Aloneness
No one should die alone.
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘This man is calling for Elijah.’ At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.’ Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’ - Matthew 27:45-54
Last night in Bible Study, we talked about how Matthew's Gospel focuses on Jesus being so alone at his hour of death on the cross.
As we mentioned yesterday, the bandits crucified with him mocked and derided him, and there was no one around to support him. Matthew doesn't mention his mother or the other women the way John does. And here, Jesus cries out to his Father in Heaven, sounding as if even God has abandoned him.
None of the apostles are with him. He is alone.
It makes me think of all the people who have died of COVID-19. Many of them were alone at the end. Did they feel abandoned?
I believe Jesus was with them. He knows the feeling and would be there to comfort and embrace them in their fear and despair.
Maybe that's why Matthew paints such a bleak picture, so that we all know that Jesus understands what we are going through. Nothing we experience is as great. No one could be more alone.
So, perhaps we can take a moment today to think about those who have passed and picture them in the arms of Jesus.
What better way to go?
More to come...