2008-03-16_Why Have Your Forsaken Me_Matthew 27 27-66_SL
Why Have You Forsaken Me?
Matthew 27:27-66 | Shaun LePage | March 16, 2008
Why Have You Forsaken Me?
Matthew 27:27-66 | Shaun LePage | March 16, 2008
I. Introduction
A. After Adam pointed at Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, then—Gen 3:14-15.
B. As Abraham made his way up a mountain to sacrifice Isaac—read Gen 22:7-8
C. The night before God liberated Israel from slavery, He said to Moses—Ex 12:12-13
D. God promised David descendant rule forever; God began to lay out picture of this man: Psalm writers: King, but also suffer for nation: Ps 22: feet and hands would be pierced, garments gambled over; cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
E. Prophets warned Israel of impending punishment for sins but also promised Messiah would be “Son of Man…given everlasting dominion…born of a virgin…God with us.” But they also told us He would suffer and die for the “sin of many”: Is 53
F. When He finally came, most of His own people did not receive Him—the High Priest of the nation asked Jesus point blank: Mt 26:63-64—they responded with “blasphemy”; didn’t believe Him and even demanded His death. Handed Him over to the Romans
G. Dr. Eric Frykenberg (missionary to India) once asked “What was the most difficult problem ever faced?” He said, “When my heart would grow cold before God. When that happened, I knew I was too busy. I also knew it was time to get away. So I would take my Bible and go off to the hills alone. I’d open my Bible to Matthew 27, the story of the Crucifixion, and I would wrap my arms around the Cross. And then, I’d be ready to go back to work.” Let’s wrap our arms around the Cross together today—open up to Matt 27
H. [ ppt: review/read Mt 26:47-27:26; reveal words that describe suffering; stop at 27 and go one verse at a time continuing to reveal words until entire cross is formed]
II. Body—already taken a look at 26:47-27:26; this morning 27:27-66
A. 27:27-31: His suffering (continued)
1. (27) “whole Roman cohort” technically 600 soldiers (probably just seemed like it);
2. (28-29) “stripped” after “scourged” (v.26) clothes back on, now stripped off blood-soaked garment; “scarlet robe…crown of thorns…reed” then “knelt down before Him and mocked Him”—shows how hardened they were; crucified many people, become very cruel; sadly, they will again kneel before Him another day—Phil 2:10-11
3. (30) “spat” (again; Sanhedrin—26:67-68); “took reed and beat Him on the head”
4. (31) “After they had mocked…” had fun, now down to business; led away to “crucify”
B. 27:32-44: His crucifixion
1. (32) Simon of Cyrene forced to “bear His cross” Apparently, soldiers afraid Jesus going to die before they could crucify Him; tradition Simon became a Christian from this experience (Simeon Ac 13:1)
2. (33) “Golgotha” Hebrew, so Matt translates: “Place of a Skull”; Latin for “skull” =calvaria / Calvary; debate about where today, but outside city, along roadway
3. (34) “wine mixed with gall” means “bitter” possibly poisonous—pity/kindness? allusion to Ps 69:21—perhaps act of cruelty, giving bitter/poisonous wine to dying man; some believe gall is a type of narcotic, to deaden senses, lessen pain; “unwilling to drink” intended to drink fully from the cup Father required, not make cross easier
4. (35-36) “Crucified” notice no gory details like some movies; too horrible to detail; “divided up” garments by “casting lots”; like dice; fulfillment of Ps 22:18; “keep watch” so no one tried to rescue;
5. (37) “charge…KING OF THE JEWS” (“above His head” means Latin Cross crux immissa); sign annoyed Jews; John 19:19-22; perhaps reveals belief / respect for Jesus from Pilate, but it was most likely designed to annoy the Jews.
6. (38) “two robbers” on either side of Jesus (come back to these two)
7. (39-40) “those passing by…hurling abuse…wagging their heads” all mockery (cruel); “save Yourself” not His mission (1:21); “come down from the cross”—prove yourself.
8. (41-43) Chief priests, scribes, elders also “mocking” Jesus; “saved others…cannot save Himself” ironic in light of greater reality behind Jesus’ death; promised “we will believe” if “come down”; also ironic—Jesus did come down in a sense—survived / conquered the cross through His resurrection. Did they believe? No
9. (44) “the robbers…insulting Him”; Luke (23:39-43) tells us one asked “remember me”; contradict Matthew? No. One started out “insulting” but had a change of heart.
