Matthew 27:45-46

A NOTE ABOUT THIS WEEK’S DEVOTIONS

From the cross, Jesus uttered seven last words. For the next seven days, we will focus solely on these words.

Fifth Word: Matthew 27:45-46

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 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?"

There is nothing humane about crucifixion. It never was intended to be humane. It was intended to be a long, slow, torturous death.

Crucifixion was reserved for only the hardened criminal. It was one of the privileges of being a Roman citizen that a Roman could not be crucified, no matter what the crime. This lowest, cruelest form of death is inflicted on the Son of God, who died for the sins of others, who died that you and I might live.

Who knows what it must have meant to the Son of God to become the innocent victim and the helpless lamb of God, to suffer beneath the weight of guilt and sin of all humanity? This much we know - there came a moment of darkness in which Jesus felt totally abandoned, when he said:

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Let us pray: O Lord God, your blessed Son our Lord gave His back to smiters and did not hide His face from shame. Grant us grace to rejoice in the sufferings of the present time in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.