Why Have You Forsaken Me? Matt. 27:45-46
God, forsaken by God. How can this be? It is popular today to wink at sin, to look the other way. After all, we're only human. God will judge us on a "curve", like in school when everyone does poorly on a test. No matter how bad the outcome, surely I'm better than the next guy.
After all, no one wants to hear about an intolerant God. The soul that sins, it shall surely die? You must be kidding. How can you sell that religion on Madison Avenue? These are modern times, we need a modern god. We need to invent a more palatable god, one who is easy going. After all, Jesus loves everyone doesn't he? He won’t send anyone to hell.
But we need to look at God's holy reaction to sin in our substitute. There was no winking, no looking away. He poured out every last drop of wrath that our sin deserved. He forsook his own Son whom he loved. For sinners to ever have hope of peace with God, a price had to be paid. God had to forsake His son. In light of this, what will he do with them who are not found in Christ on the last day?
Hear the words of Thomas Kelly from over 200 years ago:
"Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, See him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected; Yes, my soul, 'tis he, 'tis he.
'Tis the long-expected Prophet, David's Son, yet David's Lord;
By his Son God now has spoken: 'Tis the true and faithful Word.
"Tell me, ye who hear him groaning, was there ever grief like his?
Friends through fear his cause disowning, foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him, none would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that Justice gave.
"Ye who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load;
'Tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.
"Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the Rock of our salvation, His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built."
by John Roberts
Labels: Guest Post, Lent
posted by Tim Shorey at
7:30 AM
3 Comments:
always a moving hymn
'"The soul that sins, it shall surely die?' You must be kidding. How can you sell that religion on Madison Avenue?"
John this reminded me of a song by Randy Stonehill. The song is about a business man who views himself as a winner, whose success was gained by his own hand. At one point he says,
"Well don't tell me about Jesus because he's much to hard to sell and when you've got some other business won't you come on by again."
The chorus goes on to say,
"I'm a winner and I made to the top and I took it all, all by myself. I'm the man who holds the high card in his hand."
Ahh John------- Thanks for helping us feel something of the infinite weight of our sin that we have been rescued from because of Christ.
If we ever begin to think that we are not intrinsically worthy of the eternal fury of God against our sin, just pondering the wrath that was poured out upon and absorbed by the Savior should disabuse us of that notion thoroughly.
Thanks, my friend.
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