From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ElÃ, ElÃ, lemá sabachtháni? ” that is, ” My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? “                   Matthew 27:45-46 (HCSB)
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun’s light failed. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit. ” Saying this, He breathed His last. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luke 23:44-46 (HCSB)
Jesus is my Teacher. He is the One who has been before me in all of my life experiences(Hebrews 4:14-15). So I want to know how He got from Point A (“God! Why have You left me alone here?â€) to Point B (“I trust You, Father, and give You all of me.â€).
Keep the lines of communication open. Jesus went off alone to pray. Alot. Scan through the four gospels and see how many times it said He went to the mountain or left the disciples and went ahead of them or sent them ahead. I would think that Jesus had a pretty good connection with the Father but He made intentional time to spend with the Father. I think Jesus is showing me there is no shortcut here.
Commit truth and promises to memory. Jesus frequently quoted the Scripture, didn’t He? He quoted passages that pertained to Him. Seems like an example for me. Commit to my mind God’s promises for me. Remember the truths that He has given so that when the Accuser tries to twist the truth – I hear him for what he is – a liar. Read the conversation between Jesus and Satan in Matthew 4 and how Jesus stood on the truth of God’s Word to kick Satan back!
Stay on the path you know. And so I come to Jesus on the cross. Beaten physically, His body screaming in agony, and then He senses the Father pulling away. The Father must pull away because Jesus has taken ALL the sin of mankind from beginning to end upon Himself. The Father, the Holiest of Holies, cannot be near sin. And so Jesus screams out in this pain and despair. How does He go from that to the peace of entrusting the essence of who He is to the Father? He holds on to the mission He has been given. It is the one thing left in His mind – taking those last steps (breaths) that bring Jesus to the finish line. It is done. When I am feeling beat up, pulled from many directions, confused by the many voices, – take a step toward what I know – what I have been put on this earth to do:
Love God
Love others just as I love myself
Go and share the Good News as Jesus’ ambassador
As Jesus set His eyes on Jerusalem from the time He began His ministry so I set my face toward the New Jerusalem and keep my hands out to bring others along.
Some days I may feel like I have nothing to give to anyone else. Jesus knew that. He was there when I was created. He knows every cell of me. He has provided His Spirit to be the strength when I have no strength. So, drop all excuses and hook-up with Jesus. He will take me from Point A to Point B every time.
