Mark 15:33-39

The Death of Jesus
33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 35When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ 36And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ 37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’

This is the text for Good Friday. Jesus dies upon the cross. In the face of death he feels forsaken. Don't we all feel forsaken by God in the midst of our own human suffering. The death on the cross is not the end of life, but the beginning og a new life and relationship with God. God is already and work. He will fulfill his promise on Easter Day. Can you place your trust in God even in suffering. So often suffering breaks faith, rather than strengthens it. Christ shows us that we must trust in God, even when our faith is most challenged by events beyond our control.