Ask God ... "My God why have You forsaken Me?" 
Matthew 27:46

 

Intro:  As a child I was taught you shouldn’t question God.  And the question of “why” was not permissible, as it casts doubt upon God as to whether or not He knows what He is doing. Is it wrong to question God? 

Is it wrong to question God?  Perhaps we should rephrase the question to … “Is it wrong to ask God questions?”

The words from the One on the cross teach us that we can ask God questions. 
In the first three of the “cross words” Jesus made request for others to be forgiven, helped and cared for.  Now in these fourth cross words, He makes request for Himself.

Matthew 27:45-46  Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 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?"

These fourth “Cross Words” take us from Jesus showing care for His mother, to casting His care upon His Father.

In the hour of trial when it seemed like the Father had abandoned and deserted the Son, Jesus cried out to the Father, because He knew He cared for Him.

The trials we face in this life seem pale in light of the crucifixion, and yet it is here in the anguish of the cross we discover that we can ask God, and know our requests do not fall upon deaf ears.

So when you feel like you are ready to give out, give up, and give in … go ahead and God your questions.?

1. The Why of Asking God

a.         In time of trials, be they physical, mental or spiritual, questions arise.  Questions of wondering and searching for the light of day arise.

b.         Darkness now resides over the land by the hand of God ... Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 

c.         What began in the light of day was now being weighed and carried out in a trial of darkness.

d.         “It was the hour of darkness and death, a prophecy of the outer darkness of eternal damnation.” – Russell Jones (Gold from Golgotha)

e.         Jesus, though surrounded by friend and foe, found Himself alone. 

f.           He had been forsaken at other times by His own brothers and sisters … hometown … nation … Judas & Peter … disciples.   But here at this time and place He senses a break in His intimacy with the Father.

g.         “For the first time an eternity of communion had been broken.” – J. Oswald Sanders

h.         And Ralph Turnbull suggests … “This was no mere quotation of the Psalm, but an expression of intimacy with God.”

i.           Psalms 22:1  My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

j.           Why … is often the enigma of a hopeless situation?  Trials of suffering can lead a person to feeling hopeless and forsaken. 

k.         Jesus throughout His earthly ministry had heard the assuring words of the Father being with Him.

l.           Mark 1:11  Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

m.       On the cross God seemed so silent.  Where was He?  Why wasn’t He doing anything?

n.         The feeling of abandonment is an unsettling emotion.  I think of Martin and Gracia Burnham’s being held captive in the Philippines and Gracia asking, “Have we been forgotten?”

o.         The person dealing with health, financial, family … problems often arrive at what seems like a “God forsaken” spot.

p.         Rim-Rock, Wyoming: described as a “God forsaken country.” 

q.         The scenery though rough and desolate spoke of the beauty of God’s creation.

r.           The scenery of the cross looks most forsaken, rough and desolate.  But is shows the beauty of God’s salvation.

s.         Jesus cries out, asking the question “why?  He senses He is on a “God forsaken” Cross.  He feels forsaken by all … even the Father?

t.           Jesus senses in this moment that all have forsaken Him … even the Father.

u.         In His cry “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me … we hear:

·         Christ’s humanity holler out for identity with us … our feelings of “forsaken” are identified on the cross.

·         Christ’s divinity holler out for intimacy with God … our feelings of “forsaken” are met in God on the cross.

v.          On the cross the truth of our condition bears itself out.

w.        Sin isolates man from God.

x.         Adam experienced it and thus all men experience it (Romans 5).  Jesus was now experiencing it in order to bring men back to God.

y.         The agony of redemption is found in the question …, which leads us to the “way” of asking God.

2. The Way of Asking God

Most all who ask “why” are looking for a “way” to either understand or to get out from under the trial at hand.  It is through Jesus asking the “why” that we are led to see the “way” of His questioning.

Matthew 27:29b … why have You forsaken Me?"

  1. The Why Leads to the Way of Redemption
    1. Jesus could redeem us from the curse only by becoming a curse for us.

2.      Galatians 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

3.      The only explanation of why Jesus was forsaken is … He was taking my place and yours.  He was being forsaken so that we might believe and be forgiven.

4.      Matthew 27:42  "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.

5.      The greater belief is to realize He stayed on the cross to redeem us.

  1. The Why Leads to the Way of Righteousness
    1. During the hours of darkness Jesus who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us.

2.      2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

3.      We, in our unrighteousness cannot save ourselves.  We needed and need help.  Why was Jesus forsaken? 

  1. The Why Leads to the Way of Realization
    1. We need to realize … He was forsaken so that you and I would not be forsaken.

2.      Hebrews 13:5  Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

3.      “Christianity does not so much offer solutions to the problem of suffering, but rather provides the promise of a God who is completely present with us in suffering.  Only Christians believe in a God who says, ‘Here I am alongside you.  I have experienced the same suffering you have.  I know what it is like.’  No other religion even begins to offer that assurance.” – Tim Keller (Preaching Amid Pluralism, Leadership Winter 2002)

4.      So from the question of “why” from the cross we are led and encouraged to go on and live in the “way” … even in the tough trials of life.

5.      2 Corinthians 4:7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

6.      On the Cross God was not abandoning Christ. Rather He was advocating (championing) His power for us, in us, so He could work through us.

7.      Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

Conclusion:  In moments of trail and suffering God can do His best work.  If you don’t believe that … ask God … and He will show you the Cross.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 12:3-4  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Christ forsaken by the Father, gives us the “why” and the “way” of the cross.  It is there we hear the words of the Father to us … I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Josh 1:5)

Ask God

Ask God ... "My God why have You forsaken Me?" 
Matthew 27:46

 

Intro:  As a child I was taught you shouldn’t question God.  And the question of “why” was not permissible, as it casts doubt upon God as to whether or not He knows what He is doing. Is it wrong to question God? 

