I’m Forgiven Because You Were Forsaken...

I’m Forgiven Because You Were Forsaken…

Matthew 27:45-56

November 1, 2009

NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE."

Me: I have to honest and tell you that the word “sacrifice” doesn’t describe my life a whole lot.

I gave up a career path I was happy with, and I’ve given up some things to be a pastor, but by and large, my life is very good.

I’ve got a wife I love dearly, and five awesome kiddos, and a job I really enjoy.

Last night I sacrificed a couple hours finishing this message so I could take my youngest girls around the neighborhood.

But seeing their smiles and having them race back from a house to hold hands with me made it worth it.

We: I think most of us, if we really think about it, don’t see ourselves sacrificing a lot, whether it’s for family, friends, or even strangers.

All of us can think of things we’ve given up at one time.

But compared to say, missionaries who sacrifice the comforts of home for the sake of Jesus, or those who have given their lives for our freedoms in this country, most of us haven’t sacrificed much, have we?

God: The Father in Heaven made the supreme sacrifice.

He sacrificed His Son so you and I could live forever and be free from the penalty of our sins.

Last week we saw how Jesus was mocked and scorned, and how even as He hung on the cross, the people heaped insults on Him.

And how did He respond? With forgiveness.

Today we continue to look at His crucifixion.

Matthew 27:45-46 (pp. 705-706) –

45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour (from noon till 3:00 PM) darkness came over all the land.

This was a sign of judgment and/or tragedy, and wasn’t simply a solar eclipse. Eclipses don’t last three hours.

This was an act of God to lend another sign to what was happening here.

46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He’s calling Elijah."

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him."

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52

Then Matthew tells us something that the other gospels don’t:

The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Man, can you imagine the talk around the town when that happened?

We don’t know the details – like what these holy people did and said in the city, or what happened later.

But Matthew tells us it happened. That must have been something to behold.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

This is a tough message for me, because while there are some specific teaching things I want you to get, I’m really hoping that you catch the heart of what I believe God wants you to get to today.

And to honest with you, I’m not sure I’m able to really communicate what that is.

So I’m going to do my best and ask God to fill in the gaps.

So here we find Jesus accomplishing the task He was sent for. To become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

The physical agony of the cross was horrific. I could read you some materials that describe the horrible torturing death brought by crucifixion.

Those who survived the scourging beforehand often took days to die hanging there.

But I won’t get into it, because as horrible and horrific as the physical aspects of Jesus’ death were, there were other aspects that were even more important.

I don’t say that lightly, believe me. But I’m speaking now about what Jesus accomplished on the cross.