(From my CaringBridge site in honor and memory of our grandson Sully. Written on Good Friday, 2010.)

On this Good Friday, I remember the suffering of Jesus.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?…But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: “He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him….” Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me…My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death…a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.  (Psalm 22)

Then they spit in Jesus’ face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him. (Matthew 26:67)

Pilate had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified….They spit on him and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him…they led him away to crucify him.  (Matthew 27:26-31)

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads…In the same way others mocked him…In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him…And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”  (Matthew 27:39-50)

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  (1 Peter 2:23-24)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (1 John 3:16; Romans 5:8)

For Christ’s love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). His love which led him to willingly know our suffering by suffering with us compels me to trust him.

During a time when his grief was overwhelmingly heavy, Steven Curtis Chapman wrote the song, I Will Trust You.  Some of the words follow…

But right now pain is all I’ve got/ It feels like it’s all I’ve got/ But I know it’s not/ Now I know You’re all I’ve got/ And I will trust You, I’ll trust You/ Trust You God, I will/ Even when I don’t understand/ Even then I will say again/ You are my God/ And I will trust You…Chorus/ And with every breath I take/ And for every day that breaks/ I will trust You, I will trust You/ And when nothing is making sense/ Even then I will say again/ God, I trust You, I will trust You/ I know Your heart is good/ I know Your love is strong…  (from the CD Beauty Will Rise).