Never Forsaken (Friday Devotional)

 

At three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

- Mark 15:34

Of the seven things Jesus said from the cross—from the pitiable “I thirst” to the climactic “it is finished,” it is his despairing cry to heaven that has always struck my heart the deepest.

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacthani?”

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

You may know that, when Jesus shouted those words, he was quoting Scripture, specifically Psalm 22. That particular psalm is one that sees David taken from the depths of depression to the heights of faithful worship—over the course of its 31 verses, David reminds himself that, even when he was in the most severe danger, God never left his side. Therefore, David declares in the song’s final verses, he remains certain that, despite his present circumstances, the Lord is worthy of all praise.

For this reason, there’s some disagreement on what Jesus was getting at when he quoted Psalm 22 from the cross. For some, Jesus obviously means exactly what it sounds like—he is in utter despair, and from the depths of his humanity he is lamenting the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering he is enduring on our behalf. For others, the reference to the psalm shows that Jesus’ anguish is tinged with faith—just as David despaired but knew God would not truly leave him, the Son of David weeps on the cross but knows that resurrection is coming.

Reasonable people can (and do) disagree on which interpretation is right. But this week when I looked to Psalm 22, I kept reading to the next chapter, and was met with another verse, one you’ve undoubtedly heard before: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”

It got me thinking. I don’t know whether Jesus, fully human, experienced true hopelessness on the cross or whether Jesus, fully divine, remained totally in control. I don’t know whether Jesus believed himself to be abandoned by God or whether he was actually foreshadowing glory yet to come. I don’t know for certain whether, having taken on all the sins of the world, Jesus was truly forsaken at his death or not.

What I do know is that, because of Jesus’ death on the cross, you can sing every word of the psalms—the travails and the triumphs—with conviction. I do know that even when you feel abandoned, you are never alone. I do know that, even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you need not fear any evil—for God is with you.

Because Jesus endured suffering that was rightfully ours, we can lay claim to the glories of eternity. Because he gave his body and his blood, we are cleansed of sin and guilt. Because Jesus died, we get to know resurrection.

Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacthani? From the mouth of Jesus, those words are now carved in our hearts for eternity. But because of Jesus, we know they are not our story. You are never forsaken—God sent his Son for you.