July 4

Mark 15:33‑34
“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”—Mark 15:33, 3433And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:33‑34).
IN considering the sufferings of our Lord on the cross, it is important to remember that the six hours during which He hung upon the cross were divided into two parts. From the third hour (9 a.m.) to the sixth hour (noon) the sun was shining down upon the scene. During these hours the emphasis is put upon His sufferings at the hands of sinful men. Nothing that man could do to or against Him had anything to do with making atonement for sin. But from the sixth to the ninth hour (3 p.m.) darkness enshrouded the scene, and the Son of Man was hidden from the eyes of the throngs gathered about the cross, while God was dealing with Him about our sins. Then He was made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Then the bitter cup was pressed to His lips, and He drained it to the dregs. His awful cry of agony and abandonment, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” tells us as nothing else could something of what it meant for Him, the Holy One, to stand before God as our Surety and to bear the judgment which our sins deserved.
“Should worldly pleasures so attract,
The vision of my soul to dim,
Lord, lead me back to Calvary,
That I’ll again remember Him.
Should I my love for souls thus lose,
Thy claims, Thy cause, Thy call neglect,
And other friends and interests choose,
May I not then Thy thorns forget.
Should bright success or weary toil.
Thy dealings, or Thy firm commands.
Tempt me to boast or to complain,
Show me Thy bleeding feet and hands.”
―T. J. Bach.