Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon nevel

“I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and to the Father” (John 16:28).

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples in Jerusalem just before he died on the cross. Then he foretold how all of them would be scattered, and would leave him alone.

The prophet had written about this hundreds of years earlier: “Smite the Shepherd, and the Sheep shall be scattered.” (Zechariah
13:7

Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Peter denied him three times. But all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Matthew 26:56)

They would leave him alone, and yet he would not be alone, because his Father would be with him. (John 16:32)
When Jesus was on the cross, there was darkness over all the land for three hours. It was then that he cried out with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

He was forsaken for us so that we will never be forsaken by him. His cry “went up from His holy lips amid His lost creation that no one else need ever cry that cry of desolation.”

Jesus died alone for us on the cross. Now we can sing: “No, never alone, No, never alone, He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.”