Spoken From the Cross: Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani

Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:33-34

I.   Introduction
      A.  We will look this morning at the words from the cross recorded by two of the gospel writers
           1.  Matthew and Mark both record only one saying of Jesus during His crucifixion
           2.  They use a slight variation in one word: eli (Hebrew) and eloi (Aramaic)
      B.  These words reflect the deepest anguish expressed by Jesus at the cross
           1.  These words speak of the spiritual pain He experienced
           2.  What if this relationship were severed for a time?
      C.  What can we gain from this message recorded for us?
           1.  What purpose is served by quoting from Hebrew scripture? How is it relevant?
           2.  Did God truly forsake His only begotten Son at the cross?
           3.  Does God ever forsake us? Does He turn away from us during difficult times?
II.   Psalm 22: Prophecy of suffering on the cross
      A.  Jesus quotes the first line of the Psalm which vividly describes His situation
      B.  Why? (1-2)
      C.  Exalting God’s power to deliver (3-5)
      D.  Circumstance of the suffering Messiah (6-18)
      E.  “Deliver my soul” (19-21)
      F.  Hope of deliverance (22-31)
III.  The forsaking of Jesus
      A.  The concept of God abandoning Jesus at the cross is unpleasant for us to consider
           1.  Some object on the grounds that God said He would never forsake (Deut. 31:6)
           2.  Some take the language of the Psalm to say it didn’t really happen (24)
      B.  God had no choice but to turn from the one bearing sin
           1.  Jesus bore the guilt of the sins of mankind (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24)
           2.  God has no fellowship with sin (Isaiah 59:1-2; 1 John 1:5, ff; Deut. 31:16-18)
      C.  This did indeed cause anguish to our Lord
IV.   Does God forsake us in our most desperate times?
      A.  As previously stated, God has no fellowship with those in darkness (1 John 1:6,ff)
      B.  What about those who are in the light?
           1.  We can feel alone, like we are far removed from God
           2.  It may be the result of oppression of others
           3.  It may be the result of the natural, fallen world around us
      C.  If we remain in Christ, He will never forsake us (Heb. 13:5)
           1.  God provides far superior security than money or things
           2.  Because of the cross, we can always have God’s attention (Rom. 6:5)
           3.  We can know He will be there in the end (2 Tim. 1:12)
      D.  Consider Stephen (Acts 7:55)
V.    Conclusion
      A.  We may have that same powerful confidence in a Savior Who sympathizes
      B.  We may gain the victory He could foresee from the cross
May 23, 2010