Word of damnation – “Father, father, why have you forsaken me?”
Damnation – separation from God – alienation
An illustration of when you were alone and afraid would be appropriate here
We’ve all felt alone or alienated – lost, rift in relationships with family or friends, divorce, lost a loved one – now we are alone
Psychologists asked about bullying that goes on in our schools – said that they fear for the child who has no friends – they take the abuse because they have no one to lean on
POWs – worst part was being alone, not having others to depend on
Same for us – the bible refers to us as wandering sheep and the devil as a roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour
We are all alone – we have no one to depend on, no one to protect us – or so it would seem
But then Jesus words break in – My God, my God, why have you forsaken ME?
I can’t remember where I got this illustration from but I like it:
Behind a church in the small town of Flint Hill, Virginia, you will find the grave of a young seminary student named Albert Gallatin Willis who died on October 14, 1864. Albert Willis’ story is unusual. Albert Willis served with the famedcommand of Mosby’s Raiders during the Civil War. Because of Mosby’s harassment of Federal supply trains, wagons, and stores, General Phil Sheridan ordered that Mosby and any of his men be hung on capture. In October 1864, Willis and an unnamed comrade were captured by the 2nd U. S. Cavalry and sentenced to die by hanging. However, Willis was offered a Chaplain’s exemption as a ministerial student. But because his companion was married, young Willis offered himself as a substitute for the comrade and died in his place so that the other might go free. Willis professed his “Christian Readiness To Die,”prayed for his executioners, and was hanged.
That is what Jesus did for us
He endured the loneliness of God’s judgement so that we might not have to
But because we are no longer under condemnation we reach out to those who still are alienated and alone, who are destined for the damnation that we have escaped
