The Wrath of God

Intro

This Sunday before Easter I want us to look into the events leading up to the Resurrection. Next Sunday we will celebrate one of the most joyful events of our faith. But this morning I want us to look into one of the darkest and most painful. And I want us to see that there is reason to have joy in the cross as well.

The Garden (the prayer)

Matthew 26:36–44 ESV

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.

In this passage Jesus is in agony over what is to come

Luke 22:41–44 ESV

41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

V. 44: “Being in agony, his sweat became like great drops of blood”

He is clearly in great distress

3X “Let this cup pass from me”

So what was it that caused our Lord and Savior, the king of the universe to be in such distress?

What was in the CUP?

He was fully God but he was also fully man (John 1, the word became flesh)

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In the beginning was THE WORD, that is the Son!

And THE WORD became FLESH, that is the incarnation of Jesus!

Some time we read this and think, Jesus was looking ahead to the cross

We think he was in agony and distress because he knew the pain and suffering he was about to endure

Did Jesus fear the cross?

Why would Jesus fear the cross when so many of his followers went to theirs willingly and joyfully?

The Disciples (with the exception of John) all died horrific deaths as martyrs for their faith

The Cross (the plan)

Matthew 27:45–50 ESV

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

As the Father turns his face away from his Son darkness falls over the land

Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

In this moment the Son of God has just experienced separation from the Father for the first time in all of eternity

The Promise

This is a direct callback to Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1–18 ESV

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Psalm 22 is a direct depiction of the Cross

This Psalm was written by David over around 1000 years before the Cross

He described the crucifixion in detail having never whitenesses one

because this Version wouldn't be perfected by the Romans for nearly 700 yrs

Matthew 27:45 ESV

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

Darkness fell over the land for 3 hours, Jesus would be in the grave for 3 days

After 3 hours the light returned, after 3 days Jesus (the light of the world) would return

Paul Washer, 

“It is as though with one hand God is holding back his judgment on this world and with the other he is pleading for men to come, but one day both hands will be dropped.”