Easter 2010 Meditations

The Fourth Word

³³ And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:33-34)

Meditation on the Fourth Word

Jesus’ 33 years on earth were the most turbulent years in the existence of God.  For the first time in the span of eternity the perfect communion of the God-head was impeded by flesh and blood.  In these words we hear the ultimate suffering of God.  Anyone who believes that God has not paid a price in our redemption has missed the Cross. For it is here that we see Jesus standing in our distress.  For the first time in God’s existence God experienced what it was like to be separated from God in the person of Jesus.  When you cry out to God because He feels so distant, and you will, never forget that God Himself knows what you are going through.  Therefore, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV).