What Hurts Even More. . .
Matthew 27:38-44, The Message - Along with him,
they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left.
People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You
bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three
days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come
down from that cross!”
The high priests, along with the religion scholars and
leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great
time poking fun at him: “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel,
is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then!
He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He
did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” Even the two criminals crucified next to
him joined in the mockery.
I don’t
pretend to know what Jesus went through hanging on the cross. Obviously, the physical suffering He endured
must be worse than anything I can imagine. I wonder though, if the utter rejection
and scorn by all those standing there and walking by was even worse. Our human instinct is to have compassion for
someone in obvious pain, even when it is someone we might be at odds with in a
better situation. Jesus was enduring the
kind of suffering that we often say, “I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.” Yet simple passers-by jeered and taunted Jesus. The high priests, having accomplished their
goal, were actually taking joy from watching Him suffer. Even those who suffered with Him on the
crosses next to Him “joined in the mockery.” His disciples had abandoned Him in
the worst hour. Jesus was utterly
alone.
In my
worst moments, I have always had people who I knew were still in my
corner. I am aware that I am profoundly
blessed in this way. However, I have had
moments when I felt that those people in my corner were so far away and/or didn’t
understand my suffering. It is in those
times that I think of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus always understands because He has been there and worse. In those darkest of moments, my conversation is
with Jesus. I know He hears. I know He cares. More than anything, I’m reminded that those “cross”
moments don’t last forever. As Tony Campolo
is famous for saying, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a coming.
In the
scripture above, we remember the moments when the entire world turned it’s back
on the One who created the world in the first place. We remember that we are never truly alone as
long as we remember that Jesus has promised He will be with us ALWAYS. It may be Friday, but Sunday is coming.
Question: What do you
do when you feel most alone or isolated?
Prayer: God of us
all, Your love never ends. Your Presence
is always with us. When everything and/or
everyone else in our life fails, you are still God. Help us to know that comfort even in our
darkest moments. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for displaced refugees all over the world today.
Song: O, the Deep
Love of Jesus – Simon Khorolskiy
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