THINK TOGETHER
Have you ever felt rejected, or like nobody likes you?
READ TOGETHER
The four gospels record seven sayings of Jesus on the cross: 1) Father forgive them. 2) Today you will be with me in paradise. 3) Woman, behold your son. 4) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 5) I am thirsty. 6) It is finished. 7) Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
Each of these is very emotional and very sad. But the saddest of them all has to be the fourth one. Here it is from Matthew's gospel:
Matthew 27:46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Before Jesus was a person he was with God eternally in heaven. He was always right next to the Father. Always together. Always loved. Always accepted. Never rejected. But on the cross Jesus took our place. He took our sin and he took the curse for our sin. That meant that he had to be rejected and abandoned by God while he was on the cross. Why? Because that is what we all deserve for our sin. Jesus had to face separation from God because that is what every single person is born into – separation from God.
And Jesus did this willingly and he did it because he loves us so very much. He chose to go through the worst thing ever, being forsaken by God, so that we would never, ever, have to be forsaken by God ever again. And when we know that we will never be rejected by God it gives us the power to be kind and accepting of others the same way God has accepted us even when we didn't deserve it.
Because of Jesus we will never be forsaken by God.
With Jesus we can accept others too.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Reach out to someone this week that might feel forsaken. How can your family make them feel loved and welcomed?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, you were forsaken by God for me so that I would never, ever have to be forsaken by God. Thank you Jesus! Amen.
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