PASSAGE

Matthew 27:32-50

The Crucifixion

As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

REFLECTION

As we consider the cross in week six, we encounter this extraordinary moment where Jesus searches for his Father and does not find Him. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” are some of the most important words in scripture and, even more important, is what is happening in this pivotal moment for all of humanity. Jesus is asking, “why did you leave me,” “where are you?” He had enjoyed uninterrupted communion with His Father for his entire life. He was one with his Father as John 17:21 tells us among many other places that speak of their unity, bond and connection. But this is different. Where Jesus once never even had to search for God, now He is gone. He has abandoned His son and Jesus is devastated. But this is not by accident. It is a vital part of God’s plan.

This is the last question Jesus asks in his entire life on earth and it mirrors a similar question that comes at creation. After Adam and Eve had sinned, God went looking for them as they were hiding. Adam had also enjoyed uninterrupted communion with God in the perfect garden until that was broken through their sin. “Where are you?” is the first question that God asks in the Bible. It comes as sin ushers in the curse and all of humanity is lost.

So when Jesus is abandoned on the cross in the final moments of his life, God is redeeming that terrible moment in the garden. In a stunning reversal, God instead hides from His son as now the defeat of sin ushers in the blessing of salvation. Jesus became lost that we may be found. He restored our communion with God, so we never have to ask “Where are you?”

Despite the the glory of this eternal moment, we are still prone to hide from God as we are entangled in sin or just struggling through the difficulty of life. We hide in work, we hide in entertainment, our children, social media and substances that numb our pain and promise escape that they never truly deliver.

Where are you right now?

Where might you be hiding from God or neglecting relationship with Him?

Our Father is waiting, present and available at every moment of the day and Jesus ensured that we would never be lost again if we would only be found by the Father through His forsaken son. Spend some time in prayer asking the Lord where or what you may be hiding. Open your life to His comfort, His forgiveness and the joy of being truly found in Christ.

PRAYER

Psalm 139:1-10

1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

WEEK 7 | THE EMPTY TOMB

March 29th

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Start each week with the Lords Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13,"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

PASSAGE

John 11:17- 44

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

REFLECTION

Is there a word, phrase, or theme that stands out?

The theme of Jesus' gentle, intentional care is prominent in this passage. On his way to miraculously raise Lazarus—to glorify the Father and demonstrate his power over death—his attention is drawn to two grieving women. As we meditate on his interactions with Martha and Mary, it is easy to marvel at his deep love and personal care for them. Rather than rushing past them toward a grand miracle, Jesus stops to meet with each woman individually and intentionally. Isn’t that so like Him? Yet, they both say the same thing: “Lord, if you had been here...”

Anyone who has followed the Lord for any length of time has experienced a moment like this: “Lord, if...”, “Lord, why...”, “Lord, where....” We are struck by the fact that the Lord meets Martha and Mary directly in their pain. He could have gone straight to the tomb to "fix" the problem, but he wanted to address a deeper need—a deeper level of relationship and care. We often consider the "big" miracles to be of greater importance, but Jesus does not hold this belief. They wanted him to do something for them; he just wanted them.

As you move through your day, bring your cares and questions to Him. He may or may not “fix” circumstances the way you would like, but He will certainly meet you.

PRAYER

Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.

Macarius of Egypt - 4th Century