What Jesus Did : Mark 15:33-34 - Why Have You Forsaken Me?
by Phil Ware
Why Have You Forsaken Me? - Mark 15:33-34
At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness continued until three o'clock. At three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani." This means, "My God, my God, why have you left me alone?" (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
As Jesus died, this is the hour of darkness. While the time may be noon, all light seemed snuffed out of the world as Jesus faces the ridicule, mockery, shame, brutality, and humiliation alone. He felt as if he was absolutely abandoned. But read Psalm 22, the Psalm Jesus partially quoted on the Cross. Notice how it speaks of feeling absolutely abandoned and completely surrounded by enemies. Then read how it finishes—"Future generations will also serve him. Our children will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about everything he has done." In the middle of humanity's worst moment, Jesus looks beyond the horror with the eyes of faith. He will be faithful even though he feels alone. He will endure the Cross for all of us who need his grace. He will trust that the God he honors with his death will also be the Father who will bring him victory.
Today's Prayer
O Almighty God, my Abba Father, please give me the kind of faith that Jesus had. I want to be able to obey and bring you glory even when I feel abandoned and forsaken. Give me that kind of courage. Empower me with that kind of trust. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness continued until three o’clock. At three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.” This means, “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?” Some of the people standing there heard this. The people said, “Listen! He is calling Elijah.” One man there ran and got a sponge. The man filled the sponge with vinegar and tied the sponge to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to drink from it. The man said, “We should wait now and see if Elijah will come to take him down from the cross.” Then Jesus cried with a loud voice and died. When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the bottom. The army officer that was standing there before the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, “This man really was the Son of God!” Some women were standing away from the cross, watching. Some of these women were Mary from the town of Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James and Joses. (James was her youngest son.) These were the women that followed Jesus in Galilee and cared for him. Many other women were also there. These women had come with Jesus to Jerusalem.-- Mark 15:33-41 (ERV)
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