“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” Psalm 22:1

With this Messianic prophecy we go back to Good Friday. This is one of the seven phrases spoken by Jesus during the crucifixion. This is the first phrase spoken during the fatal hours (from the sixth to the ninth hours) while darkness covered the whole Earth. I need you to stop whatever it is you are trying to do while you read this and seriously go through this with me. It is the middle of the day and darkness takes over. Jesus had said on a couple of occasions that this was “the hour of darkness.” This is the time that the prince of this world has his way with Jesus. This is when Jesus begins to bear our sins and drink the cup of wrath from the hands of His own Father. Do you know that this is the only time in recorded history (and probably ever) that Jesus doesn’t refer to His Father as Father. He says, “My God, my God…”

What Jesus experienced in the darkness of those three hours is suffering beyond description. It so far exceeded the suffering of the beatings, scourging, and crucifixion that they should not be compared. He bore Hell itself. He took all humanity’s sins and their consequences. As Paul said, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This thought alone deserves a moment of silent reflection. Do you see all your sins leaving you and going to Jesus? This act of Jesus was far from being “far from saving us.” It WAS God saving us. Do you feel the burden of guilt and shame lifted from your shoulders? You should! It is what happened on the day of your redemption. Why did He do all this? Because He loves you and wanted to buy you back.

Read the verse again. Do your thoughts take you there today? Do you feel you can relate to that cry? Do you feel like someone took the words right out of your mouth? Do you feel forsaken? Do you feel like no one is listening to your cry for mercy? If so, I am here to tell you that I have been there, too, and it is a lie of the devil. Jesus spoke these words on the cross so we would NEVER have to. God will always be our Father and He will always hear our cries because of the separation that Jesus experienced on the cross. Ponder that for just a second. Jesus experienced all that pain and sorrow so we would NEVER have to. NEVER!!! I am not trying to lessen the reality of your current trials. I am only trying to put them in proper perspective.

Read the prophecy one more time, and while you read it, remember that this phrase belongs to Jesus. Only Jesus.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church