Abandonment

Christ endured an agony on the cross unlike any physical or emotional suffering that any person has ever known or endured. For you see, He took upon Himself the sins of the entire human race of all ages and generations; (perhaps, as I have have been informed, 100 billion persons). And all the while, while He was “bearing the sins of many,” God, His Father, the eternal Spirit with Whom He had abided throughout the eons, momentarily

… turned His back!

(since we have been told he “cannot look upon sin.”)

How agonizing it must have been for the pure and sinless Jesus to submit Himself to the putridity of all the sins of mankind; adultery, fornication, pedophilia, homosexuality, abortion, prostitution, pornography, murder, theft and deceit.

But I think the worst of it all, as I have previously implied, was the sense of abandonment he must have experienced during that proverbial night of the cross. 

Who can forget His plaintive plea?

“Father, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

We have all “been there.” We have all shared in the sufferings of Christ. Did He not promise us as much?

“Filling up in my own body the unfinished sufferings of Christ.” (Colossians 1:24)

I can relate. You can relate.

People whom you knew and trusted, but who went their own way, and left you shaking your head, and hopelessly confused.

People with whom you formed a true and (it seemed) abiding relationship, but who, “in a pinch,” forgot you entirely.

People of whom you asked a small favor, and to whom you had provided a myriad of favors before, only to receive a negative response, (or none at all).

Thank God that our Lord left us the promise,

“I will never, never, never leave you, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

The only triple negative in all of scripture. (Apparently, God wished to accent this promise above all the promises of the holy writ).

We are in good company with the Savior of the world. It was He who once saw numerous members of His outer circle desert Him. He it was who was denied by Judas Iscariot; one of the trusted twelve. And it was He who knew the abject brutality of that momentary loss of fellowship with His Father.

Take heart, my friend for 

“we have not a high priest who cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmities, but who was in all ways tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy for our failures, and grace to help in the time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Though we may have been cast aside and forgotten by those around and about us, He will never leave us, nor forsake us, and for those who trust in Him, we are given the inestimable promise and privilege of one day dwelling in His presence; where we will never again be subject to the pains of abandonment or loneliness.

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 20. Copyright pending

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