Did Jesus Ever Feel Alone?
You and I have felt alone, but did Jesus ever experience the same feeling?
The majority of Americans feel lonely.
A national 2019 survey led by health insurer Cigna found that 61 percent of Americans report feeling lonely. - Harvard Magizine
Knowing that loneliness affects so many people should cause us as Bible students to wonder - did Jesus ever face loneliness?
While there may be several instances where He felt alone, one example stands out - because Jesus said He felt alone. It occurred while Jesus hung on the cross.
Now from the sixth hour [12 PM] until the ninth hour [3 PM] there was darkness over all the land. 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)
What Jesus cried out is a direct quote from Psalm 22:1.
Some thoughts about Psalm 22
It’s important to remember that the psalms are poetry. A poem isn’t usually meant to be read literally - it conveys the emotions and feelings of the writer. When we read the psalms, we need to think, “What is the writer experiencing? What is he feeling?”
Psalm 22 is a prophecy about the suffering of Jesus on the cross and the joy of His victory. It begins with the words Jesus said while hanging on the cross.
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? (Psalm 22:1)
If you read Psalm 22:1-20, you will notice a few things.
The writer feels unheard and very alone.
The writer is surrounded by those who want to hard him.
The writer knows how God has helped others in the past, and he wants help too.
At the end of verse 20, the question is, “Will God hear him and help him, or not?”The answer is given at the end of verse 21, where the writer says, “You have answered Me.”
From this phrase, the writer begins to praise God. Why is he praising the Lord? Because even though he felt alone, the Lord heard him and answered him.
Some thoughts about Jesus on the cross
When Jesus quoted the first phrase of Psalm 22 on the cross, I think He was doing two things.
He was expressing that He felt the emotions of Psalm 22.
Most importantly, He was calling people to think about the connection between Himself and Psalm 22.
Jesus wanted the people gathered around the cross and those who would read “the wondrous story” to know that though He appeared defeated, He would be victorious. After His resurrection, Jesus stated that “all authority” had been given to Him on heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). He was not defeated by death.
But at that moment, surrounded by the jeering mob, He felt all alone. However, He knew the Father heard Him and would raise Him to be victorious (Hebrews 5:7).
Some thoughts about us
Some of you who read this are among the 61% of Americans who feel lonely.
There is no denying the feeling of loneliness - it’s there no matter what. But, you can remind yourself that just because you feel alone doesn’t mean you are.
Jesus helps lonely Christians every day. Jesus has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Matthew 28:20).
Whenever you feel alone, remind yourself of reality - remind yourself that God is with you. Remember that the Lord stands with you, even in your darkest hour (2 Timothy 4:17).
Trust in Him who will not leave you, whatsoever years may bring, if by earthly friends forsaken still more closely to Him cling. - Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand