Good Friday is dark. The compassionate, merciful, God-man dies a criminal's death at the hands of religious and political leaders. The Messiah, full of despair and feeling deserted by God the Father, cries out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Even the earth wept and quaked.
Yet somehow, we call it good.
Emil Brunner, a Swiss theologian and compatriot of Karl Barth provides a hopeful way of thinking about this moment:
"Jesus had to despair of God for us, so that we do not have to despair of God.
He has taken this upon himself so that we may become free of it."
As we commemorate this day and hear those despairing words of Jesus, might we be willing to perceive them as hopeful?
Might you be willing to see Jesus' despair as an act of love on your behalf?
The forsaken One chose to be forsaken by the Father so that you and I will never have to be forsaken.
No matter the depth of our despair;
no matter how silent the heavens;
no matter how great our grief;
no matter how bereft our soul.
We --- because of Christ --- are never forsaken by God.
Ever.
What great love is this?
