The Final Loneliness of Jesus

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud boice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me."...and when he cried again in a loud voice [probably saying "It is finished"] He gave up His spirit.  (Matthew 27:45,46, 50).

Thoughts: Pain- even with a lot of people around you is miserable.  Some people want to face their pain alone- while most want to face pain with others.  Jesus had the worst of both worlds- He had people watching His misery, mocking Him.  While others saw but were unable to help or speak comforting words because of the soldiers and pharisees who did not want Him to be comfortable or comforted.  Jesus faced the pain of the cross utterly alone.  He felt forsaken- even by the Father whom He knew so well and loved so much. 
    Of course Jesus was quoting from Psalm 22:1 which speaks of a a prayer from a man in terrible pain and loneliness.  Some say this cry was an indication of a deeper theological truth of bearing the sins of the world as a sacrificial lamb.  They would point out (as Calvin did) that hell is separation.   from God- and that separation- utter isolation and loneliness is what Jesus went through for us; because God who is pure cannot look on sin.  There is a lot of truth in this.  But I believe it is good today to think about the forsaken isolation and loneliness of Christ here.  He knows what it is like to be abandoned- Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, all the disciples fled away, the people He loved mocked Him and crucified Him, and now as He went through the pain and heartache of the cross.  He was utterly alone. 
    I feel for those who have Covid 19 and cannot see friends and family- no one can hold their hand while they are sick or even while they die.  No preacher can come, no family member can say goodbye.  It is a terrible way to die if for no other reason than dying slowly without those who know and love you.  I have heard so many talk about how their elderly relatives and friends in nursing homes are so lonely because there can be no visitors.  Loneliness is not good for the immune system or the will to live.  To those who are going crazy in this time with loneliness and in isolation- Jesus understands- He has been there.  But, He was not isolated for health reasons, He was isolated out of meanness and evil intent. 
    If this were all there was to the story, it would be horribly sad.  But you know the end, and it was not found on the cross or the tomb.  There is Good News even in the cross- Jesus is our sacrifice and there is forgiveness, understanding, and grace found for us there.  But, perhaps the best news is that Jesus does not stay on the cross or in the tomb- but He breaks out.  But that is for tomorrow's devotional. 
    In the meantime, not only know that Jesus understands loneliness and isolation.  But also look for ways to help others in their loneliness and isolation too.

Prayer: Lord, in my loneliness, look on me with pity and mercy.  We turn to you with our whole heart and turn away from the sin that put you on the cross.  Have mercy on us, O Christ.  Heal our land, heal our souls, heal our spirits.

Jesus Alone in Prayer

There are three other times Jesus was alone in prayer with the Father.

1) Before choosing the Disciples he "went off to a solitary place"  (Luke 4:42).
2) At the Mount of Transfiguration- He was with Moses and Elijah in a cloud; the voice confirming that He should be heard as God's Son came; then it says, "When the voice had spoken , they found that Jesus was alone." (Luke 9:36).
3) He was praying in the Garden on the Mount of Olives (Gethsemane).  "He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed: "Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.  And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  When he arose form prayer he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, exhausted by sorrow." (Luke 22:41-45)

Thoughts: Before every major event in His life, Jesus spent time isolated from others but alone with God.  In Luke 4 it was before he chose the disciples.  In Luke 9 it was before he changed his course and went to die in Jerusalem.  In Luke 22 he prayed before his arrest, torture, and crucifixion and resurrection.
In the fourth century a group of monks followed the example of Anthony the Great who spent about a third of his life as a hermit- alone. He was born rich but sold all and became an ascetic who ate only bread, salt and drank only water.  But he lived 105 years.  It was in his aloneness that he realized that sin did not stop just because he was alone.  You do not have to be a hermit to deal with sin.  In fact, our command to love calls us away from being alone in order to care for others if we can.
    But being alone in prayer was a regular practice of Jesus.  Isolation can seem torture- but it can also be a blessing if we can find time to be alone with God on purpose.  Isolation loses its torture if you find the blessedness of the presence of the Lord. 
    In the midst of tough times, like we are in now, it is time to pray.  Pray for mercy, repentance, for God's Spirit to be at work amongst the people.   Pray for those who work hard- the health care workers, staff, grocers, delivery workers, and others.  God wants us, when we are not called to be so distracted, to pray to Him.

(Heinrich Hoffman 1886) 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you embraced isolation as a chance to pray.  Help me to embrace Your Presence in my life.

Alone in Grief and Prayer

This is from Matthew 14-
Note the sequence of events- John the Baptist was beheaded (6-12); Jesus went to a solitary place to rest and grieve (13, Mk. 6:31); The crowds followed and in compassion Jesus healed their sick (14); He fed the 5,000 (15-21); Many wanted to make Him King (Jn. 6:15); Jesus dismissed the crowds, sent the disciples on, and went back on the mountain to pray (22-23);
Jesus came to His disciples in power- walking on the water through the storm (24-25).

11John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.  12Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.  13When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns. 14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick...20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24but the boat was already fara from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25During the fourth watch of the night,b Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.

Two of the most well known miracles of Jesus were surrounded by prayer: the feeding of the 5,000 and the walking on the water (and calming the storm).  The first cause of Jesus retreating and praying is the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. He wanted to be by himself to grieve and pray.  But there was no time off for Jesus- he ended up healing the sick and feeding 5,000.  But he dismissed them and still went to the mountain to pray.  It is almost as if Jesus was yearning to be alone to pray.  In our time of isolation, we have more opportunities than ever to pray.  But we have two basic problems: 1) We need to see the need for it; 2) We are out of real practice and are unsure how to do it;
     When we are sad- as Jesus was- we need to pray.  When we want to be strengthened to do something for the glory of God- we need to pray.
      There are no rules to prayer.  Some use tools like the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) to broaden the way we pray.  Some "PRAY" (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield).  Some use prayer fingers (1. Family & Friends; 2. Leaders and teachers; 3. government and authority; 4. weak or sick; 5. myself last).  But the Bible- while pointing to these kinds of prayer does not say we should pray in such a way.  The Lord's Prayer is a great example of how to pray according to Jesus.  But there is always a certain mystery, flexibility, and grace in prayer.  I take the prayer list on the bulletin and the phone directory of the church and pray.  The main thing is just do it.  Make time and space.  This could be an opportunity to grow in your prayer life and find real strength in God.  Prayer can change me- and also change our environment.  Presbyterians believe in providence- which is that God governs us.  Prayer is asking Him for mercy, help- and Jesus asks us to petition God for what we need as a child would their father.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray.  Help me to find consolation in times of grief, and strength to do more than I can ask or even imagine.