Good morning…
To commemorate Good Friday, we consider deeply the death of Christ captured in Mark 15:33-39 (NIV).
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” (Jews believed the prophet Elijah would return before the Messiah appeared.)
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (With Jesus’ death God ended the need for temple sacrifices and intermediaries, opening the way for free, direct access to God for all people.) And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
During suffering seasons, we experience solidarity with Christ on the cross. Extended, midday darkness. Crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We are left alone to wonder, “Will God show up, ever?” We cry out loud, exhale our expectations, and surrender our life to the living LORD. From top to bottom, the veil of separation is ripped apart. Freely, directly we embrace God while God embraces us. Those who see our false self die stand back and say, “Surely they are children of God!”
…Sue…
