My God Why Have You Forsaken Me? Series

The older brother was right because Jesus suffered the hell of being cut from God so that we would not have to be. He was our substitute.

Isaiah 53 says, “ He was pierced for OUR transgressions. He was crushed for OUR iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed.” You see, the truth is, on the cross Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He was a pure offering- He had no sin-so He was able to carry ours.

Yes Christ did that. He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Never again would the Priest have to make sacrifices in the temple. Never again would it be necessary for BLOOD to be shed for the forgiveness of sins. Christ was God’s one, final, acceptable sacrifice. And having made that sacrifice, Christ opened the way for us to know God intimately. Jesus being forsaken by God meant that we would be accepted by God. God the Father forsook His Son, so that He would never have to forsake us.

When you think about it Jesus answered that question in one sentence, “ My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?” The Father forsook His Son so that he could accept His adopted sons and daughters. Because of the cross, the Hebrew writer said that God has told us in Hebrews 13:5, “ I will NEVER desert you, nor will I EVER forsake you.”

So Jesus was our substitute. He went through darkness so that we might have light. Jesus was cursed so that we might be blessed. He was condemned so that we be able to say, “ Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) He suffered hell for us so that we can enjoy Heaven with Him. He drank the cup of woe that I might drink the cup of joy. He was forsaken so that I might be forgiven.

The bottom line this morning is that Jesus spoke those words so that you wouldn’t have to. Jesus cried out, “ My God, My God why have You forsaken Me” so that those words would never have to be spoken by you and me. I really think the greatest thing about Christianity is that we will never be forsaken by God. We never are alone. He is always with us. We can all say what the Psalmist said in Psalms 139. Listen to these words:

Psalms 139

1-“ O lord you have searched me and know me.”

2-“ You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

You understand my thoughts from a far.”

3-“ You scrutinize my path and my lying down,

And intimately acquainted with all my ways.”

4-“ Even before there is a word on my tongue,

Behold, O Lord, You know it all.”

5_ “You have enclosed me behind and before,

And laid You hand upon me.”

6- “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is too high, I ca not attain it.”

7- “Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your Presence?”

8- “If I ascend to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in Sheol, BEHOLD You are there.”

9- “ IF I TAKE THE WINGS OF THE DAWN,

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,”

10- “Even there Your hand will lead me,

Your right hand will lay hold of me.”

11- “If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,