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Today we are continuing our sermon series Last Words, today we are going to be looking at

Matthew 27:46–47 NIV

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

There is so much depth going on in this statement and I want to be careful that we read it in context.

It is easy to read a verse and come up with an idea of what it is talking about, and not realize that God is doing something different in that moment.

I have heard various different takes on this verse and many of them are well intentioned but we always have to make sure what he are interpreting the scripture in context. we have to keep in mind that the scripture is written for us not to us.

Jesus says , My God , My God, why have you forsaken me. Jesus is not saying that God turned from Him in this moment, we know this because of a couple of different verses

The Trinity cannot be divided

John 10:30 NIV

I and the Father are one.

God is triune, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One essence, never separated

To say that Jesus was separated from God the Father in that moment is to say He lost His divinity

This is called Arianism which says the Jesus is fully divine

The Father was not abandoning Jesus—He was working through Jesus, even in the agony.

2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV

that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Jesus’ Cry is a lament, not a statement of rejection

In Jewish tradition, quoting the first line of a Psalm was a way to reference the entire Psalm.

What Psalm was Jesus quoting, it was 22

Jesus is quoting Psalm 22- in this moment and if you read that Psalm it is easy to see 2 things

First

It is a Psalm of Hope Not Abandonment

Psalm 22:24 NIV

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

and second

It is showing the people their and in the future that He is fulfilling a Prophecy

Let’s dive into this for a moment

First the beginning of the Psalm

Prophecy

Psalm 22:1 NIV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

Matthew 27:46 NIV

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Jesus directly quotes this verse

Next

Psalm 22:7–8 NIV

All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Matthew 27:41–43 NIV

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Let’s do one more but there are many more in this verse

Psalm 22:16 NIV

Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.

We now how Jesus was crucified by nails in the hands and feet, but He also shows them

John 20:25–27 NIV

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Psalm 22- isn't just a lament—it's a roadmap to Calvary, proving that the cross was not a tragedy, but the plan of God foretold. A plan that would lead to the salvation to all who call on the Name of Jesus.

God paved away for us to come to know Him, even while Jesus was hanging on the cross, we was telling the people there who He is, reaching out to them.

And for us today to see that He in fact Is who He says He is, and we can trust in Him.

So the question I have to ask is this

We see that Christ went to the cross for our sins, died, so that we can have a relationship with Him. Fulfilled Psalm 22 in light of this

Are We Following What He Commanded us to Do?

What did He command?

Luke 10:27 NIV

He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

To Love God, and your Neighbor

Let me ask you this, if our neighbor is everyone, are you showing everyone love?

Is there someone that you are thinking of right now that you are having trouble loving?

Last week we talked about, “Father, Forgive them.” Is holding on to the bitterness, and unforgiveness showing Love?

Remember, if you want to be like Jesus, you have to forgive.

Another Command is to

Follow Jesus

John 10:27 NIV

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Are you following Jesus?

are you following His example?

Are You Sacrificing For Him

Luke 9:23 NIV

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

We must not follow the desires of our flesh, but that of the Spirit

Sin looks good, we might even feel trapped by sin but we have to leave it behind and follow Jesus.

Lord’s Table

Matthew 26:26–27 NIV

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.