Article April 2, 2012 Issue

Forsaken by God?

Abby Hillman

“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Jesus cried out with these words during his darkest hour hanging on the cross. The King James Bible translates them: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).

That horrible day, Christianity seemed to come to an abrupt halt. Jesus had fulfilled his healing ministry by freeing people from sin, disease, and death. He had taught his disciples to follow his example and done everything that God required of him—lovingly, patiently, perfectly. Yet here he was in unimaginable agony, and apparently even his closest students had failed to stand by him. Death was imminent, and when it came, there was a hurried scramble to attend to the necessity of taking care of the body. If this were all there was to the story of Jesus Christ, it would be a sad affair and none of us today would likely know anything about it. 

But there was a resurrection—Jesus was to prove for all time that life is eternal. His resurrection brought a moment of joyous enlightenment for the disciples, and ever since, there has been a perpetual endeavor by Christians everywhere to follow that perfect example.