ON April 26, 1923 a marriage ceremony took place between two people who were separated by death after being married for seventy years. The couple that I am referring to is Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh. After being bonded with someone for that length of time I imagine that it is very difficult for a widow to begin learning to live apart from her loved one. Their life, which was blended into one for so many years, was divided leaving many to wonder about the health of the widowed queen. According to a CNN news article: “studies have shown that surviving spouses can suffer from sleep disruption, depressive episodes, anxiety, impaired immune function, and overall poorer physical health. Known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, ‘broken heart’ syndrome is a documented medical condition.”
It is said of Jesus that He was with the eternal Father since the beginning of eternity. “In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 In the book of Proverbs chapter eight, many have concluded that the description of wisdom is actually referring to Jesus the Son of God when it says: “Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world and my delight was with the sons of men.” Proverbs 8:30-31
There is no earthly comparison of the bond shared between the Father and Son of the Godhead but I think a seventy year marital union at least scratches the surface. When it comes to our worth to God, let’s take into consideration that Jesus volunteered to risk losing His relationship with the Father in order to rescue us from the darkness of sin and reconcile us relationally with Him. If Jesus would’ve failed by sinning while on His mission not only would we have remained lost but He would have been permanently separated from His Father since sin cannot live in the presence of holiness. Nevertheless, despite the incredible cost, He proved that we were worth it. Some say the value of a thing is determined by the cost one is willing to pay for it. If the afore idea is true, then what does that say about our value to God?
It’s important for us to meditate on the fact that God knew the paths we would take and the decisions we would make long before we were born and yet still demonstrated the greatest example of love that could be demonstrated. Our value to God is not more or less because of our choices; He loves us unselfishly just because of who He is and no matter our past or current condition, we are worth being loved.
In the book of Matthew chapter twenty-seven and verse forty-six we are told that for the first time since their beginning the Son was separated from the Father: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” While Jesus was completing His mission of mercy, on the cross He experienced the unexplainable burden of being separated from His Father and He died a short time afterwards. According to some historians and medical professionals it was common for victims who were crucified in this manner to linger in excruciating pain for two to three days before expiring. However, Jesus died within twenty-four hours which was much sooner than expected. Could it be that Jesus died from the pain of a broken heart?
One writer explains it this way: “It was separation from the Father that broke the heart of Christ and caused His death. He bore our sins, so that we might come back to God. But at Calvary the bearing of those sins brought a separation that killed Him. It broke the heart of Christ. Our sins separated between us and our God and Christ bore the separation that we might return.” Desire of Ages.
The only reason for such a sacrifice to be made was because we, despite our failures and shortcomings, were worth it.
Father in heaven, please help us to see ourselves as You see us and value ourselves as You value us. Thank You for Your love. Amen.