Easter Reflections
The Cross of Despair March 15, 2013
Cross in the Woods,
Indian River MI
"Debi, I’m so alone, you have no idea how alone I feel.” These words have been spoken to me many times over the last three months. The pain heard in her voice and reflected in her eyes are heart-wrenching. No, I can’t imagine how alone she feels. All I can do is listen to her, assure her of my love and support, pray with her and for her, and direct her to scripture verses that have helped to comfort me in times of my greatest heartaches.
In the last posting I pointed out that Jesus made the decision to be obedient to God the Father, and He agreed to go to the cross, die and take the punishment for our sins, for the sins of each person who had or would ever live. Jesus was led from the Garden of Gethsemane, to the courts of Pilot and Herod. From there He was led up the road to Golgotha for his crucifixion. The hours spent on the cross were hours of pain and agony for our Lord. At the height of his agony He felt forsaken and alone, and he questioned God the Father.
Two of the gospel writers speak of Jesus’ deepest hours of despair.
Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:45 - 45
Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:33 - 34
During a three hour period, there was darkness, when there should have been daylight. I imagine there was a sense of impending doom, or an uncanny feeling that something important was about to happen. At the end of those three hours, Jesus, fully man, and still fully God the Son, questioned what God the Father was doing. “Father, why have You forsaken me?” If Jesus questioned God the Father, it is not wrong for me to ask questions. God is never threatened by questions. He doesn’t punish me for my questions. It’s ok to voice my questions to God.
No matter how desperate my situation looks, God understands where I am, and how much I am hurting. It may seem that God has taken His hand off my life and left me alone, but He has not. He knows the number of hairs in my head. (Matthew 10:30) My greatest growth has come through my toughest struggles. The “Lumbermen’s Poet” Douglas Malloch wrote it this way: “Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees.”
The Apostle Peter states:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13
I am “not to think it strange” that I go through times of hardship. Peter teaches that I can rejoice during the struggles, knowing that I am sharing in the suffering that Christ went through. In time I will know the reason why I had the struggles and will be able to rejoice about them with Christ. I may never know the reasons while here on earth, but one day, when I am with Christ, He will explain it all.
I pray that during this Easter season, you will experience the joy Christ can bring to your life during difficult situations. Christ experienced The Cross of Despair, so that you and I may have forgiveness of sin, peace in our hearts, and hope for tomorrow.
In the last posting I pointed out that Jesus made the decision to be obedient to God the Father, and He agreed to go to the cross, die and take the punishment for our sins, for the sins of each person who had or would ever live. Jesus was led from the Garden of Gethsemane, to the courts of Pilot and Herod. From there He was led up the road to Golgotha for his crucifixion. The hours spent on the cross were hours of pain and agony for our Lord. At the height of his agony He felt forsaken and alone, and he questioned God the Father.
Two of the gospel writers speak of Jesus’ deepest hours of despair.
Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:45 - 45
Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:33 - 34
During a three hour period, there was darkness, when there should have been daylight. I imagine there was a sense of impending doom, or an uncanny feeling that something important was about to happen. At the end of those three hours, Jesus, fully man, and still fully God the Son, questioned what God the Father was doing. “Father, why have You forsaken me?” If Jesus questioned God the Father, it is not wrong for me to ask questions. God is never threatened by questions. He doesn’t punish me for my questions. It’s ok to voice my questions to God.
No matter how desperate my situation looks, God understands where I am, and how much I am hurting. It may seem that God has taken His hand off my life and left me alone, but He has not. He knows the number of hairs in my head. (Matthew 10:30) My greatest growth has come through my toughest struggles. The “Lumbermen’s Poet” Douglas Malloch wrote it this way: “Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the trees.”
The Apostle Peter states:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13
I am “not to think it strange” that I go through times of hardship. Peter teaches that I can rejoice during the struggles, knowing that I am sharing in the suffering that Christ went through. In time I will know the reason why I had the struggles and will be able to rejoice about them with Christ. I may never know the reasons while here on earth, but one day, when I am with Christ, He will explain it all.
I pray that during this Easter season, you will experience the joy Christ can bring to your life during difficult situations. Christ experienced The Cross of Despair, so that you and I may have forgiveness of sin, peace in our hearts, and hope for tomorrow.