Abandon is a hard word and an even rougher experience. Feeling abandoned tears open your heart, stuns your soul and leaves you feeling eviscerated. So when Jesus cries out from the cross:
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
it’s difficult to get your mind wrapped around.
How could the God incarnate—fully God and fully man—feel abandoned from the God eternal? How could God do that to His son? It seems too hard too believe, that God would be that…well, I hesitate to type it…cruel.
There are numerous resources that talk a lot about why that had to happen, why God had to remove His spirit from Jesus in order to fully experience all the ugliness and sin of the world. How Jesus was the Lamb of God, the one, and only one, who could satisfy that atoning sacrifice—to pay the ultimate debt—so those who believed in Him could enjoy eternity with Him in Heaven.
But I’m going to throw out another reason. Mind you, it’s not theological; it’s just a suspicion I have. One that comes from being a parent and imagining one of my sons being tacked up naked on a rough Roman cross for all those bewildered, curious, scornful eyes to ogle.
I think God had to remove His spirit far away from Jesus, and turn His broken heart and eyes away.
Can you imagine watching your son suffer like that, for no good reason, to pay the price for other peoples’ sins without intervening and trying to get him down off that cross? Without putting your own life on the line; or offering yourself as sacrifice instead?
I’m sure his mother, Mary, would have done it if she had the capability and power. After all, she was one of the few followers that showed up that day and wept at the foot of the cross, along with several other women who wept alongside her and for her. I believe she would have done anything to rescue her beloved son from such torment.
But God the Father could have done something during those six hellacious hours, and didn’t. And I suspect He had to turn his face away from His son’s suffering because He couldn’t stand to watch.
He had to temporarily abandon, or forsake, His son so the sacrifice could happen and the atonement be fulfilled.
But then I think He had enough.
Historical accounts indicate that most crucified people hung on their crosses several days before dying, withering in the sun, slowly suffocating. In horrific physical pain. But Jesus lasted exactly six hours and then willingly gave up His spirit into His Father’s hands.
Was it the moment God’s spirit returned to Him that He knew the price was paid and the torture was over?
How much relief the Father must have enjoyed the moment He re-joined with His Son. How much relief Jesus must have experienced.
All of it orchestrated, planned and perfectly timed for our benefit.
On this Black Friday that we also refer to as “Good,” I’ll be thinking about not only Jesus’ but the Father’s anguish.
Contemplating their mutual, unfathomable sacrifices.
Come Sunday morning, I pray your heart is once again drenched in the Father and Son’s joy!