April 11 - Holy Saturday - Abandon and Forsaken

Read: Mark.15.21-38

Has there been a time in your life when you have felt left behind, cast off, totally abandon, forgotten, rejected, forsaken?  Maybe you are feeling that way right now as we go through this pandemic and social distancing. Many who are dying, are utterly alone. 

As you think about a time like that in your life, what did it feel like?  What things were racing through your mind? 

I remember a time when I was a little girl, shopping with my Mother.  I was playing around, hiding in the clothing racks, enjoying a little game of hide-and-seek.  My Mom was not amused.  She kept scolding me to stay close, saying that she wanted to know where I was, so I didn’t get lost.  (Honestly, I kind of enjoyed having her look for me.)  The game went awry when I came out from behind a rack of dresses and she was no where to be seen.  Fear and panic rushed over me.  In those next few seconds, my mind was racing!! "What if I really am lost?  What if she got so annoyed with me that she just decided to leave me behind?  What if I am left alone forever?"

Did you hear how those thoughts progressed?  First the fear of being lost, which is terrifying enough.  But then creeps in the feelings of guilt and shame that say, “See what you have done? Now you are getting what you deserve!” 

Good Friday, the day we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross, is depicted in today’s reading.  The details of His crucifixion and suffering are spelled out in great detail. The verses that follow tell us very little about what his followers did the next day, Holy Saturday. 

I am sure that while they grieved the loss of their Master, they were reflecting on all the things that had happened.  Their minds must have been racing through all the details of things Jesus and done and said to them during their time together. Now, they felt hopelessly lost, abandon, forgotten, rejected and forsaken.

That is why I find these words of Jesus from the cross so powerfully poignant. Perhaps this one phrase from the previous day’s events stuck out in their minds. 

“About three o’clock, Jesus shouted with a mighty voice . . . ‘My God, My God, why have you turned your back on me?’”

God’s own Son, who had lived a perfect life, their long-awaited Savior, cries out in the deepest anguish of soul known to humankind, feeling rejected and abandon by God. 

Did He deserve it? Did He get what was coming to Him?  No!  But He exchanged places with US.  He took was we deserved.  He nailed all our failures, sin and shame to the cross that day and paid for them with His life.  In return, He has offers to us the peace that comes from knowing we have been loved with an eternal, everlasting love that can NEVER be taken away.

We need never fear being abandoned again!

Never Alone - Never Separated

Romans 8:35-39

I think one of the greatest revelations for Christians is recognizing that you’re not alone.  Despite the craziness of this world, God is always with you and He’s always got your back.  Knowing you’ve got someone in your corner can be life-changing.

Now that doesn’t mean once we say “Yes” to God that we’ll never go through hardship or pain again, but we can stand firm in the knowledge that nothing will be able to separate us from His love.  Will our life feel crappy sometimes – no doubt!  Will the Enemy try to convince us we’ve been abandoned – no doubt!  Will God be with us through it all – no doubt!

But here’s where it gets tricky… when we make it through the tough times, we tend to think it’s because we’re tough.  That our strength is our doing and our perseverance is what made the difference.  That because we tried hard enough or had enough willpower, our enemies never stood a chance.

Verse 37 states, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” The key is – THROUGH HIM who loved us.  It’s because of Him we made it through.  It’s HIS strength we rely on.  Acknowledging this means surrendering control and sinful humans don’t like to do that.  But when we do, whether we’ve been a follower for 60 seconds or 60 years, it brings a freedom like no other.

So, when you feel like you’re fighting for your life, remember - you’re not alone.  God is stuck to you like superglue and nothing can separate you from His love.  May you rest in this freedom today and every day forward.

Sent? Yes. Alone? Never.

Some of the tensest moments in life are those “first solo flight” experiences when, for the first time, we’re on our own and “it’s all on us.”  Do you remember your first sales call?  What about the day you brought your firstborn home from the hospital?  Your public speaking debut?  Or maybe for you it literally was a solo flight!   Life’s “firsts” jolt us like unseen caffeine. 

It was the night before Jesus’ crucifixion; he was about to finish his Father’s work and return to him.  And it was time for the Christ to hand over the keys to his disciples.  Their turn to drive.  There would be no more learning at the feet of him who is wisdom and truth personified ... no more ringside seats to the greatest miracle show on earth ... gone now was their safe bystander status while Jesus took on the opposition, outwitting and confounding even the sharpest among them.

Can you even begin to imagine going solo after Jesus?  How do you pick up and move forward from that?!?  Yet there they would be, on their own.  Or so it must have seemed to them.

But we know different!  Jesus’ first followers would not be left alone any more than we who follow him today.  Rather, they who had walked with Christ by sight would now live in him by faith.  Just as we do now.  And so Jesus shared these final instructions – this “Trinity teaching” – not only for their benefit, but also for ours.

Obey the Son, as the Son has obeyed the Father.  Jesus said, “the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”  The Son did not decide what he would do for the Father; the Father decided and the Son obeyed.  It's a model that applies to us.  Jesus said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” 

Listen for the Holy Spirit, who is sent by the Father and the Son.  In our own power, obeying Jesus’ commands is impossible.  We have neither the ability nor the inclination to do so.  But the Father and the Son have given us the means to accomplish them; we have been given the Holy Spirit who teaches us “all things” and reminds us of everything Jesus has taught.  And if we don't hear him?  Wait.  He will speak.

Rest in Christ who is faithful and true.  Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you....  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  We can rest – we can be at peace – because the truth of the matter is, we’re not on our own at all.  Much the opposite!  The Christ who once walked with his people now lives in his people.  Our power is nothing short of the Spirit of Christ in us, and his Word is our authority.  His Kingdom has come, and it is within us.

So let’s go.  Obediently.  Patiently.  Peacefully.  And boldly!  For we are ever sent ... and never alone.

[Click here to see the daily reading in John 14:23-31.]

Lonely Places- Matthew 26:36-46

Have you ever gone through a lonely place with God? I think God takes us through these places so we learn to rely on his strength. Death is probably the loneliest place, weather dealing with your own mortality or someone you dearly love; you can be surrounded by people and still feel very alone.

Jesus must have felt lonely while praying in the garden of Gethsemane. He had his closest disciples with him who couldn’t stay awake and pray with him during this desperate time. Each time he found them sleeping, Jesus would return to his knees and spend time with his father.

I’m sure that’s the way God wants it. When we find ourselves feeling alone or even abandoned by those who should be there for us, God is there. He may not always change our situation, but he will comfort us and give us strength. Go to him today if you are feeling lonely. Cry out to him for comfort, he is waiting.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Matthew 26:36-46