May 04, 2020

Bible Reading – Matthew 27

Matthew 27:45-46 KJV
[45] Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
[46] And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

As we read through Scripture about the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Christ, the Bible seems to highlight how Christ remained so extremely calm. He, of course, is God, so while it is not a surprising fact, it is important to remember He was also man. What He went through and how He responded can be a vital lesson. It seems no matter how terrible the pain, how hurtful the betrayal, or how intense the hatred Christ suffered, He “kept His peace” in such a way that those around Him could not help but marvel. It isn’t until this point in Matthew 27 where we see Christ cried out and responded with such intensity that His words seem to be forever etched in our minds. But what caused this response is not what I would have imagined had I not heard the account so many times before. It wasn’t the pain or the betrayal that hurt Christ the most, though they were probably as severe as ever a man faced. He handled those things with such calm that it was as if they were nothing. What caused Christ the most intense suffering, however, was when the sin of the world was placed upon Him and the Father had to look away. Separation from the Father because of sin was more difficult to bear than any amount of physical or emotional pain He had before suffered.

While it is difficult to admit, it wasn’t the scourging or the mocking that caused God to “forsake” His Son on the cross. Christ spoke to God the Father as the crucifixion took place. But the awful reality of my sin and all the sins of the world, was even more repulsive to God than the physical abuse Christ had to endure. While I may not always feel that my sins are that bad, God certainly does. It is my sins for which Jesus chose to die. It was for my sins He suffered the worst pain imaginable, separation from the Father, so that I would never have to experience that.

While the account of the cross is the greatest injustice the world has ever known, it shows us how Christ can turn the darkest hour into the greatest victory! No amount of physical trauma could ever compare to the putridness of sin, and no amount of physical or emotional pain could ever compare to the spiritual pain of separation from the Father. I am so thankful that Christ made it possible, so that we would never have to comprehend what that would be like. As David said to God in Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” As preacher recently said in his morning devotions, “Jesus took our sin, so we could have his righteousness.” Jesus suffered our separation from God, so we could have fellowship with God. Let us take advantage of this privilege by spending time every day in God’s word and in prayer.

Eli Faulds