The Cross Calls Us to Reconciliation

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?'”

Background

As we approach Easter, it is not uncommon to hear descriptions of the awful treatment that Jesus received once He was betrayed by Judas. Medical doctors have described in great detail the pain, stress, and torture that His body suffered, and legal experts have explained what a mockery the trials were that Jesus went through. Explicit descriptions have been given to help us understand all that Jesus endured in His final hours, and each of us is left with a mental image of our Savior hanging on the cross for our sins. But instead of us looking on at Jesus and seeing the brutality and the hatred that was heaped upon Him, let’s look out with Jesus and see what He sees. Or rather, what He doesn’t see. For missing from that Calvary hill that day was God, at least the God that Jesus had spent an eternity with. His Father, remaining holy in the face of the world’s sin, forsook the Son who never forsook Him. As Jesus became the worst of all of us, God did what was best and demanded payment for our transgressions. But for them, there was reconciliation. The Father accepted the Son’s payment, and all was forgiven.

Application

Not so in my family. My dad and my brother don’t have much use for each other. They think about how things once were, but words were said years ago regarding the daughter-in-law and other things, and hurt feelings have not healed. Attempts to apologize have been dismissed as insincere, and now they share small talk on the rare occasion they cross paths. For them, reconciliation seems futile, even pointless. They are where they are, content to go on without a part of their family. But thank God that our Heavenly Father welcomed His Son home. Thank God that our repeated apologies and endless failures don’t harden the heart of our Lord. And thank God for the relationships that you have. If there is distance where it should not be, take steps to make amends. Be sincere where you have been half-hearted. Don’t keep seeing what isn’t there, but do all you can to restore what was lost.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let the cross lead you to healing and reconciliation. Ask God to work on the hearts involved to bring two together and bring glory to His name.

Editor Comment: This is one of those truths that humbles me every time I think about it. Jesus endured what I deserved so I could be forgiven and welcomed by God. That kind of mercy should move all of us to seek healing, repentance, and reconciliation where it is still possible.