Easter Meditation - seven sayings from the cross

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Matthew 27:46

Martin Luther said that
this cry from the cross suggested
"God forsaken of God".

Jesus sensed utter separation from the Father.

Looking back we know why He was forsaken.
"He who knew no sin
was made sin on our behalf".

On the cross He was made sin and
so suffered the outer limit of sin's outworking.
He was God - forsaken -
as he took the sin
of the whole world upon Himself.

In the National Art Gallery there is a painting of Calvary -
Christ on the cross is almost hidden in the darkness.
At first glance you can only see the dim figure of the suffering Saviour,
but a closer glance reveals another figure behind
with outstretched arms supporting Jesus.
The face of this second figure
is twisted by more pain than Jesus.
The artist is seeking to show that God the Father is grieving
and suffering with His Son as he dies, as He is forsaken.

This is the cost of our salvation. This is the Good News!

"God (the Father) was with Christ
reconciling the world to Himself - so that we need never be
separated from God in this life or the life to come."

[Next Saying - "I thirst."]
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