Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:45-46 (NKJV)
My dad said it to me. I can remember it numerous times. “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” I thought he was crazy. He wasn’t getting hit with a 1×4 board, I was. Once I became a father I realized the truth in what my dad said. There was a time with my daughter when disciplining her brought me to tears. I sat on the edge of my bed and cried. With her sweet voice she asked, “Why are you crying, daddy?” My answer reflected my dad’s words from so many years before.
There’s many different opinions on whether God watched Jesus die with the sin of all humanity on his shoulders, or if He turned his back. I’m not here for that discussion, but rather to illustrate the mutual pain the Father felt. In a divine way, that we can’t completely comprehend, God sat on the edge of His bed and cried. Moments later, all of Heaven rejoiced as the Father’s Son was resurrected to righteousness.
We are only able to celebrate growth in our children if we’re willing to endure the pain. I watch many parents try to accomplish this many different ways. We must endure the pain.