Dear Christian friends:

This fourth word from cross gives us a peek at the most decisive and dramatic event of all time. Here is the climax, the mountain top of all the events in the Old and New Testament. No other word of the Bible is so terrible and yet so comforting as this word from the cross which the Savior cried at 3:00 o'clock on that first Good Friday: "“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

All other events and words of the Bible have meaning and comfort for us only because of the terrible and wonderful thing which happened while Jesus spoke this cry of agony. We would do well to consider this event today.

What happened? Jesus says that God has forsaken Him. And He says it with a loud voice so that there would be no misunderstanding. Many in the past and also today have tried to escape from this plain word and all that it means. Some have said, "Jesus spoke these words for us or for the Jews; God never really forsook Him." But all those who would change these words or lessen them or deny them are only trying to flee from the cross. God did forsake Jesus. He says so in plain, simple words and with a loud voice.

What does this mean: God forsakes Jesus? Before He had said, "I and My Father are one." (John 10:30) and "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9) Now the Son no longer sees His beloved Father whom He adored and whom He delighted to please. The Father no more smiles upon Him and praises Him. With a cross face and an angry arm He slams and locks the door. The Son, left outside, alone and bewildered, ask that heart breaking question: "Why, Father, why?"

Abraham went to Mt. Mariah with a broken heart to offer his son, Isaac. So God, on that first Good Friday went to Mt. Calvary to offer up His beloved son but there was no ram caught in the thicket; there was no angel to stay His arm; the dagger stuck; the Son was slain; the law must be served.

God's heart was broken, as no Father's heart has ever been broken. And the Son is rebuffed as no son has ever been rebuffed. Can we forget that pitiful cry: "Why, Father, why?" Here is the drama of all dramas; Here is the one offering to end all offerings. No more offerings are needed except our offerings of praise and thanks. This is the most important event of all time, and it will be the theme of every song throughout eternity.

There never has been and there never will be a greater act of love and sacrifice by any Father or any son. And for us it is the most comforting thing that could happen. God forsook Jesus because He took our place under the law.

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 4:4-7)

He was denied His rightful sonship, that we might be adopted back into sonship. Now God does not need to forsake us. We do not need to see the face of an angry Father; we do not need to pound in vain upon the locked door of our Father's house as Jesus did. "We know one gate is open, one ear will hear our prayer." (LH 277 Today Thy Mercy Calls Us)

Amen.

O all-embracing Mercy,
O ever-open Door,
what should we do without you
when heart and eye run o'er?
When all things seem against us,
to drive us to despair,
we know one gate is open,
one ear will hear our prayer.
(Hymn, Today Thy Mercy Calls Me, verse 4)