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There are three kinds of ‘abandonment’ experience that we all could go through. Messiah went through them all. First, when friends abandon you. Second when the people you did good to are not there when you are in trouble. Third when you feel God himself has abandoned you.
It is obvious that the 12 disciples Messiah chose became his closest friends but when Messiah’s crucifixion was plotted, disciple Judas betrayed him to his persecutors for 30 pieces of silver (Mathew 26:15) and Peter denied him three times to the extent of saying, “I do not even know who you are talking about” (Luke 22:57). They let him down. Best friends can let us down.
Messiah healed the maimed, stood for the voiceless, forgave sinners and comforted the afflicted and evenreceived a rousing welcome with ‘palms’ (a symbol of victory) shouting ‘hosanna’ as he entered Jerusalem. He did so much good for so many. But at his trial and condemnation, there were crowds shouting “crucify him, crucify him” (Mark 15:13). Where were those which sang ‘hosanna’? We do so much good to others but people can disappear when we are in dire straits.
Messiah, feeling abandoned by God, wept in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) pleading that God take away his ‘cup of suffering’. He expressed it on the cross saying, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mathew 27:46). We sometimes feel forsaken even by God when suffering engulfs us and our prayers seem not answered.
If the Messiah has gone through it all, He knows how you feel when you experience abandonment. God weeps with us. At the tomb of Lazarus, Messiah wept too (John 11:35), indicating that He shares in our sufferings. In times of abandonment, when you feel God is punishing you, be reassured that He went through it all and knows what exactly what you are going through even when others may not.
