“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
(Matt 27:46) This is the fourth saying of Jesus. God the Father had forsaken God the Son because Jesus, while on the cross, had become sin for us. Never before had Jesus been separated from the Father. Now for our sakes He was.
Jesus had always addressed God as His Father. This is the first time Jesus referred to the Father as My God. Why?
Because God the Father is now dealing with Jesus not as a loving and merciful Father with His child, but as an offended and righteous Judge with a sinner. God was at that moment discharging on Jesus the full weight, the full fury, the full Hell of His wrath against sin.
Sin separates man from God because God is holy. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us while on the cross (II Cor 5:21).
Therefore He was abandoned by God. The Father had always heard and answered Jesus’ prayers (Jn 11:42), but now when Jesus prays this prayer, Heaven is silent. Jesus gets no answer. At the cross we have a picture of Judgment Day when no consideration will be given for the lost sinner. No mercy. No pity. Only righteous judgment against sin resulting in eternal separation from God and all His goodness.
Because Jesus took our sins on Himself, you can know the forgiveness and mercy of God.
Be saved today.
