Prayers from the Cross of Jesus: # 4 "Why Have You Forsaken Me?"

Hiraeth Community Prayers

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we're confronted with the enormity of what Jesus succumbed to. The One who called himself ‘the Light of the World’ was enveloped in darkness. It is a profound juxtaposition which speaks loudly to those of us willing to listen.

Matthew includes details about supernatural darkness, the saviour's silence and the eventual return of the light which make this cry, the question of forsakenness, all the more powerful. The darkness reigned while Christ was silent. But at the sound of His voice once more light returned.

This prayer is an attempt to wrestle with the magnitude of what Jesus endured for our sake and to gently call us into a place where we desire His light and life to be experienced more and more.

Written by Sammy Davies

Inspired by Matthew 27:45-46

Before You spoke there was darkness

Without You, there is not

No life, no joy, no light

Yet into that darkness, You spoke and there was

First light, then - everything

And in Your light life & joy

But we chose something else

We chose to turn from You

To cling to the shadows

Life in the dark is difficult

Life in the dark is hard

Life in the dark is not what You desire

So, You came

Not just speaking into the darkness

But walking …

The Light of the World stepped down

Into the darkness we have created

The Light shone - but we did not recognise it

And darkness schemed, darkness conspired

To extinguish the Light so that death might reign

In darkness You hung

Creation in mourning for its Creator

The weight of our rejection on Your shoulders

In darkness You hung

And silence

For 3 hours darkness filled the air

And when You spoke it was not calling out the light

When You spoke it was despair at what darkness had brought

But despair is not the end

Darkness does not have the final word

Even then the light returned

At the very sound of Your voice death and darkness fled

And life and light came forth

The shadows receded and Your glory shone

We had chosen death

But You were bringing life

We rejected

But You reconciled

You who knew no sin

Became sin

So that we could be

The Righteousness of God

We still know darkness

Around us and in us

Speak again O Lord

Make it flee wherever it is found

Amen