Mark 15: 34 "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani'-which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"
Jesus has been hanging on the cross for six hours. His only companions are two thieves on crosses of their own who mock him. In extreme agony and on the verge of death, Jesus calls out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
I always thought this was odd. For one, Jesus had the power to save himself if he wished. And second, surely God had not forsaken Jesus, this was the plan-right? However you think about it theologically, the point is, for a moment in time, Jesus himself felt he had been forsaken by God. And we all have had that feeling at one point or another as well. In times of illness, loneliness, failure, regret and fear I know I have at times thought God has given up on me and left. And then I feel bad about feeling that way or I question my faith. But again, Jesus himself went through this! He experienced this same thing. So when I feel despair, who better to hear my prayers and my cries than Jesus? He knows what it is like and is always there to gently whisper..."three days my son."
Dear Jesus, be with me in my times of despair and worry. Amen.
