This narrative is written for Miriam to read at the Good Friday Service at Cornerstone today. Miram is my nine-year old daughter. hThe seven last words of Jesus are going to be presented by different church members who represent the different age groups in the congregation.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
For Jesus Friday was extremely agonizing. He was tortured. He was humiliated. He was stripped of everything he owned - his cloak, dignity, friends etc. and he did not question, not one little bit. At the height of his incomprehensible suffering as he hangs on the cross, he thinks of his biggest ever loss - his connection to the Father, and he says
"Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani/?". He knows how it is to be close to the Father just like the way I know how it is to be with my daddy. Because he loves me, I feel safe and protected when I am close to him. I remember one of my cave tubing experiences. This is tubing in a big cave. It is dark inside the cave. The water is deep and the current is strong. It's like being in a big river except you can't see anything.
I was having fun until I got caught on a rock while everyone else was moving away from me. My daddy used to hold my inner tube with his feet but this time he was away from me. It was very scary! I yelled my lungs out to call daddy.
Good Friday... Jesus hangs on the cross. He feels alone and scared. He is about to die. He knew of his coming death but he would like to have the Fathe say one more time "It's okay". He looks for God but He seems to be very distant right now. Like a lost child in the cave, Jesus cries out into the black space,
"My God, my God why have you forsaken me".
Jesus knew why he would come to die. This was not a surprise for him. What surprised him the most is the separation from God. Sin puts a rock wall between mankind and God. As Jesus hangs on the cross he hits Enter and our sins were downloaded onto him so that He could pay for all of them. At that time sin separated Jesus from God. Of all his sufferings separation from God was the most painful. I cannot imagine how my daddy would have left me alone in the cave.
"My God, my God why have you turned your back on me?" Jesus longed to reach out to God but He didn't extend his hand because Jesus was covered with all of our sins. He was forsaken by God because of our sins. As the perfect sacrifice, Jesus died to pay for the sins of the world.
Today Jesus extends his hands to you. Will you reach out to receive his offer?
