“At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b] 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.” Mark 15.33-36.
Have you felt alone? Entirely alone? Like your world was all in darkness and you were utterly falling apart? This must have been how Jesus felt upon the cross.
To be honest, I’ve had a few low points in life but have not felt like I was totally abandoned, without a friend. I can’t imagine how Jesus felt or how he endured the cross. Not only had 99% of his friends left him at this point, but God had removed His love and blessing from him. God essentially had to turn His back on Jesus to allow him to become the sin offering for us. The physical pain was terrible, but the spiritual and emotional separation must have been worse.
As Jesus was on the cross, suffering for the sins of humanity, even the earth became dark “until three in the afternoon” when he cried out in excruciating pain and loneliness, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some thought he was calling for Elijah; someone else offered him wine vinegar to drink. And they left him alone.
Jesus can identify with those who suffer from loneliness and depression, those who feel alone and hopeless. For this was him, upon a wooden cross, mocked by the world, forsaken by his Father, abandoned by his friends. When we are at our worst, God is at His best, for He did not abandon Jesus for long. As soon as Jesus fulfilled his destiny, God rescued him, raised him from darkness into new life, and gave him the name above all names — “that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2).
So there is hope; there is a redeemer. When we are lost in our sin, alone and feeling abandoned, God is near. At times when I feel low, I love reading Psalm 40:1-3 for the comfort it so often brings:
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
“O Lord Jesus, thank you for enduring the cross for my shame. Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable, lost, and alone. I praise your name. I call out to you. I exalt you and glorify your mighty works. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill us with your power and love. Help us know the truth of your love and the grace of your Spirit. I love you, Lord, and praise you. Draw near to me in my dark times. Deliver me from death. For you are good, and your love endures forever.” Amen