Is it wrong to question God?  Perhaps we should rephrase the question to … “Is it wrong to ask God questions?”

The words from the One on the cross teach us that we can ask God questions. 
In the first three of the “cross words” Jesus made request for others to be forgiven, helped and cared for.  Now in these fourth cross words, He makes request for Himself.

Matthew 27:45-46  Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 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?"

These fourth “Cross Words” take us from Jesus showing care for His mother, to casting His care upon His Father.

In the hour of trial when it seemed like the Father had abandoned and deserted the Son, Jesus cried out to the Father, because He knew He cared for Him.

The trials we face in this life seem pale in light of the crucifixion, and yet it is here in the anguish of the cross we discover that we can ask God, and know our requests do not fall upon deaf ears.

So when you feel like you are ready to give out, give up, and give in … go ahead and God your questions.?

1. The Why of Asking God

a.         In time of trials, be they physical, mental or spiritual, questions arise.  Questions of wondering and searching for the light of day arise.

b.         Darkness now resides over the land by the hand of God ... Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 

c.         What began in the light of day was now being weighed and carried out in a trial of darkness.

d.         “It was the hour of darkness and death, a prophecy of the outer darkness of eternal damnation.” – Russell Jones (Gold from Golgotha)

e.         Jesus, though surrounded by friend and foe, found Himself alone. 

f.           He had been forsaken at other times by His own brothers and sisters … hometown … nation … Judas & Peter … disciples.   But here at this time and place He senses a break in His intimacy with the Father.

g.         “For the first time an eternity of communion had been broken.” – J. Oswald Sanders

h.         And Ralph Turnbull suggests … “This was no mere quotation of the Psalm, but an expression of intimacy with God.”

i.           Psalms 22:1  My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?

j.           Why … is often the enigma of a hopeless situation?  Trials of suffering can lead a person to feeling hopeless and forsaken. 

k.         Jesus throughout His earthly ministry had heard the assuring words of the Father being with Him.

l.           Mark 1:11  Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

m.       On the cross God seemed so silent.  Where was He?  Why wasn’t He doing anything?

n.         The feeling of abandonment is an unsettling emotion.  I think of Martin and Gracia Burnham’s being held captive in the Philippines and Gracia asking, “Have we been forgotten?”

o.         The person dealing with health, financial, family … problems often arrive at what seems like a “God forsaken” spot.

p.         Rim-Rock, Wyoming: described as a “God forsaken country.” 

q.         The scenery though rough and desolate spoke of the beauty of God’s creation.

r.           The scenery of the cross looks most forsaken, rough and desolate.  But is shows the beauty of God’s salvation.

s.         Jesus cries out, asking the question “why?  He senses He is on a “God forsaken” Cross.  He feels forsaken by all … even the Father?

t.           Jesus senses in this moment that all have forsaken Him … even the Father.

u.         In His cry “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me … we hear:

·         Christ’s humanity holler out for identity with us … our feelings of “forsaken” are identified on the cross.

·         Christ’s divinity holler out for intimacy with God … our feelings of “forsaken” are met in God on the cross.

v.          On the cross the truth of our condition bears itself out.

w.        Sin isolates man from God.

x.         Adam experienced it and thus all men experience it (Romans 5).  Jesus was now experiencing it in order to bring men back to God.

y.         The agony of redemption is found in the question …, which leads us to the “way” of asking God.

2. The Way of Asking God

Most all who ask “why” are looking for a “way” to either understand or to get out from under the trial at hand.  It is through Jesus asking the “why” that we are led to see the “way” of His questioning.

Matthew 27:29b … why have You forsaken Me?"

  1. The Why Leads to the Way of Redemption
    1. Jesus could redeem us from the curse only by becoming a curse for us.

2.      Galatians 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

3.      The only explanation of why Jesus was forsaken is … He was taking my place and yours.  He was being forsaken so that we might believe and be forgiven.

4.      Matthew 27:42  "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.

5.      The greater belief is to realize He stayed on the cross to redeem us.

  1. The Why Leads to the Way of Righteousness
    1. During the hours of darkness Jesus who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us.

2.      2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

3.      We, in our unrighteousness cannot save ourselves.  We needed and need help.  Why was Jesus forsaken? 

  1. The Why Leads to the Way of Realization
    1. We need to realize … He was forsaken so that you and I would not be forsaken.

2.      Hebrews 13:5  Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

3.      “Christianity does not so much offer solutions to the problem of suffering, but rather provides the promise of a God who is completely present with us in suffering.  Only Christians believe in a God who says, ‘Here I am alongside you.  I have experienced the same suffering you have.  I know what it is like.’  No other religion even begins to offer that assurance.” – Tim Keller (Preaching Amid Pluralism, Leadership Winter 2002)

4.      So from the question of “why” from the cross we are led and encouraged to go on and live in the “way” … even in the tough trials of life.

5.      2 Corinthians 4:7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

6.      On the Cross God was not abandoning Christ. Rather He was advocating (championing) His power for us, in us, so He could work through us.

7.      Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

Conclusion:  In moments of trail and suffering God can do His best work.  If you don’t believe that … ask God … and He will show you the Cross.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 12:3-4  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Christ forsaken by the Father, gives us the “why” and the “way” of the cross.  It is there we hear the words of the Father to us … I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Josh 1:5)