C. 27:45-54: His death
1. (45) “sixth hour (high noon)…darkness” 3 hours; “darkness” in OT=great sorrow / judgment—Creator demonstrates His sorrow visibly; “ninth hour” time when began sacrificing Passover Lambs (Jesus/disciples celebrated early)
2. (46) “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI”; Aramaic so translated “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Did He not know? 1) showed He is Messiah—Psalm 22 “Messianic” fulfilled prophecy; 2) communicated what was taking place—request in Gethsemane (26:39) “cup” represented God’s wrath; On the cross, Jesus received God’s full wrath for all sin; our substitute, our Lamb; God didn’t just ignore our sins, punished sin on the Cross through Jesus. At that moment, something happened that we cannot fully understand— The Son was “forsaken” by The Father; Matt: no comment
3. (47-49) “Elijah” misunderstood, brought “sour wine” (different/cheap, but quenched thirst better than water); perhaps reveals sympathy on the part of “some”; “Let us see…” probably sarcastic
4. (50) “cried out again” Lk: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit”; Jn: also “It is finished”; “yielded up His spirit”; Jesus—the God-man died. Nothing but silence seems appropriate. Should we cry? Should we cheer? Worst and the greatest!
5. (51-53) “veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” very thick (thick as man’s hand) symbolized barrier of sin between God and man; At that moment thousands in temple sacrificing Passover lambs! torn curtain God’s way of saying: Jesus’ death sufficient—now “enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Heb 10:19); draw near to God! “earthquake…saints… raised…appeared to many” people! “Into the holy city…after His resurrection”! at least a few days (don’t know for sure) probably ascended into heaven shortly afterward; Don’t know who, but precursor to Jn 5:25-29—sign of things to come! “In Christ, all will be made alive!” (1 Cor 15:22)
6. (54) soldiers “frightened” whatever they saw spectacular—no longer tough bullies we saw earlier; acknowledged that Jesus was who He claimed to be: The “Son of God”.
D. 27:55-61. His burial—come back, but note: wrapped, tomb, grave (2X); deceiver/deception; stone
III. Closing: Why was Jesus forsaken? Paul: “of first importance” 1 Cor 15:3. “the gospel” by which we are “saved”; Few observations: Much of NT consumed with exploring the fact and implications, but let me give you a list I love! Jesus was forsaken to give us…
A. Regeneration: Death to life! Eph 2:1-5—note: impossible! He asks you simply to believe—trust Him with eternal destiny. Free, but not cheap! High cost to Him!
B. Sanctification: Dirty to clean! 1 Cor 6:9-11; Paul’s point: worst kind of sinners can be transformed—Jesus died so you can be cleansed of sin! Don’t go back—see vs. 18-20
C. Justification: Guilty to acquitted! Rom 8:33-39; We have security because basis is Christ’s sacrificial death—not our goodness! Feelings change, but the verdict is in!
D. Redemption: Slavery to freedom! 1 Pt 1:17-19; “conduct yourselves in fear” because you have been redeemed; you’re free from sin—don’t act like slaves to it!
E. Propitiation: Wrath to mercy! 1 Jn 4:10; We hear it so often, we tend to forget how important / amazing / valuable / exciting / awesome this is! Jesus died so you don’t have to! Jesus died in your place! Jesus took God’s wrath so you never have to! Why? Love! Most logical response? Imitate that kind of love!
F. Reconciliation: Enemies to friends! Rom 5:10—next one closely related
G. Adoption: Orphans to sons/daughters! Eph 1:4-6; As High Priest, Jesus provided access to God’s presence for you: Enter! Read Heb 10:19-25. Since curtain torn “let us draw near to God” (v.22). Most Holy Place represents presence of God—you’re given a standing invitation to go and meet with God Himself and receive everything He has for you. Pray, worship, receive forgiveness, receive direction, receive purpose and meaning and strength and wisdom and power. The curtain has been torn—enter as a friend…as a son/daughter!
H. Closing Prayer…A Prayer of Discovery, from The Final Week of Jesus by Max Lucado, pgs. 111-114