Perspective: WK6 - WED
Forsaken
Genesis 40:23
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Matthew 27:45-46
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Joseph can’t seem to catch a break. He is steady, conscientious, and faithful. But just when things seem to be turning a corner, he is let down again, each time compounding the last. It is easy to think of him as jinxed, snake-bit, or ill-fated. How is it that these terrible things keep happening to him?
As we consider parallels between Joseph and Jesus, we notice an important difference. Jesus will move from hosannas to crucifixion in the span of one brief week. Like Joseph, just as things are looking up and the people would make Him king, He is captured, beaten, and killed. Jesus, too, will cry out in pain at being forgotten and forsaken.
There is, however, a major difference. Joseph remains faithful despite every disappointment that comes his way. He endures trials, abuse, and broken promises. But the pain Jesus experiences is unique. These things aren’t merely happening to Him as circumstances beyond His control. No. Jesus chooses the pain, deliberately walking toward the cross.
In John 10:17-18, Jesus says, “I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.” Yes, Jesus can relate to the desperation in Joseph’s life. He experienced rejection, cruelty, betrayal, false accusations, and the suffocating loss of connection to His father. But there is something that sets Jesus apart. He didn’t merely suffer these things. He chose them, knowing He must do so to rescue us.
If you are going through a day when everything goes wrong (or maybe it’s a year or a decade), take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands what it feels like. Not only that, He would rather endure torture, alienation, and death than lose you. He’s got you.
Genesis 40:23
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Matthew 27:45-46
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Joseph can’t seem to catch a break. He is steady, conscientious, and faithful. But just when things seem to be turning a corner, he is let down again, each time compounding the last. It is easy to think of him as jinxed, snake-bit, or ill-fated. How is it that these terrible things keep happening to him?
As we consider parallels between Joseph and Jesus, we notice an important difference. Jesus will move from hosannas to crucifixion in the span of one brief week. Like Joseph, just as things are looking up and the people would make Him king, He is captured, beaten, and killed. Jesus, too, will cry out in pain at being forgotten and forsaken.
There is, however, a major difference. Joseph remains faithful despite every disappointment that comes his way. He endures trials, abuse, and broken promises. But the pain Jesus experiences is unique. These things aren’t merely happening to Him as circumstances beyond His control. No. Jesus chooses the pain, deliberately walking toward the cross.
In John 10:17-18, Jesus says, “I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.” Yes, Jesus can relate to the desperation in Joseph’s life. He experienced rejection, cruelty, betrayal, false accusations, and the suffocating loss of connection to His father. But there is something that sets Jesus apart. He didn’t merely suffer these things. He chose them, knowing He must do so to rescue us.
If you are going through a day when everything goes wrong (or maybe it’s a year or a decade), take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands what it feels like. Not only that, He would rather endure torture, alienation, and death than lose you. He’s got you.
- Were you ever left behind by your parents as a child? Have you ever accidentally left one of your children somewhere? What happened?
- What recent experience seemed to be going well but then took a sudden turn for the worse and ended badly?
- What are you experiencing that could use a “rescue”? What would you like to say to Jesus about it?
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