Jesus’ Unforgettable Question From The Cross – “Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?”

(Matt. 27:45-46)

 

Introduction:

   * Jesus died for our sins (Heb. 5:9).

   * “Why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus knew what He had to do.

            - Jn.16:6-7 – 

 

            - Jn.18:11 –

 

            - Jn.19:30 –

  

1. Jesus knew He was fulfilling OT prophecy.

   * Jn. 19:28 –

 

   * Luke 24:44 –

 

   * Question comes from Psalm 22:1. Psalm 22 a Messianic Psalm.

   * New Testament quotes from Psalm 22 (Mt. 27:46; Jn. 19:24; Luke 23:34; Heb 2:12)

   * Divisions of Psalm 22:

            - God’s rejection of Christ (vv. 1-5)

            - Man’s rejection of Christ (vv. 6-13)

            - Pain of Calvary (14-18)

            - Prayer for deliverance (19-21)

            - Christ’s thanksgiving for His deliverance (19-21)

  

2. Christ acknowledges His Father.

   * Jesus repeats His confidence in God in Ps. 22.

   * Referred to God as “my God.”

   * When Jesus referenced His relationship to God, always used singular pronoun (showed uniqueness).

            - Examples –

 

 

 

 

 

3. Was Jesus forsaken?

   * He was in some sense.

   * Consider common Hebrew expression of speech: Active verbs were used to express the permission of the thing which

      the agent is said to do.

            - “I gave them also statutes that were not good” (Ezek. 20:25).

 

            - “Lord God, surely thou hast greatly deceived this people...” (Jer. 4:10)

 

            - God “...shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (II Thes. 2:11).

 

   * How then, did God forsake Jesus? Perhaps in allowing Him to die.

   * Why did Jesus ask “Why?” Possibilities:

            - Hab. 1:13 – God too pure to look on evil. Jesus bore our sins in His body (I Peter. 2:24).

            - Jesus limited His own divine power (Phil. 2:5-8). He did sometimes regarding certain things. Sometimes He

               read minds (Matt. 12:25), sometimes not (Matt. 8:10).

            - Maybe He chose to experience human suffering. He was touched w/feeling of our infirmities, tempted like us

              (Heb. 4:15).

 

The Lord has never forsaken you. Don’t forsake Him. Obey Him today!

                                                                                                                                    R.W. McAlister 12/14/08 a.m.