TITLE: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?)
SUB TOPIC: Dereliction
Scripture: Matthew 27:46 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?”
Introduction: I can’t begin to explain or impress upon your mind and spirit the passion of the Christ and the ultimate punishment of the Cross concerning the Doctrine of Atonement. The cry of dereliction by Jesus, our Lord and Savior is full of pain, desolation, loneliness, depression, desertion and the expressed reality of, abandonment and forsakenness. Truly this was the darkest hour in the life of the man Jesus our Savior, the taste of death, to drink of the bitter cup. This was the transference of guilt and the penalty of mans’ sin pardoned by our propitiation, our substitute, to vicariously die our death for us. He laid down his life and made the ultimate sacrifice in obedience to the will of the father, the almighty God. Did God really forsake Jesus? Was there a breach in the Godhead? Does this imply a disannulling or disunity of the Trinity? Did Jesus charge God falsely?
Maybe you’ve asked yourself these same questions; I assert that Jesus was being true to the experience and what he felt. Moreover, I think Jesus was overwhelmed by human emotions. He was at this point 100% man with the full weight of our sins and the sin of the world, and the curse of hanging on a tree. Jesus had become sin, and sin is to be separated from God. God would not, could not, and will not have fellowship or affiliation with sin. Therefore, more than being forsaken, God had to temporarily separate himself from Jesus. This was the first time in eternity that Jesus had ever experienced being separated from the Father. Consequently, he was unfamiliar with darkness, desolation, and loneliness, in which he felt abandoned and forsaken.
Historical (Exegesis): The historical setting of our text is found in the 22nd number of Psalms: v. 1. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? This psalm is quoted frequently in the NT Gospels with reference to the crucifixion of Jesus. This is a psalm of David, but it offers details of the Messiah’s death. Within this psalm are many prophecies that were fulfilled in the death of Jesus: let us look at four. First, the ridicule of the people is predicted (vv. 7, 8). The same expressions of ridicule were actually spoken by the chief priests at the Cross (Matt. 27: 36-44). Second. V. 16 specifically predicts that His hands and feet would be pierced. This was fulfilled at the death of Jesus (see John 20:25). Further, the casting of lots for Jesus clothing (John 19:23, 24) was prophesied in v. 18. But perhaps the most significant statement in the entire psalm is v. 1, which Jesus quoted from the Cross (Matt. 27:46). In that word we see God Himself turning away from His beloved son who is bearing the sin of the world. Jesus is bearing man’s judgment, not only the judgment of death but also the judgment of separation from God. At that moment Jesus is experiencing the darkest moment of his life, and He bore it-for us. (Ps. 41:9/Is. 53:1-12)
Let Us Transition to The Present (Here and Now): It’s Easter Sunday morning and we reflect on the passion of the Christ, meaning the greatness of his love for us, (mankind) which enabled Him to suffer and die, and lay down his life for us. For no greater love hath any man, than if he lay down his life for a friend. Furthermore, we rejoice and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, and his triumphant victory over death and the grave. God the eternal Spirit, affirming that he had not forsaken his only begotten son, raised him up from the dead; that He might declare that all power in Heaven and Earth was in his hand. O, death where is thou sting and O, grave where is thou victory? Praise be to the God of our Salvation, and to the Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ our redeemer, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let’s not get it twisted, Easter is not about the bunny rabbit and boiled eggs, and Easter egg hunts. You look beautiful but it’s not about your Easter frock and bonnets, nor your new suit and shoes; all that is okay, but don’t go in debt, miss paying your tithe, and lose focus. Easter is about realizing that we too can be resurrected from death (lifestyle of sin) to life eternal (abundant life in the present), and eternal existence in heavenly places with God and Christ our Savior. We need to be excited that Jesus has imputed his righteousness toward us, meaning he has made room to include us in his righteousness, thus enabling us to become the righteousness of God
Point # 1 We are not forsaken.
There may be times or experiences in this life when we are burdened with the weight and cares of this world, especially when trying to live a Christian life of obedience and faith. Our adversary presents himself as the spirit of oppression in our day to day interaction with our affairs and acquaintances, friends, co-workers, boss, family, love ones, strangers and enemies. The oppressor comes to steal the word of knowledge and wisdom, to compromise our confidence in our relationship with God the father. Secondly, oppression breeds depression when Satan tries to steal the joy of our Salvation and the blessed assurance of eternal security. Thirdly, oppression and depression leads to a full gamut of negative human emotions such as, betrayal, desertion, abandonment, desolation, loneliness, isolation, and the resolve of being forsaken. Finally, at this point the ultimate goal of the oppressor is to kill and destroy, and to rid this world of our presence and influence for the Kingdom of God. But, God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5-Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Deut. 31:8-And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Joshua 1:5-There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Point #2For us, in our place
Jesus our redeemer was the only one qualified to die for us, in our place. The requirement was to be a man without sin, blameless and sinless, however he became sin to take our sins and the sin of the world away. This was his mission to not only reconcile us back to God, by purchasing our Salvation with his precious blood, but also he came to destroy the works of the devil (Satan). Becoming sin was his ticket to Hades (paradise) to preach to the captives and set them free. The captives were the OT patriarchs, who died not yet having received the promise, the (Messiah). More importantly, to beset Satan by gaining the keys to death and Hell and declaring all power in Heaven and Earth; and thus restoring once again unto man access to the Tree of Life, which represents divine healing and eternal life. II Corinth. 5:21-For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinth. 5:19-To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Rev. 1:18-I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, A-men; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Point #3 Dereliction vs. loneliness
Did Jesus charge God falsely? I believe Jesus was reacting truly to what he was experiencing. It was unfamiliar territory to be separated from God for the first time ever in eternity. His loneliness really felt like desertion, abandonment, and forsakenness. How about you? Has there ever been a time in life that you endured loneliness and felt deserted, and lonely? It seemed like everyone that you needed and could depend on were nowhere to be found. You felt hopeless and helpless without a way of escape, and the darkest hour of your life was desolation, fear, pain and depression. In a crisis situation there has to be someone you can call on or that you expect to be there regardless of the circumstance. Jesus experienced this when his disciples abandoned Him. Peter said, “Yeah, man I got your back, I’ll be there for you,” but Jesus having a God-moment told Peter before the cock crows twice you will deny me thrice. Thanks be to God we are not alone; we are not abandoned; we are not forsaken. We can lean and depend on Him. We can, and I will trust in the Lord, until my dying day.
In conclusion, do we really know what Jesus did for us, concerning our salvation?