Jesus Died Alone So We Would Never Be Alone

Psalm 23, which comes right after Psalm 22, contains those familiar words: “The Lord is my shepherd… when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.” Yet, when Jesus walked through the valley of the shadow at the cross, God the Father was not with Him. He was utterly alone. He said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus, who had spoken of God as Shepherd, who had promised His followers they would never walk alone, experienced complete abandonment so that we never would. Every sin—past, present, and future, yours and mine—was placed upon Him. It pleased God that our transgressions were laid upon Him. He became the sin-bearer, wearing our sin, carrying our guilt. And because He was forsaken in that moment, He can now promise His followers, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” He was abandoned so that you could be accepted. He was forsaken so that you could be forgiven. When humanity’s hate and sin was lifted up on that cross, God’s love came down, and mercy and sorrow met at Calvary. So, when you face those “why” questions in life—why are you hurting, why are you suffering, why so much pain—remember that the One who suffered for you is with you, and He has promised He will never abandon you.