CROSS-WORDS – THE
WORD OF ANGUISH
Mark 15: 33-34
33 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
I CRUCIFIXION
Our faith is flooded in such a way with the symbol of the cross that it is hard to imagine it as a method of execution. Yet, the method was very effective. It was a matter of slow asphyxiation, as the person being executed had to push up on his legs for long periods in order to allow his rib cage to expand with air. The soldiers’ order at Jesus’ crucifixion to break the legs of the prisoners was commanded so that the criminals would suffocate more quickly and be dead before sundown, the beginning of the Sabbath. Jesus’ legs were not broken, because He was already dead.
Crucifixion was the most public humiliation possible. The one being executed would be teased and cursed and treated horribly while he was dying. Crucifixion took a long time. For Jesus, it took 6 hours, and that was after he had been beaten and whipped. But it could take as long as 24 hours or more. Criminals who did not die sooner from asphyxiation would die later from exposure and loss of blood.
II CLIMAX of Suffering and Sin
+
Public Ministry – Suffered from Satan Fratricide – Cain murders Able
Infancy – Suffered from man – Herod Suicide – Adam destroyed his spiritual life
SON OF MAN MAN
III CRY of distress, but not of distrust
* God had withdrawn from Jesus
* CHANGE of relationship – Father à God
* TRAGEDY of separation – “Forsaken” is one of the most tragic words in all of human speech
* CONCENTRATED wrath of Heaven descends upon Jesus
* CALLS to God – His faith triumphed by laying hold of God amidst the darkness: My God, My God
IV COST to God
- The Father delighted in Jesus: “This is My Beloved Son.”
- Jesus was the object of the Father’s love from all eternity
- The hiding of God’s face from Jesus was the most bitter ingredient of that cup which the Father had given the Redeemer to drink, but also the most bitter ingredient for the Father to accept.
V CRUX of Salvation
- SIN - wages = death – physical and spiritual – Romans 6:23
- SEE - God is of purer eyes than to behold evil – Habakkuk 1:13
- SUBSTITUTE - Jesus was bearing our sins
- This was the most important transfer in all of history
-I Peter
- “ He who knew no sin
was made sin.” – II Corinthians
VI CONDITION of every lost soul
- Final condition of every lost soul = forsaken of God
- II Thessalonians 1:9 – And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
VII COME to Christ – He was forsaken so that we’d never have to be!
VIII COMPASSION - givers
Identify two people you know to be suffering right now. In what specific ways can you share God’s comfort with them this week? Here are some suggestions:
· Don’t wait for someone else to act first
· Be physically present with them if possible and touch their hand or give an appropriate hug
· Focus on their needs and not on your own discomfort with not having adequate answers.
· Allow them to express their feelings. Don’t condemn their emotions.
· Learn about their problem
· Don’t pretend that you never struggle
· Keep your words brief
· Avoid saying, “You shouldn’t feel that way,” or “ You know what you should do.”
· Assure them in your prayers
· Pray!!! Ask God to help you and them