Mark 15:33-34 - Jesus Forsaken

Mark 15:33-34
33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
Message: Jesus Forsaken

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is on the cross, being crucified. Passerby's are mocking him still as well as the chief priests and scribes among themselves and even the robbers on either side of Him. He arrived there with no strength to even carry the crossbeam and Simon had to carry it for Him.

In these verses, Jesus expresses a feeling of rejection that He felt toward God. He had predicted his death and resurrection 3 times in the years leading up to this event. Just yesterday, He would be praying in the garden of Gethsemane perhaps for strength for what was ahead. He had already been scourged and beaten and received amazing pain. I just think about the thorns on his brow and them pushing into his head as he moved but then a staff or reed would be flung on him repeatedly and pushing those thorns into him over and over. He would be experiencing amazing physical pain. But then he was assaulted emotionally with words of mocking from everyone - his disciples or followers would act as if they never knew Him when He was seized. Many would come forward to express judging words toward him, belittling Him, accusing Him of being something that He shouldn't be. He was called to a position, King, and yet people would not accept this. I think about the fact that throughout His ministry as He did things often the disciples did not understand and questioned Him. And now He was beaten to a pulp where He had no strength and was now on a cross receiving physical pain and then mockery from anyone passing by, from his fellow leaders of the faith - the chief priests and scribes - and then even the ones that he was alongside suffering on crosses were belittling him and bringing shame upon Him. He remained silent throughout all of this.

At this moment, he was feeling it. I feel it and it was an event that happened almost 2,000 years ago. He was living through all of this as a man. He experienced the same pain as me in his ministry. I remember him being assaulted and belittled by Satan and the temptation of receiving all of the accolades of a man of this world but then saying to Satan, "No thank you." He was a man, living through all of these things. Whether they were ordained or not he still was experiencing them.

When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.  The sixth hour was 12 o'clock noon and the ninth hour was 3 o'clock. So at the lightest part of the day darkness descended over the whole land. Between 12 and 3 were events and feelings that Jesus experienced that we have no description. Darkness was fell during this period and then was lifted at the ninth hour. Old Testament verses depict judgment with darkness. God's wrath was satisfied and exhausted in this time.

Psalm 22:1 records - My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. And here At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” In this moment his blame was not on the disciples, chief priests, Pilate, the scribes, or even the robbers, but He was looking at God and wondering why the Father had forsaken Him.

This reminds me of how often people blame God for the events of their lives and I think that is uncalled for and yet Jesus experiencing the same thing here. I'm not sure I ever have put that together, but Jesus was voicing to God His own displeasure for the darkness He was experiencing. For Jesus he was receiving the wrath of God on mankind. He was taken on the sin of the world. And it culminated in his expressions out loud to God on "Why?"

"Why" I think is the most popular question people have toward God. We live in a world where we want answers and trusting in someone like God is really seen as a cop out approach to life because we often do not get our "why" questioned answered or each gets it answered in different ways. The question is normal to be asked, but may we stay focused on Him and keep trusting Him for the answer. May it not bring us to a point of running from Him.

Summary - Jesus on the cross, after receiving mocking and pain, emotional and physical, receives the wrath of mankind as darkness descends upon the earth. Jesus endured it and in the end he felt the rejection of God, feeling completely forsaken.

Promise: The wrath of God had to be satisfied. Jesus would feel rejection, but it was necessary and I am the benefactor of the horrible wrath He experienced.

Prayer: Lord, as I converse with people online I hear many voicing this question of "Why?" You have reminded me today that even Jesus voiced this question. It is a normal question. Help me Father to minister and encourage those who are asking the question. Thank you Jesus for experiencing the wrath intended for me. In my life I will continue to experience hurt. Help me to respond in a way that glorifies You.