THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 15:33-36
“‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” (Mark 15:34, Psalm 22:1).
Ever since humans turned against God, darkness has filled the world.
This world, created a kingdom of light, has become a dominion of darkness.
War, injustice, deception, crime, abuse, murder, sexual sin, despair… death.
God becomes human, and enters the darkness to bring light, hope… life.
In this moment, “darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53), the light is being snuffed out.
Jesus alone did not join in the darkness, He refused to participate in the devil’s games.
Of all people, Jesus did not deserve to be separated from God.
Yet here He is abandoned by God when He needs God most, abandoned to the powers of darkness.
This cry expresses how awful His physical and spiritual suffering were.
But it also expresses the ultimate judgment that He is enduring, the full weight of sin’s curse.
God warned Adam and Eve that if they turned against Him, they would “certainly die” (Genesis 2:17).
This is not just referring to physical death, but to eternal death, final judgment.
Yet that curse was delayed, by grace, until now.
Jesus is not just dying physically, He is experiencing eternal death, complete separation from God.
Early Christians described this as ‘descending into hell’.
Jesus takes this curse for us, that He may remove it from us.
Complete separation from God (eternal death) is no longer hanging over our head, because of Jesus.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
We will never be forsaken, because Jesus was forsaken!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for going through hell that I might enter into life. In all my darkest moments, may I see You there with me, shining with hope, pointing me to the light!