Jesus Forsaken of God
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 4/19/2019 PM (Good Friday) |
Text: | Matthew 27:45,46 |
Psalters: | 48, 47, 243, 111 |
- The setting.
- For the first three hours Jesus hung on the cross with the enemy seemingly triumphant.
- Then at noon the scene was changed when suddenly “the sun was darkened” (Luke 23:45).
- As light speaks of life, joy, blessing and communion of love, so darkness speaks of death, curse, divine wrath.
- This darkness is the work of Him Who is light and Who created light as one of His first creations.
- Adam had the light of life shine in his heart, having intimate fellowship with God, and sin brought soul darkness.
- After three hours of utter darkness and silence, Jesus’ piercing cry arises out of the depths: “My God, my God, why hast Thou…”
- Jesus had been forsaken, i.e., abandoned, deserted; but God’s presence made it so horribly severe.
- The holy Jesus was deprived of the consciousness of God’s love, favor, and approval.
- To no man did God’s favor mean more than to Jesus’ superbly sensitive soul, so the loss of His favor was most agonizing.
- Jesus’s faithful obedience to His Father and His willing love for His people held Him there – so much was He one with us!
- Jesus had been forsaken, i.e., abandoned, deserted; but God’s presence made it so horribly severe.
- Jesus’ cry out of hell was heard in heaven (Psalm 40:1,2).
- The scene was changed again, for the darkness was immediately lifted and the light again flooded Him.
- Our Savior’s prayer was answered.
- We may be assured that in our greatest trials we never have hell (God’s wrath) and never pay for any sin.
- We can never be forsaken even though we suffer grievous agonies of soul and body.
- Troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken (II Cor. 4:8,9).