Notes From Nicky: 090968

Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.”

Did ever escape the lips of man a more pitiful, helpless, a more heart-rendering cy than this? Can the human mind conceive any idea which would carry the meaning of pathos and hopelessness carried by these words? Could there be found nine words in any language for literature of the world that would touch the reader or hearer more than these?

What man could there be whose heart would not be sliced and laid open by this piteous cry? To hear brokenhearted innocency thus plead with up-turned palms, asking white-throned Justice a reason for its desertion in the hour of need — to hear this, I say, would melt the coldest heart and evoke the deepest sympathy. Dead the man who would not respond.

And what is your response, sinful man? The question, though not addressed to thee, must be answered by thee; why did the Father thus forsake the Son in His darkest hour? Why did the Father desert Him thus and leave Him in the lurch? Why did the Almighty turn His back and refuse to vindicate Christ before the waiting world? What is thine answer to Christ’s pitiful question, sinful man?

Thine answer falls on thine own head. It was because of thee the Father thus forsook His Son in His darkest hour! It was because of thy sins the Father deserted Him and left Him in the lurch! It was thy sins that caused the Almighty to turn His back and refuse to vindicate Christ before the waiting world!

As the Blessed One hung that hour on the cross, the Father could not look on Him, for “He became sin for us, Who knew no sin …” The Almighty saw not Christ but sin — thy sin. The Innocent had willingly and lovingly taken the place of the guilty, and now He was experiencing the punishment of the guilty — separation from the Father. No wonder His heart bursts with this piteous question!

Oh, Sinner — wilt thou also forsake Him? He was forsaken of God for love of thee. Wilt thou not own Him as thy Saviour? Go to Him now — prostrate thyself before His rugged cross — denounce the sins that nailed Him there — claim His payment as for thee — swear thine allegiance to His cause — arise to keep thine oath, and let it never be said that thou forsook Him!

© Dr. Nicky Chavers, 1968