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“The Cry that Carried the Sin of the World”
Theme: The cry of Jesus reveals that God transforms the darkest suffering into the greatest salvation.
The Fourth Word of Jesus from the Cross
“The Gospel of Suffering”
Matthew 27:46 “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
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1. Introduction – The Cry from the Cross
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Among the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross, the fourth word is perhaps the most mysterious and the most painful:
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
(Matthew 27:46)
These words shake the heart.
They come from the lips of Jesus at the most intense moment of His suffering.
The Son of God—
the One who healed the sick,
the One who raised the dead,
the One who forgave sinners—
now hangs on the Cross crying out in apparent abandonment.
This cry is not merely a cry of pain.
It is a revelation of the deepest mystery of salvation.
Today we must ask:
• Why did Jesus say these words?
• Did the Father truly abandon His Son?
• What does this cry mean for our own suffering?
If we understand this cry, we will understand the depth of God's love for humanity.
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2. The Scene of the Fourth Word
The Gospel tells us that something extraordinary happened at that moment.
From twelve noon until three in the afternoon, darkness covered the entire land.
Creation itself seemed to mourn.
The sun refused to shine.
Nature seemed to protest the crime being committed.
Humanity had condemned the Light of the world,
and therefore the cosmic symbol of light—the sun—was hidden.
This darkness was not just a natural phenomenon.
It was a spiritual sign.
Creation itself was participating in the suffering of its Creator.
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3. Bethlehem and Calvary – Two Opposite Moments
Let us reflect on a powerful contrast.
At Bethlehem
When Jesus was born:
• The night sky shone brightly
• Angels filled the heavens with light
• Shepherds heard heavenly songs
The heavens rejoiced.
God had come into the world.
At Calvary
But when Jesus died:
• Darkness covered the land
• The heavens became silent
• Creation stood in mourning
At Bethlehem, the heavens were filled with light.
At Calvary, the heavens were deprived of light.
Why?
Because humanity had rejected the Light of the world.
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4. The Mystery of the Cry
Jesus cries:
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
These words come from Psalm 22.
Psalm 22 begins with suffering but ends with victory.
So Jesus was not crying in despair.
He was revealing the fulfillment of prophecy.
But the cry still expresses something real.
At that moment, Jesus was experiencing the deepest loneliness imaginable.
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5. The Weight of Humanity’s Sin
On the Cross, Jesus carried the sins of the entire world.
Every sin of humanity was placed upon Him:
• the pride of humanity
• the hatred of humanity
• the violence of humanity
• the betrayal of humanity
The innocent Son of God bore the burden of our guilt.
Scripture tells us:
“He became sin for us.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Jesus entered the darkness of human sin.
And in that darkness, He cried out.
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6. Rejection from Every Direction
Consider the abandonment Jesus experienced.
Humanity rejected Him
The people He came to save mocked Him.
The crowds shouted:
“Crucify Him!”
His disciples abandoned Him
One betrayed Him.
Another denied Him.
The others ran away.
The earth seemed to abandon Him
The Cross was lifted above the earth like a place of humiliation.
Heaven seemed silent
The heavens were covered in darkness.
It seemed as if even heaven had withdrawn its comfort.
Jesus stood in total solitude.
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7. Why Did Jesus Experience This?
Jesus experienced this abandonment for a profound reason.
He entered the deepest human suffering.
Every human being experiences moments like this.
Moments when we feel:
• God is silent
• prayers are unanswered
• suffering seems unbearable
Jesus entered that experience so that no human suffering would ever be without God’s presence.
Even when we feel abandoned, God is near.
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8. The Cry of the Human Heart
This cry of Jesus is also the cry of many people today.
Many people ask:
“Where is God?”
When they face:
• illness
• loss
• loneliness
• injustice
Many believers experience spiritual darkness.
Even great saints experienced this.
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9. Example from the Saints
Many saints passed through spiritual darkness.
One example is Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
For many years, she felt an interior darkness.
She wrote that she felt as if God was silent.
Yet she continued serving the poorest of the poor.
Her faith did not depend on feelings.
Her faith depended on trust.
Like Jesus on the Cross, she remained faithful in darkness.
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10. The Silence of God
Sometimes God allows silence.
Not because He has abandoned us.
But because He is doing something deeper.
Silence can become the place where faith grows.
Just as seeds grow in the darkness of the soil.
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11. The Cross as the Operation Theatre of the Church
The Church can be compared to an operation theater.
Humanity comes wounded by sin.
The Cross becomes the place of healing.
Jesus is the divine physician.
His suffering becomes the medicine for our salvation.
His wounds become our healing.
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12. What This Word Teaches Us
The Fourth Word teaches us several spiritual lessons.
1. God understands human suffering
Jesus experienced the deepest pain.
He knows our struggles.
2. Faith continues even in darkness
Jesus still says:
“My God.”
Even in suffering, He trusts the Father.
3. God transforms suffering into salvation
The Cross becomes the door of redemption.
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13. Application to Our Lives
During this Lenten season, we must examine our hearts.
Ask yourself:
• Do I trust God even in suffering?
• Do I remain faithful when prayers seem unanswered?
• Do I unite my suffering with Christ?
Lent invites us to walk with Jesus to the Cross.
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14. Hope Hidden in the Cry
Although the cry begins with pain, it leads to victory.
Psalm 22 ends with hope.
The Cross is not the end.
The Resurrection is coming.
Darkness lasts only for a moment.
The light of Easter is approaching.
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15. Conclusion – From Darkness to Light
My dear brothers and sisters,
The Fourth Word reminds us that Jesus entered the deepest darkness of human suffering.
He did this so that no human being would ever suffer alone.
When we feel abandoned, we must remember:
Jesus has already walked that path.
And because He walked that path, the Cross becomes the bridge from suffering to salvation.
The darkness of Calvary will lead to the light of Easter.
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16. Prayer
Let us pray.
Loving and merciful Father,
we thank You for the infinite love revealed in the suffering of Your Son Jesus Christ.
When He felt abandoned,
He still trusted You.
Teach us to trust You even in the darkness of our lives.
When we experience pain,
help us unite our suffering with the Cross of Christ.
Strengthen our faith during this Lenten season.
May the Cross lead us to repentance, renewal, and resurrection.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Contact details:
Dr. ADDANKI RAJU.
addankiraju.blogspot.com
addankiraju9@gmail.com
Mobile, WhatsApp: +91 98481 43047
X: Dr. ADDANKI RAJU@addankiraju
Facebook: Addanki Raju
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A Gentle Invitation to Share
If this message has brought you even a small measure of joy, light, encouragement, or spiritual nourishment, I humbly invite you to share this spiritual food with others.
Someone you know may be waiting for a word of hope.
Someone may be silently searching for meaning.
Someone may be thirsty for God.
By sharing this message, you become a simple yet powerful instrument in God’s hands. This small act of sharing becomes a beautiful act of evangelisation — a quiet mission of love you carry out in your daily life.
Let the Word that touched your heart reach another heart.
May the Lord use you to spread His light.
May His Word bear abundant fruit.
God bless you abundantly.
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