Eyes Wide Open: 40-Day Lenten Devotional Sample

Forsaken for Us

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” -  Romans 10:14

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

Jesus’ question makes us uneasy. Did Jesus lose faith? Did he fail to trust God? Deep down, he still knew he was One with the Father, right? In fact, hanging upon the cross, Jesus knew no such thing. 

Instead, he felt the deep and paralyzingly shame of sin. He sensed utter lostness and separation. And he knew the sheer panic of those who will one day cry out to the mountains "fall on us" in a desperate plea to escape the wrath of God—convinced that being torn apart under a mountain of rubble will offer a sanctuary of safety.

As uncomfortable as it might make us, the truth is that Jesus had to feel that he was forsaken. Because he was.

This is the whole point of the crucifixion. The cup of wrath was poured out to Jesus—and he drank it fully. He who knew no sin became sin, separated from the Father, in theory and in fact. He was utterly forsaken because our sin, the sin of all of humanity, was laid upon him, by his own choosing. 

Completely alone, powerless in the face of the holiness and right wrath of God, Jesus was paralyzed by fear and shame. In this, he bore our shame and received the consequences for our fallenness. This is why this day is indeed, "Good Friday." 

Today, mercy triumphs over justice. Today, the wrath of God is satisfied and we are declared justified. The cloak of righteousness is placed on our shoulders by the Righteous One who offers it if only we will surrender to his grace.

Countless people live today crushed under the weight of shame and indignity, still grappling with the weight of their guilt before a Holy God. They are desperate for the good news of Jesus. Who will tell them?

Prayer: Lord, thank you that we are not crushed. By your wounds, we are healed. Help me to see those around me swimming in the sea of shame and to speak the truth of wholeness to them. Amen.

- Written by Scott Arbeiter