By Jeff Cranston

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

– Matthew 27:46

When have you felt alone or isolated? What do you think causes this in us? Maybe it comes from comparing ourselves to others in a way that shuts us down. Maybe it’s from feeling emotions such as guilt, shame, or self-loathing. Or maybe it comes from being distracted, which is often a major cause of isolation and separation.

Feeling forsaken, lonely, and isolated is indeed a very horrible thing. Jesus understands this kind of pain. When He hung on the cross, He was isolated from His Father in Heaven.

Read Matthew 27:45-46. The word “forsaken” is quite strong. It means “to desert, to disown, to turn away from.” This was more than just that Jesus felt forsaken; He was literally and actually abandoned by the Almighty. This cry, shouted out to the Heavens, is met with a holy silence.

During this time of desolation on the cross, Jesus did not cease to be the eternal Son of God. He was not separated from the Trinity. But for those hours of substitution, there was a relational fissure. The Father, however, never stopped loving Him. In fact, this was the climax of His love.

This was why the Father had sent His Son in the first place. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son … ” Jesus was forsaken because we deserved to be deserted. He endured the darkness and abandonment and judgment so we won’t have to. He was forsaken that we might be forgiven.

Jesus took the indignation, anger, and wrath of God for us. Jesus received what rightly belonged to us so that we can receive that which we don’t deserve—forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Jesus went through darkness so that we might have light. He was cursed so that we might be blessed. He was condemned so that we might be able to say, “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). He suffered hell for us so that we can enjoy Heaven with Him.

The bottom line is this: Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” so that you and I would never have to.

And you know, I think that is one of the greatest things about being a follower of Jesus Christ—I am never forsaken by, or isolated from, God. NEVER! I am never alone. He is always with me. No matter where I go, God is with me because of Christ’s death on the cross in my place.

Jeff Cranston is lead pastor at LowCountry Community Church.