Silence

At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, ‘Eloi Eloi Iema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why did you abandon me?’

Some of the people there heard him and said ‘Listen he is calling for Elijah!’ One of them ran up with a sponge, soaked it in cheap wine, and put it on the end of a stick. Then he held it up to Jesus’ lips and said, ‘Wait! Let us see if Elijah is coming to bring him down from the cross!’

With a loud cry Jesus died.  (verses 34-37)

Read Mark 15: 33-39

In the gospel account that Mark gives us, Jesus said only one thing on the cross, just before he died. For six hours he was silent. Then he cried out his terrible question. It’s the opening phrase of one of the great songs of the Old Testament, Psalm 22.

Then silence – from Jesus, from God.

Yes, there are many explanations of this death in the letters Paul wrote and in the other New Testament books: redemption, forgiveness, atonement. The very existence of the gospels, the church, the Christian community, revolves completely around this scene. Which still doesn’t explain Jesus’ cry of ‘My God, my God, why did you abandon me?’ Such a heart-rending cry of intense loneliness!

Does it mean that God’s love is so intense, God’s desire to restore our broken world is so fierce, that wherever we are, in whatever dark place, God is still nearby? I believe that’s how it is.

Dear God, when I feel lost and totally alone, touch me with your love, remind me with your voice that you will never abandon me. Amen.

by Robin Mann, in ‘Assurance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2004)

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