Saturday, April 3, 1999
Saturday, April 3, 1999
And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"
that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
(Matthew 27:46
NRSV)
Jesus thought of those moments in the garden of Gethsemane when he had prayed that this cup
would be taken from him. But he knew that he must drink it. He knew that he must experience the
isolation of pain and sorrow and death if he were going to be our Savior. And so he set his face
toward the place where he would be crucified like a common thief.
The nails that they drove into his hands and feet and the spear that they thrust into his side could
not compare with the grief of knowing how little impact his suffering and death would have on
the mass of humanity. Most men and women would pass him by--unseeing--uncaring--having not
a clue in the world that he was dying for them. Yet he drank from the bitter cup--and he did it for
you and me.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA
The adulation of the crowd on that first Palm Sunday was only a distant memory to Jesus as he
climbed the hill known as Golgotha, the place of the skull. Where were his disciples? Scattered
like the silly, timid sheep. That's all right, he thought. There will be a time when they will be more
like lions than lambs. They cannot know that this is but one act of many in the story of
redemption. All they see now is defeat. Soon they will be bathed in victory.
Prayer: God of all people, I cannot imagine the pain you went through watching your son
die for my sins, but today I am thankful for you unending love. Amen.
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