Jesus Forsaken of God

Minister:
Date: PM (Good Friday)
Text: Matthew 27:45,46
Psalters: 48, 47, 243, 111
  1. The setting.
    1. For the first three hours Jesus hung on the cross with the enemy seemingly triumphant.
    2. Then at noon the scene was changed when suddenly “the sun was darkened” (Luke 23:45).
    3. As light speaks of life, joy, blessing and communion of love, so darkness speaks of death, curse, divine wrath.
      1. This darkness is the work of Him Who is light and Who created light as one of His first creations.
      2. Adam had the light of life shine in his heart, having intimate fellowship with God, and sin brought soul darkness.
  2. After three hours of utter darkness and silence, Jesus’ piercing cry arises out of the depths: “My God, my God, why hast Thou…”
    1. Jesus had been forsaken, i.e., abandoned, deserted; but God’s presence made it so horribly severe.
      1. The holy Jesus was deprived of the consciousness of God’s love, favor, and approval.
      2. To no man did God’s favor mean more than to Jesus’ superbly sensitive soul, so the loss of His favor was most agonizing.
    2. Jesus’s faithful obedience to His Father and His willing love for His people held Him there – so much was He one with us!
  3. Jesus’ cry out of hell was heard in heaven (Psalm 40:1,2).
    1. The scene was changed again, for the darkness was immediately lifted and the light again flooded Him.
    2. Our Savior’s prayer was answered.
    3. We may be assured that in our greatest trials we never have hell (God’s wrath) and never pay for any sin.
      1. We can never be forsaken even though we suffer grievous agonies of soul and body.
      2. Troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken (II Cor. 4:8,9).