Year in the Bible Daily Reading:
Genesis 38-40; Mark 15 Listen to Today's Reading
Mark 15:33-39
The Death of Jesus
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.” 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. 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!” Mark 15:33-39 (NIV)
As the darkness descends, Jesus cries out to His God, "why have you forsaken me?". That same darkness may have come over you in the lowly days of your life. You may have asked, "Where are you God? Why aren't you taking this pain and suffering away from me?" Even Jesus had to ask his God about abandonment. That feeling of indescribable pain that you feel when hope has left and despair is knocking at the door. God was placing all the sins we have committed on Jesus to suffer and die for them.
Scripture scholars also point out that Jesus was quoting Psalm 22 which, if you read it, gives us a sense of the truth about God. He didn't abandon Jesus and He doesn't turn His back on us even in our darkest hours.
The temple curtain being torn from top to bottom symbolizes that there is no longer anything to separate us from God. He doesn't abandon us and He is with us through everything.
This reading goes on to talk about the soldier who witnessed Jesus' death and his coming to believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God. What a conversion story this guy experienced!
So in our darkest times, God is with us, walking beside us or carrying us on His shoulders.
Praise be to God!
Questions for Reflection:
- How do you feel about knowing the human side of Jesus, that He felt despair in His final hours?
- How can we best offer our suffering up to the honor and glory of God?
Prayer:
Holy Healer, be with those who are suffering either physically or emotionally. Remind them that there is no barrier between you and us here on earth. Comfort those who are homeless, hungry, sick or lonely. Thank you for always being just a prayer away. We praise you for coming to earth and dying for our sins. Amen.
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