Why?

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34.  When working with people in their difficult situations the question of “Why” often comes up.  In times of death, sickness, accidents, relational breakdowns, financial struggles the question is asked, “Why did this happen to me?”   “Why didn’t they say something?”  “Why now?”  At  His crucifixion, Jesus too asked this question.  But there is a difference between Jesus’ question and ours.  We ask the question because of physical pressures and disappointments that are upon us.  Jesus asked “Why” because as He bore our sin while on the cross, this sin would cause complete separation from God.  Jesus, Who was always in contact with God His Father would now be expelled from God’s presence.  We rarely grieve because our fellowship with God is broken or we no longer sense God.  In fact, many times we are not even God focused.  We rarely think about Him as our days progress, we rarely take time to communicate with Him or to hear Him speak back.  Our focus is on ourselves and the stuff around us, but Jesus focused on His relationship with His Father.  It wasn’t the pain from been beaten, the mockery of the soldiers or the lack of food or clothing that caused Him to cry out.  It was the broken relationship with God, as the sins of the world separated Him from God the Father. Therefore Jesus’ grief was much different and deeper than ours.

The scripture teaches us that this great agony which Jesus suffered will never have to be experienced by us.  He experienced this separation from God so that we would never have to.  When we accept Jesus into our life and allow ourselves to be conformed to His nature and His will, then Jesus says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Read Hebrews 13:5)  He says that nothing will separate us from His love. (See Romans 8:35-39)  This doesn’t mean that there won’t be struggles, frustrations, pains or irritations in our life.   But it does mean that we can sense the strength and love of God in the midst of all our situations.

Lord Jesus, forgive us for focusing more on the things around us than on You.  Forgive us for not cherishing our relationship with You above all else.  Help us to sense You near us at all times.