The Not So Common Things

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" Which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

When some of those standing there heard them, they said, "Look, He's calling for Elijah!" Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink and said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take Him down!"

But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. The curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "This man really was God's Son!"

There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joses, and Salome. When He was in Galilee they would follow Him and help Him. Many other women had come up with Him to Jerusalem. Mark 15:33-41

Matthew's account was very similar to this with a few exceptions: Mark does not mention the earth quake or the dead saints rising from the grave; he names other women who had followed Jesus.

The common things are important, especially the words Jesus spoke and His cry to His Father. Jesus had lived in close communion with His Father, from a young age knew He must be about His Father's business. During His ministry He said of Himself: "I only do what I see my Father doing." This represents a closeness that we do not understand, but desire.

In Gethsemane Jesus' prayer was to have 'the cup,' pass from Him, but then He prayed, "but not My will, but Your will be done!" 

Now, having done the will of the Father He finds Himself rejected by the Father, then He dies. The final straw was too much. Men could betray and reject Him, but not His Father. To finally lose His Father was too much. In a small way we have been through this. In our hardest times as long as those we love stay true, we can cope. As they turn from us, we struggle. Bearing the sin of mankind was a heavy task. We do some horrible things to each other, we are cruel, malicious, critical, selfish, arrogant, hateful. All these Jesus had never been, but now was, for all mankind. He hung with murderers and theives and identified with them, carried their sin, forgave their sin.

Today, we are forgiven from all our sin, offered new life, a relationship with our Saviour, a welcome home from the Father and an Indwelling Holy Spirit to be our comfort and guide. This all came to be because of this common thread, a humble, willing Son of God. Amen!