Jeff and I have had great devotional times this past week. This time together has sparked good, insightful conversation which has in turn given my mind lots to ponder.
The verse below is what our conversation centered around:
Matthew 27:45-46 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
I have thought of this verse often. Whenever it crossed my mind, I consistently thought of the sin that Christ bore on the cross. My sin, the world's sin. An overwhelming amount of sin. So much sin that God had to to look away.
However, our conversation generated a new perspectiv and one I will forever cherish.
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
As described in Isaiah, all sin is scarlet. No quantity of sin can makes the color any deeper or lighter of a shade. Sin is sin, scarlet is scarlet. None lesser and none greater.
Titus 2: 11-14 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
To redeem us from ALL wickedness.
In those hours when darkness descended, Christ was consumed, overwhelmed with sin and darkness.
But God tells us in Malachi 3:6a "I the LORD do not change."
And in Deuteronomy He tells us:
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
During those hours the quantity of sin did not overwhelm God, He did not look away. He did not falter, move nor even blink. He was steadfast and right there for every single second.
As Christ lived in this world, He never experienced sin until that moment. And at that moment He did not merely bear the sin of one man's transgressions, He bore the sin of the world's transgressions. This was overwhelming. As He was so overwhelmed by darkness and sin, tha it seemed to Him that God had left Him. He felt alone, He questioned.
How amazingly human is that? I know throughout the bible there are many examples of Jesus displaying emotions and discussion of what He experienced... all of these provide the understanding that Jesus can be the intercessor for us because He can relate to us, our circumstances, what life on earth is like.
But Jesus never sinned, He didn't know what it was like feel your surroundings were so dark that you feel abandoned by God, to feel completely alone. Yet, now I know even though He was devoid of sinning Himself, He knows what sin feels like, He knows what darkness feels like. And in those dark places, at the very bottom of the pit He knows it's a place to question the very presence of God in that moment.
Just as I have.
Jesus is the perfect intercessor. More perfect than I knew! I also know that no matter what I face, nothing will be as dark as what Christ faced on my behalf.
I think I'm going to sit with this new perspective for awhile and let it take deep roots.
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