THE WORD OF ANGUISH
MATTHEW 27:46
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Introduction:
Because of the size of this subject, I believe it is necessary to present it in at least two messages. “The crucifixion of the Lord of Glory was the most extraordinary event that has ever happened on the earth and the cry of the suffering One was the most startling utterance of that appalling scene.” (Arthur Pink).
“My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?” These are words of appalling woe. The word “forsaken” is one of the most tragic in all human speech. It is one thing for a city to be forsaken, or a wife or a child to be forsaken by a loved one, “but a creature forsaken by the Creator, a man forsaken of God – O this is the most frightful of all.”
These are words of unequalled suffering. These words mark the climax of the Lord’s suffering. The cruel mocking, the crown of thorns, the scourging were all part of His suffering. Yet He suffered in silence.
These are words of deepest mystery. Of old Jehovah never forsook His people. Time after time He was their refuge in trouble. In their cruel bondage in Egypt Israel had cried to God and He heard them. Yet He abandoned the Lord Jesus there on the cross.
These are words of the most profound solemnity. The cry of the Lord Jesus made the very earth tremble and that reverberated throughout the entire universe. Who can analyze the meaning of the amazing cry that tore the fabric of darkness on that day?
I. IN HIS ANGUISH WE SEE THE AWFULNESS OF SIN.
A. The Depravity of the Human Heart Was Fully Displayed.
1. It’s hatred for God.
2. It’s base ingratitude.
3. It’s preference for a murderer rather than the Prince of Life.
B. Sin Was Plainly Exhibited.
1. It’s baseness (The quality or state of being contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish).
2. It’s lawlessness (Unrestrained by law; unruly).
C. The Character of the Awful Wages of Sin is Seen.
1. Death is the consequence of sin, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2. Death brought into the world by man, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
3. Spiritual Death (Separation from God) is the Wages of Sin.
a. Adam died spiritually at the moment of his disobedience to God, Genesis 3.
b. Cain was excluded from God’s presence because of his sin, Genesis 4:14, “Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid;” SIN EXCLUDES MAN FROM GOD’S PRESENCE.
c. The VEIL of the Temple barred access to the throne of God.
d. The wages of sin is not just physical death, but PENAL DEATH that is, SPIRITUAL DEATH or the SECOND DEATH, Revelation 20:14-15, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
II. IN HIS ANGUISH WE SEE THE INNOCENT SUFFER FOR THE GUILTY.
A. The Lord Jesus was receiving the wages that were due His people.
1. He had no sin of His own, 2 Corinthians 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.”
2. He bore our sins, 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
B. The suffering and chastisement that was due us, was death.
1. Not only physical death.
2. But Spiritual death also.
C. Banishment from God’s presence was due us, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
III. IN THE LORD’S CRY WE SEE THE ABSOLUTE HOLINESS AND INFLEXIBLE JUSTICE OF GOD.
A. “At the cross MAN did a work: He displayed his depravity by taking the Perfect One and with ‘wicked hands’ nailing Him to the tree.” Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”
B. “At the cross SATAN did a work: he manifested his insatiable enmity against the woman’s seed by bruising His heel.” Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
C. “At the cross the Lord Jesus did a work: He died the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
D. “At the cross God did a work: He exhibited His holiness and satisfied His justice by pouring His wrath on the One who was made sin for us.” (Arthur Pink). 2 Corinthians 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.”
CONCLUSION
“My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?”
The Father had abandoned Jesus because he became sin for me. The Lord cannot look upon my sin. He cannot look upon YOUR sin either.
Will the Lord’s sacrifice be for nothing in your case? I have trusted Him as my Savior. What will you do with Jesus?????