Throughout the crucifixion, Jesus made 7 cries from the cross:
1. John 19:26-27 – “Woman, behold thy son…Behold thy mother!”
2. John 19:28 – “I thirst”
3. John 19:30 -- “It is finished!”
4. Matthew 27:46 – “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
5. Luke 23:34 -- “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”
6. Luke 23:43 – “Truly, I say to you, this day you shall be with me in paradise.”
7. Luke 23:46 – “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Let’s take a few minutes to consider the cry from the cross recorded in Matthew 27:46, “My, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Imagine with me a young runner training for a marathon. He dreams of crossing the finish line, but he’s also an avid collector of shoes. Not running shoes, but heavy, ornate boots. As he begins his training, he insists on wearing a pair of these boots, saying, “I love them too much to leave them behind.” With every mile, the boots weigh him down, causing pain and slowing his progress. Eventually, he realizes that if he truly wants to achieve his goal, he must leave the boots behind—no matter how beautiful or valuable they seem to him. Only then can he run freely toward his prize.
The church is called to run a race of a different sort. We are to love God with all our heart, love others like Jesus loves us, and glorify God in everything we do. Such a calling takes a keen eye to see what is holding us back from running that race and to forsake those things keep us from winning the prize. Jesus sharply focused on the “will of the Father that sent” Him and His obedience to God the Father’s will was “even unto death.” He gave His life for you and me…what have we done for Him?
It is crucial for the church to forsake anything that competes with our devotion to Jesus Christ.
This forsaking is hard, and it hurts. Such forsaking is a process of peeling away the layers of life that we hold with greater affection than the affection we hold for our Savior. It was because of the sin we have embraced, are embracing, and will embrace that Jesus experienced being forsaken. God the Father forsook His own Son, Jesus Christ, because of our sin!
A LITTLE CONTEXT: Matthew 27:46 -- “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” This is one of Jesus’ final sayings on the cross. He makes this cry from the cross in Aramaic and is in part quoting from Psalm 22:1. Psalm 22 is called a Messianic Psalm. This Psalm describes suffering on the cross that aligns with Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. So, this Messianic prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 27 (and other gospel accounts of the crucifixion). Also, for context, it ought to be pointed out that this cry takes place about the “ninth hour,” which is 3 in the afternoon – and darkness had just covered the land (Matthew 27:45) right before this cry from the cross. What a scene! This darkness represented the judgment of God and the weight of this historical moment. The highlights of our context for this study today are alienation from God, an Aramaic cry, fulfillment of prophecy, and darkness covering the land. This is a heavy moment in time that changes everything for all mankind! The actions of Jesus Christ here in Matthew 27 impacts all of humanity (past, present, and future).
Communion before Anguish…
Every married couple knows when things aren’t right between them. However, isn’t it wonderful when everything is good between you? Consider how it was for Jesus with God the Father before His coming to earth…and how it changed during His time on the cross.
o Full obedience before His anguish on the cross (“because I seek not mine own will…”) Jn 5:30
o Full unity before His anguish on the cross (“I and my Father are one”) Jn. 10:30
o Full privileges before His anguish on the cross
Col. 1:16 – creation
Col. 1:17 – sustaining
Heb. 13:5 – ever-present
Heb. 13:5 – faithful
Anguish and Forsaken…
This is a deeply personal moment that reveals agonizing pain that is both physical AND spiritual. Jesus is enduring a profound sense of separation from God the Father for the first time. Jesus, in His human form, experienced the complete weight of sin and its consequences. This cry in Matthew 27:46 is declaring the pain of alienation from God because of sin!
Many years ago, friends of mine and my wife were in a terrible car accident. They were driving in the foothills of Colorado on a two-lane winding road. As they came upon a bend in the road, the driver coming from the opposite direction fell asleep and drove right into their lane. They had a head on collision at 55 MPH. Their car was totaled, and the mother and daughter were severely injured. The daughter had a C2 fracture in her neck. The mother was in such a condition that the first responders initially believed her to be dead on the scene (but she survived). They would endure many surgeries and many years of painful healing – all because someone fell asleep at the wheel.
I think of Jesus being on the cross because of me. I think of Jesus when He took on my sin. Oh, the anguish and pain – because of me?! He hadn’t known sin yet. He was without sin…until He knew it for me…and you. Such extreme anguish made possible the atonement of sin for all mankind! This is the moment that Jesus endures divine judgment so that those who believe (John 3:16-18) would be reconciled to God. (II Cor. 5:21)
Surrender to God the Father…
Philippians 2:5-11.
o He was able to surrender (equal with God, Phil. 2:5-11).
o He was willing to surrender. This is the action of a servant (Phil. 2:7). His surrender was extreme, even to the point of death (Phil. 2:8)
o He was exalted after surrender as better than everyone and praised by everyone (Phil. 2:9-11)
The 24/7 news cycle reminds me of the things they want me to know about every 30 minutes. Mostly the same old news from 30 minutes ago –but now reworded or a different person saying it – but it’s still the same news. It is good for the believer to be reminded of the costly gift of salvation – not to lose sight of this costly gift – to rejoice in this gift – and to give God glory and praise for the extravagant sacrificial gift to bring salvation to all who believe!
We have been reminded that Jesus was forsaken for us. What have we forsaken for Him? The Bible speaks of 7 things to forsake for Jesus:
1. Sin and worldly desires. What pulls me away from God? (Rom. 6:11-13; I Jn. 2:15-17)
2. Selfish Ambitions. What ambitions are not aligned with God’s kingdom? (Lk. 9:23)
3. Fear and unbelief. Do I trust God’s promises or am I overcome with worry and fear? (Heb. 11:6; II Tim. 1:7)
4. Comfort and complacency. Do I forsake a life of ease if it is needed to fulfill God’s gospel mission? (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)
5. Human approval. Do I seek God’s approval over man’s approval? (Gal. 1:10; Jn. 15:18-20)
6. Materialism. Is my treasure in God or in money? (Matt. 6:19-21, 24)
7. Unforgiveness and bitterness. Do I forsake holding grudges and extend grace to others? (Eph. 4:31-32; Col. 3:13)
Although this is not a complete list, nor is it as detailed as it could be, the call is clear. We must forsake anything that competes with our devotion to Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Leave the “heavy boots of sin” behind and run to Jesus…live for Jesus… today!