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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”(which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) Mark 15:33-34

Read: Mark 15:33-39

Listen: Mark 15

TODAY’S MESSAGE

We can be sure that questions aren’t far behind when we experience pain and suffering. The most important question isn’t,  “Why is this happening?” The most important questions are, “Where is God, and how does he feel about my pain?” Important and practical, we not only want the answer to this question, but we need the answer.

Mark’s description of Jesus’ crucifixion most clearly answers this. God himself experiences betrayal, injustice and blasphemy as Jesus yells words familiar to those in the crow. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It’s important to note this was not a cry of self-doubt. It was the cry of our God who experiences suffering.

Because he has experienced suffering, God comforts us in our pain. We feel betrayal from a family member or friend, wrongly treated by the law or government or grieve the loss of a loved one. God knows what this is like. Only in Christianity has the eternal God (in the person of Jesus) entered into humanity, given himself and died. He can comfort us in our pain.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Choose to take God at his word with a prayer of gratitude. “Father, thank you that you understand my suffering and are with me. Help me to see you in my pain. Amen.”

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.