Passion Week: Day 5
Friday:
COMPASSION
Mark 15:34-“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Rejection is an unwelcome guest in all aspects of our lives, whether it's a job opportunity slipping away, an idea dismissed, a proposal declined, or the end of a relationship. In today's interconnected world, social media has added a new dimension to rejection, exposing us to potential dismissal from countless individuals, many of whom we may never meet face-to-face. Being rejected by someone is tough, however the pain of rejection intensifies with the depth of intimacy involved. For instance, while being rejected after a single date stings, it is nowhere near as painful as when someone you have been married to for many years suddenly rejects you. The degree of pain grows as the degree of intimacy grows.
Jesus had always experienced an unparalleled level of intimacy with God, the Father and the Holy Spirit. His cry on the cross, "why have you forsaken me?" encapsulated the excruciating moment of rejection as He bore the sins of humanity. This rupture in the eternal relationship for the sake of mankind defies full description, yet we catch a glimpse of its depth when we recall Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where His anguish was so profound that His sweat resembled drops of blood. How much emotional agony does one have to be in for one’s sweat to become like blood?
Today, as we observe on Good Friday, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, where He willingly endured separation from God and rejection by humanity for the sake of our salvation. In this act of self-sacrifice, He bridged the chasm between God and mankind, offering us the opportunity to live in communion with Him. Let us embrace this gift and live in the grace and love of Christ.
How is God speaking to you?
How will you apply this to yourself and to others today?
Take a moment now in prayer to give thanks, praise, confess or lift up a request
Jesus had always experienced an unparalleled level of intimacy with God, the Father and the Holy Spirit. His cry on the cross, "why have you forsaken me?" encapsulated the excruciating moment of rejection as He bore the sins of humanity. This rupture in the eternal relationship for the sake of mankind defies full description, yet we catch a glimpse of its depth when we recall Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where His anguish was so profound that His sweat resembled drops of blood. How much emotional agony does one have to be in for one’s sweat to become like blood?
Today, as we observe on Good Friday, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, where He willingly endured separation from God and rejection by humanity for the sake of our salvation. In this act of self-sacrifice, He bridged the chasm between God and mankind, offering us the opportunity to live in communion with Him. Let us embrace this gift and live in the grace and love of Christ.
How is God speaking to you?
How will you apply this to yourself and to others today?
Take a moment now in prayer to give thanks, praise, confess or lift up a request
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