‘Why Have You Forsaken Me?’ Lenten Devotions

Thursday, April 14

We continue following the story of Jesus’ final hours, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, with Mark 15:33-39 (NRSV).

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”

Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Are there words or phrases that impact you in this passage?

Who is forsaken and crying out today for God's salvation among your family and friends? At work? In your neighborhood? In our world?

Are your eyes open for opportunities to relieve suffering, or do you find yourself content to wait on others to respond?

What barriers separate you from experiencing God's fullness? What barriers must be torn down to unleash God's kingdom and power more fully in our world?

What quality of Jesus' death do you think convinced the centurion that he was God's Son? What quality of his life do you strive to imitate?

Greg Sims is Southeast field organizer with Bread for the World.