so that we who deserved to be forsaken might be received and never abandoned. Because Jesus was forsaken on the cross, we need never be forsaken; he bore that darkness for us, that we might have the Father's unbroken presence. When you feel forsaken, cut off, alone in the darkness, remember that Jesus was forsaken for you, bore that forsakenness in your place, so that you need never be truly forsaken by God. He was cut off, that you might be received; he cried, why have you forsaken me, so that God would never forsake you. Rest in this: that Jesus bore forsakenness on the cross so that you might never be forsaken; whatever you feel, God will not abandon you, for Christ was forsaken in your place, that you might have the unbroken presence of God he bought for you at such a cost.

Lord Jesus, as you hung on the cross, darkness covered the land, and you cried out: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? In that cry I glimpse the depth of what you suffered, not only the physical agony, but a forsakenness, a being cut off, that pierces to the heart. You, who had always known the Father's presence, cried out in the darkness of forsakenness. Show me the depth of your suffering in that cry: you were forsaken, cut off from the Father's presence, bearing something I can scarcely fathom, the weight of my sin cutting you off. And here is the wonder: you were forsaken so that I might never be. You bore the forsakenness my sin deserved, were cut off in the darkness, so that I who deserved to be forsaken might be received and never abandoned. Because you were forsaken on the cross, I need never be forsaken; you bore that darkness for me. When I feel forsaken, cut off, alone in the darkness, help me remember that you were forsaken for me, bore that forsakenness in my place, so that I need never be truly forsaken by God. You were cut off, that I might be received; you cried, why have you forsaken me, so that God would never forsake me. Help me rest in this: that you bore forsakenness on the cross so that I might never be forsaken. Thank you, Lord, that you were forsaken in my place, that I might have the unbroken presence of God.