“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani?’–which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'”
Matthew 27:46
There was no other Son more obedient than Him, He had been very careful to obey even the smallest desire of His Father. He knew that he had His love and His protection. He determined in His heart to say nothing that came from His own thoughts, but to faithfully transmit all the words of His Father. Even though His Father was the most diligent person in the entire universe, He chose to work to His rhythm. He wasn’t affected by criticism because He knew that He wasn’t carrying out His own will, but the will of His Father. In all that He did He always honored the Father; He was so connected to Him, that He was able to say, “He who has seen me, has seen the Father; the Father and I are one. No one can come to the father unless it is through me…” Yet these words were rejected by those in the highest circles of society, who accused Jesus of blasphemy, saying, “We don’t recognize him; he blasphemes because he is putting himself at the same level as God; he deceives and confuses the people. If the people come to believe in Him, there will be political turmoil in our land.”
Realizing that He was about to go through the most difficult moment of His life, He told His followers, “You will all leave me but I am not alone, because He who sent me, the Father, is with me.” One of the greatest hardships He had to endure was finding out that one of His disciples would betray Him; He asked to be freed from that great pain, but this was not possible. When He was suspended between heaven and earth, hanging on the cross, a sign hung over Him that read, “King of the Jews.” In the middle of his great suffering, He lifted His voice and shook the heavens with a deep cry. He spoke out words in Aramaic, the language of His childhood, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ The abandonment He was experiencing surpassed all others. He endured the abandonment of His disciples, the people and the society, but the deepest pain was when He experienced the abandonment of His Father God. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This verse shows the reason the Father had to abandon Him—because of our sins.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“Does God love me?” This was the question that a 12 year old girl once asked me. I responded by sharing some Bible verses with her about the love of God. She later looked and me and said, “If God loves me, than why did my parents abandon me?” Her feelings of abandonment had caused a great emotional void in her heart and life. I was able to explain to her what Jesus had lived through when His Father abandoned him, and that all of that was in order for us to receive healing in our hearts.
I told her that God is our true Father, and later I read a text from Psalms that says, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me” (Psalm 27:10). This verse caused such an impact in her heart that she asked me if she could read it herself. As she read it, she repeated the verse again and again, and tears began to run down her face, as if a veil had been removed from her mind. Then, drying her tears, she told me, “Can I ask you for something?” “Of course, what is it?” I replied “Can I give you a hug?” I responded, “It would be an honor.” While she hugged me, she said, “Thank you for teaching me to know my true Father, who is God.”
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I have the love of my Father, and though others turn their back on me, He will always be with me.”
Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume One.
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
Our Bible Reading Plan gives 25 daily readings per month. There is no scheduled reading for today. You can use this time to catch up on any readings you may have missed, or read through previous passages again.
