The Face of the Father

November 17

Disappointment abounds. Family, friends, lovers, governments have had their part in undermining the hope of virtually everyone who’s ever walked the earth. As Jesus hung on the cross, even He cried out to His Father, “…Why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34)

Although we know God had to turn His back on Jesus as He bore the sin all mankind had committed and suffered the death all mankind deserved to die because He cannot look upon sin—and, of course, Jesus knew that—still at the moment He yearned most for the oneness He had with the Father, He had it not.

The abandonment of Jesus to the consequence of our sin was a one-time event. It was required that He be the sole bearer of God’s righteous requirement that sin be punished and He agreed to it when our Triune God took counsel with Himself and devised the plan before the foundation of the earth (Revelation 13:8).

For the rest of us, there is no turning of the face of the Father from our need. Along with our death, Jesus took our abandonment. In Luke 18:7 we receive the words of assurance of His ever-present help: “Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? He will not delay His help to them.”