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29th September 2023

The Suffering Saviour


My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?


Psalm 22:1



It was late on the Thursday evening of Passover week. The Lord Jesus was with His disciples at one of His favourite retreats—the Garden of Gethsemane. In great emotional distress, He admonished the disciples to pray for strength to remain loyal to Him. He removed Himself a short distance from them and prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).


The “cup” from which Jesus asked to be delivered was not death. He came to die for us. I think the cup represents the frightful alienation from His Father that would lead to His cry on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).


In the garden, He must have been anticipating that time when His Father would turn His back on Him. The coming of the angel assured Him that He was not alone. Yet the reality of the Father’s imminent withdrawal from Him was foremost in His thoughts. He would be taking our sin on Himself and enduring the awful loneliness of the cross. This realisation drove the Lord to pray with so much intensity that “His sweat became like great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44).


And what’s even more amazing is the truth that the Lord Jesus, the Friend of sinners, endured this suffering for you and me!

Bible Reading

Luke 22:39-46.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord God, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. But more than all this, I thank You for my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ .Amen.

















1 comment

1 Comment


Guest
Sep 30, 2023

Amen

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