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 Text
Key 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.
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.
People are all around me. They are like powerful bulls that surrounded me. Their mouths are wide open like a lion roaring and tearing at an animal. My strength is gone, like water poured out on the ground. My bones have separated. My courage is gone! My mouth is as dry as a piece of broken pottery. My tongue is sticking to the top of my mouth. You have put me in the "dust of death." The "dogs" are all around me. That pack of evil people has trapped me. Like a lion, {they have pierced} my hands and my feet." I can see my bones. And the people are staring at me! They keep looking at me! Those people are dividing my clothes among themselves. They are throwing lots for my robe. Lord, don't leave me! You are my strength. Hurry and help me! Lord, save my life from the sword. Save my precious life from those dogs. Rescue me from the lion's mouth. Protect me from the bulls' horns. {Lord,} I will tell my brothers about you. I will praise you in the great assembly. Praise the Lord, all you people who worship him! Show honor to the Lord, you descendants of Israel! Fear and respect the Lord, all you people of Israel. Why? Because the Lord helps poor people who have troubles. The Lord is not ashamed of them. He doesn't hate them. If people call to the Lord for help, he will not hide from them. {Lord,} my praise in the great assembly comes from you. In front of all these worshipers, I will offer the sacrifices that I promised to give. Poor people, come eat and be satisfied. You people who came looking for the Lord, praise him! May your hearts be happy forever! May the people in all the faraway countries remember the Lord and come back to him! May the people in all the foreign countries worship the Lord. Why? Because the Lord is the King. He rules all nations. Strong, healthy people have eaten and bowed down before God. In fact, all people, those who will die and those who are already dead, will bow down before God! And in the future, our descendants will serve the Lord. Peoplewill tell about him forever. Each generation will tell the children about the good things that God has done. Psalm 22:12-31 (ERV)
We should always follow the example of Jesus. Jesus is the leader in our faith. And he makes our faith perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But Jesus accepted the shame of the cross like it was nothing. He did this because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne. Hebrews 12:2 (ERV)
We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue strongly in the faith we have. Jesus, the high priest that we have, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways that we are tempted, but he never sinned. With Jesus as our high priest we can feel free to come before God's throne where there is grace (forgiveness). There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:14-16 (ERV)
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