The thing that makes grace so glorious is the guilt that makes it so necessary. Junior Hill
One of the most haunting phrases in the Bible was uttered by Jesus on the cross, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabacthani,” that is to say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”
As I pondered this statement recently, I wondered at the fact that God would forsake His Son. When I think of the love that I feel toward my own sons, I don’t believe there is anything they could do to make me despise them. If there is such a thing, it would be so heinous and awful that I cannot imagine what it would be.
If I, with a flawed capacity to love, can love my sons that much, how much does God, who can love perfectly, love His own Son? I cannot imagine how awful Jesus must have become in the sight of God as He hung on the cross.
We know, of course, that it was the bearing of our sins that caused God to forsake His only begotten Son.
Imagine, all of the offense, pain, destruction, disease, brokeness, horror, injustice and death that sin has ever caused, or ever will cause, was concentrated in the person of Jesus Christ in one moment of time.
Imagine, the wrath of God that is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness, the same wrath that flooded Creation, poured fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, visited the plagues upon Egypt and all of the other judicial actions of God’s holiness was poured upon one man, in one moment of time.
In the midst of violent injustice, excruciating pain, horrible shame and the abandonment of His friends, the thing that caused Him the most grief was the knowledge that His Father had turned His back on Him.
God declared Him guilty, as guilty as sin. My guilt. My sin. My shame. My cross. My death.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
He was wounded so that I could be healed.
He was rejected so that I could be accepted.
He was hated so that I could be loved.
He was declared guilty so that I could be justified.
He died so that I could live.
He became what I was so that I can become what He is.
Thank God for His wonderful, matchless, amazing grace.
May my life be lived to the praise of the glory of that grace.
Heavenly Heartburn 
I have no words. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Gordon, may God bless your life to be so. May He bless us all with this same desire.
Great post.
WOW!
Beverly, I can relate. The more I think about this, the more inadequate I feel to describe it.
KC, thanks, brother, and the same to you.
Thank you, Matthew, it’s always good to hear from you.
Janice, I didn’t mean to overlook your comment. I think we were posting on top of each other. Thanks for stopping by.
no worries mate! I t wasn’t much of a comment anyway , My commnent that is .
Thanks Bro. Gordon for these words, Before I forget that was a inspiring message this past Sunday! Thanks. I have much He has done for me to be thankful for ! The last three days I can’t praise Him enough ? Blessings Ron.
Bro.
All I can say to the above is GLLLLLOOOOORRRYYYY AAAAMMMMMEEEEEEENNNNNNNN!!!!
That was great.
I don’t know if the above states it very well or not.
Thanks, Janice.
Bro. Ron, I could tell Sunday that your cup was running over. If anyone hasn’t read the testimony you posted on your blog, they need to hurry over and do that.
Bro. TA, you expressed what was in my heart as I was writing this.
If I, with a flawed capacity to love, can love my sons that much, how much does God, who can love perfectly, love His own Son?
Something that never ceases to amaze me is Jesus saying in John 17 that the Father loves as just as He loves Jesus. Wow! According to our precious Father we are actually worth the sacrifice that Jesus made. He abandoned Jesus so that He could be with us! Whew! I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that!
It’s hard to comprehend sometimes isn’t it Raborn?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope you have a blessed day.