The High Price of Redemption

At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" -Mark 15:34

On the cross, Jesus took our sin upon Himself, enduring the wrenching consequence of broken fellowship with the Father - the One He adored, the One from whom He had never experienced a moment's separation. I cannot understand the agony behind His words because I have never known truly perfect relationship.

Now, if I have a distant cousin, someone I barely know, and for some reason even the scant ties that we do have are broken, I may experience some distress. Ah, but when I experience broken relationship with my spouse, with whom I interact intimately on a daily basis, my distress level rises greatly. The amount of pain felt in a severed relationship is in direct proportion to the health, intimacy and endurance of that relationship.

Christ's words on the cross expressed the distress of a perfectly whole, intimate relationship - that had been that way from eternity past - being ripped apart. I will say again, as I have in the past, the physical suffering was only a small portion of the cost of my salvation. Perhaps when I am fully redeemed I will look upon my Savior's sacrifice with the awe and thankfulness that I desire to have now. Perhaps then I will comprehend perfect relationship and what it meant for Him to give that up...for my redemption...for His glory.

Until that time, Holy Father and Son, accept my feeble "thank you!" Thank you for the enormous price you paid for the forgiveness of my sin.