Dear Christian friends:

This Lenten Season we are attending to various questions in the passion story of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The first, second and third questions Jesus Himself asked of His disciples. Last Wednesday we studied a question which the Jews asked of Jesus, "Who smote thee?" Tonight again Jesus asks a question. He does not ask it of the disciples, but He asks it of God Himself. "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"

While asking and answering this question we find the heart of the whole Bible. Here is the most important verse in the passion story. If you understand this verse, you will understand the whole passion story and the whole Bible. But if you do not understand this, then you will not understand anything in the Bible. Here is the heart of the Bible, the heart of His passion:


In asking this question Jesus informs us that God has forsaken Him. We have seen how Judas, Peter and the other disciples without reason have forsaken Jesus and how the Jews hate and despise Him, how even Pontius Pilate and the soldiers forsake Him. But now we see that even God, the Father forsakes Him. Is that true? God the Father forsakes His only Son? Not true? God loves Jesus? Not true? Jesus is His holy, obedient Son? God forsakes Him? Jesus who never sinned but only did good and right?

Some people think this verse is wrong. They say, "God, can't forsake His own Son." They say we must understand this another way. But those who say that only try to escape from the truth about God and sin.

If God had not forsaken Him, Jesus would not cry like that. And it says, "He cried with a loud voice." Plain and loud Jesus cries these words, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" He wants everyone to hear these terrible words and know, truly God has forsaken Him.

Now what does this mean: God forsakes Jesus. Before they were very close. Once Jesus said, "I and My Father are one." (John 10:30) and "He that hath see Me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9) But now they are not one and the Father is not with Him. Before the Father always heard and answered His prayers, but now He prays and no answer. He weeps and no comfort. Instead God shows only His angry face to Him.

The Jews falsely blame and forsake Jesus; His disciples forsake Him because they are afraid; Pilate forsakes Him although He knew Him to be a true, just Man. Even we by our sins have mocked and forsaken Him. That's plenty bad, but not as bad as now that God Himself forsakes Him. Even if the Jews wanted to separate God and His Son they couldn't. They could separate themselves from Jesus and they did. But only God could break the union between Himself and Jesus. And that is exactly what happened on Calvary and that is why Calvary is the most important event in all history. On Calvary God left His Son.

They slapped His face and spit on Him. They nailed Him to that cross and He suffered in His body very much. But many other men have suffered the same shame and mockery even crucifixion in their body. What the Jews and Pilate here do to Jesus is only a little thing. But what God Himself does is terrible, and His soul is terribly troubled.

Now the question, "Why?" Jesus asks "Why?" Did He forget why? Before He began He knew why. But now He seems to forget why. He wants you and everyone of us to stop and think and ask, "Why?"

Why does God forsake Jesus? Because He became our brother, a sinner like us. True, He Himself did no sin, but He accepted our sin, and so He must suffer the condemnation and curse of our sin, God's terrible judgement and anger. Paul says, "God made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Now, hear what Jesus cries and see what God does. Don't turn away or hide your face from these terrible words. They are very terrible, but they are also very comforting. They show both God's anger and His love. He punishes Jesus, but forgives you. That means you are fully free. So these words of Jesus, "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me?" are the most precious words in the Bible for us sinners.

If you think God has forgotten you and forsaken you then look here again at Christ and here His cry. Why should God forsake you or punish you? He has finished that once and for all here on Calvary. Here Jesus suffers every punishment, every curse, every grief, every shame and pain both in His body and soul because of man's sin. There is no sin or pain that He has not suffered. So when you have pain or grief of sickness and death as you have now or will have in the future don't think God is angry against you.

He is not; Jesus suffered that all away. Now you can laugh at pain and death like Paul said, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory (forgives us) through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55)

The sting of troubles and death is gone because of Jesus. Now our troubles and death are doors to lead us nearer to God and full communion with Him in everlasting glory. If you cut away the poison sack from a snake can it kill you? No! It can still bite, but it can't sting and kill. So with us troubles and death still bite, but they can't destroy or condemn us. Satan still tempts and blames us but He can't condemn us, because God has forgiven us in Jesus Christ.

Thank Jesus! And you can thank Him if you believe in Him.

Amen.