As captivating as a mountain range can be, it can also be quite distressing, overwhelming and anxiety ridden depending on our perspective. At the top or from a distance, we can see the beauty of a sunrise or a sunset, nature at its finest or the accomplishment of climbing what seemed impossible. Yet from the bottom we might not see things quite as joyful.
Jesus understood this and knew he would have to suffer for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Yet, he still cried out to God and felt just as abandoned in that moment, but one thing remained - his faith!
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Matthew 27:46
Jesus still cried out to Him, knowing He was still there somewhere. There should be encouragement in this part of the story of the resurrection, because even in his doubt and uncertainity, his faith remained. It isn't shameful for us to have doubts or ask God to take away the mountains you must climb for even Jesus did just that. God doesn't turn away when we cry out, He probably does the most painful thing - He looks directly at it - faces the mountain with us and encourages us to press on for He knows what is on the other side of the mountain, He knows the reward of it all and asks us to just keep climbing, giving more room for God to show up.
Over the week of Passover, I decided to paint mountains and in each is a representation of each scene from our church, Victory Life's play My Redeemer Lives. It is my gift to not only my church family, but also our community and anyone else that sees it. I hope it reminds you of not only the play, but the mountains Jesus faced and what was on the other side of His mountains. The journey He took to save us all.
