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: 46
As that awful day passed while Jesus hung on the cross, I can only imagine the heaviness in the air as God passed judgment on his people. To us it would be frightening enough, but to Jesus, the separation from his Father must have felt as though a knife had pierced his heart.
It is impossible for us to know the full sense of how the Father and Son were divided at that moment, because we are not told. All we know is that Jesus knew his Father was not there as he tasted the very essence of hell—separation from God. And yet in that moment was triumph, too, as Jesus once and for all took every sin, every ounce of shame and condemnation we will ever deserve, and embraced it. It was ordained that he would take our place under judgment, and with love he accepted that role.
Such is his love: he believed we were worth dying for.
I will never be able to wrap my mind around that truth, for it is beyond human understanding. But I have staked my life on it. Jesus believes I was worth it all.
Jesus believes that you were worth every blow he took, every thorn that ripped into the delicate tissue in his head, and every strike of the hammer against the nails that pierced his wrists. You are loved and valued more than you could ever hope or ask for. The greatest love story that Hollywood ever thought up could not hold a candle to the flame that burns in God’s heart for you, dear person!
As that awful day passed while Jesus hung on the cross, I can only imagine the heaviness in the air as God passed judgment on his people. To us it would be frightening enough, but to Jesus, the separation from his Father must have felt as though a knife had pierced his heart.
It is impossible for us to know the full sense of how the Father and Son were divided at that moment, because we are not told. All we know is that Jesus knew his Father was not there as he tasted the very essence of hell—separation from God. And yet in that moment was triumph, too, as Jesus once and for all took every sin, every ounce of shame and condemnation we will ever deserve, and embraced it. It was ordained that he would take our place under judgment, and with love he accepted that role.
Such is his love: he believed we were worth dying for.
I will never be able to wrap my mind around that truth, for it is beyond human understanding. But I have staked my life on it. Jesus believes I was worth it all.
Jesus believes that you were worth every blow he took, every thorn that ripped into the delicate tissue in his head, and every strike of the hammer against the nails that pierced his wrists. You are loved and valued more than you could ever hope or ask for. The greatest love story that Hollywood ever thought up could not hold a candle to the flame that burns in God’s heart for you, dear person!
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