At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:35

Over the past weeks, we have followed Jesus as he prepared for his ministry in the desert, set his agenda in the synagogue, and called his disciples. We watched him heal the sick, teach the people, and finally forgive those who sought him with an open heart.

His ministry was always conducted among his followers, and the crowds of onlookers. He was seldom alone. We always find Jesus among his people. We sometimes need solitude even as Jesus did, but his work is always done among the people.

In the last days and hours of his life, we saw his followers drop out very rapidly when the going got tough. The crowds who welcomed him into Jerusalem on a donkey, symbolizing his arrival as the Prince of Peace, soon evaporated. Things got really ugly after he attacked the temple system and drove out the profiteers. Now only his closest disciples stayed with him.

Before the week was out, one of the twelve betrayed him. Conflict arose amongst the twelve over kingdom positions. Finally after his arrest, even Peter denied he knew him. A few brave souls were at the foot of the cross, but up there on a cruel Roman cross was the savior of the world, alone except for his God. Suddenly he cries out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” This cry was a quote from Psalm 22, one of the most powerful laments among the Psalms. You might want to study that Psalm this week as you think about the cross, and what it means.

Now he was truly alone. Even his God seemed afar off. We have followed Jesus to this place. We find ourselves among those at the foot of the cross. Surely this event demands some sort of response from us if we have reached this end to our journey with him. I am reminded of the words to the old hymn, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone, and all the world go free?” The hymn writer responds with the line, “No, there's a cross for everyone, and there's a cross for me.”

Prayer: Father, like the disciples of old, it is so hard for us to understand what happened on that hill outside of Jerusalem so many years ago. Why was it necessary for the savior of the world to go through this terrible agony? His execution came at the hands of a cruel, despotic system. Yet we are not free to simply leave it there. We have received this free gift of your grace, through Jesus death. Jesus told us to count the cost, and then take up our cross and follow him. Father, show us the way, and guide us on our continued journey into your kingdom. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.