Forsaken For Us | Matthew 27:45–54

My dad hated mowing and weed eating the yard, because the backyard was downhill right into the creek, and because there were a lot of snakes down there.

I lost count of how many snakes he killed with a weed eater, but the man slaughtered snakes like a BOSS.

One day, Dad killed a snake next to the creek, and I decided to pull a prank with this dead snake.

I picked it up with a stick and took it to my front porch where my mom was sitting.

My mom HATED snakes, and as she saw me coming with this evil serpent, she started FREAKING OUT!

Problem is, when I got close to the porch, that evil thing started MOVING!

NOT TODAY SATAN!

I dropped it, screamed and ran like a little girl, only to hear my dad DEMAND that I pick it up and take it back to the creek.

I kind of looked like these people:

*Football Mannequin Prank Video*

I'm crying "Dad please, no it's alive!!!"

... you see snakes don't need as much oxygen as we do, so they can live a lot longer after a death blow than we can.

And 30 minutes after dad chopped his head with a weed eater, this slimy thing was still kicking!

I thought it was dead, but I can still see that stupid snake squirming around when I close my eyes!

WE

*Mouse revived video*

*Title Slide*

Okay, this little mouse is cute and it's totally acceptable if you giggled with glee when he started hopping around again.

This little guy had been in a hopeless situation. He was stuck in a trench, powerless to free himself, unless someone bigger and more powerful came to rescue him.

Honestly, this video really resonates with me. Not just because we're both adorable and like to take naps, but I know what it's like to get stuck in a state of torpor.

We were all born that way:

Ephesians 2:1 NCV

In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God.

But here’s the good news:

Ephesians 2:4–5 NCV

But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace.

But for this to happen, for us to be brought from death to life, took an incredible power unlike any other:

GOD

Darkness

Matthew 27:45 The Message

From noon to three, the whole earth was dark.

Eclipses happen when the sun and moon come close to each other, always at what’s called the “New Moon” Phase.

When Jesus was on the Cross it was during the Jewish passover, which happens at the full moon, which is literally as far away as you can get from the New Moon.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

BUT IT DID!

The eclipse occurred as creation mourned over what had happened- the light of the world was being extinguished before them.

This was an event that was prophesied a long time before it happened.

Amos 8:9 NCV

The Lord God says: “At that time I will cause the sun to go down at noon and make the earth dark on a bright day.

It signals the end of the old age and the beginning of the new one with the death, and later, the resurrection of the Messiah.

Forsaken

Matthew 27:46 The Message

Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Just like anyone else, Jesus suffers. He suffers WITH US.

In the midst of the crushing feeling of abandonment and despair with broken humans, “Why have you forsaken me?” (v 46). And this unconditional presence of Immanuel reassures—God is with us (1:23).

Matthew 27:50 NIV

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

John 19:30 NIV

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It is finished is in English three words; but in Greek it is one--Tetelestai. Tetelestai is the victor's shout; it is the cry of the man who has completed his task; it is the cry of the man who has won through the struggle; it is the cry of the man who has come out of the dark into the glory of the light, and who has grasped the crown. So, then, Jesus died a victor with a shout of triumph on his lips.

-William Barclay

Jesus wasn’t sobbing for Himself on the cross even though He experienced the most horrific death ever.

He was shouting out, letting the world know of His victory over death, hell and the grave.

Jesus could have stopped all this. He has power and authority beyond anything we can understand.

But He willingly gave up His Spirit because it was the only way to save us.

The perfect for the imperfect.

The holy for the unholy.

The perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

And after Jesus gave up His life on the cross, things got CRAZY:

The Earth Mourns

Matthew 27:51–53 The Message

At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)

The temple curtain being torn meant that God is now living among the common, everyday person who seeks His face.

Then the death of Christ sends “a shockwave” through the entire universe- the earth displays clearly the incredible power of Jesus.

The tombs opening up meant his life, his death and his resurrection, the tomb has lost its power, and the grave has lost its terror, and death has lost its tragedy. For we can be certain that because he lives we shall live too.

Matthew 27:54 NCV

When the army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything else that happened, they were very frightened and said, “He really was the Son of God!”

The Roman soldiers, just like every good Roman citizen, were taught to say “Caesar is Lord.”

But after seeing the incredible power of Jesus Christ, they understand that Caesar ain’t nothin’ but a man.

They know once and for all that JESUS. IS. LORD.

And that’s the truth you need to understand today.

Drake ain’t Lord.

Lebron ain’t.

The Kardashians ain’t.

Mohammed ain’t.

Buddha ain’t.

JESUS. IS. LORD.

JESUS’ DEATH AND LIFE SHOW HE IS WORTHY OF MY WORSHIP.

Philippians 2:10–11 The Message

so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

YOU

The question for you is this:

Will you bow your knee before Jesus now— or later.

Later, after your body is dead, it will be too late to be saved.

But right now, you can turn from your sins, turn to Him and your soul can be saved from an eternal hell.

You can turn from death to life because of what Jesus did for you.

John 14:3 NCV

After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.

You can live forever with the creator of the universe and the lover of your soul.

But the choice is yours...

*Prayer*

WE

Just imagine if everyone who went to church lived like Jesus is Lord of their lives.

The Word of God would become our direction for life… we wouldn’t be able to get enough of it.

Church would be top priority over sports, band, competitions, and video games.

And the power of the Holy Spirit would do things through us that would blow our minds:

Acts 2:46–47 (NCV)

The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.

May we place Jesus as Lord- #1- in our heart and soul, above EVERYTHING ELSE.

*Response Cards*

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