MY GOD, MY GOD!

© Rosemary Bardsley 2006 

INTRODUCTION

We commonly give much importance to ‘death-bed’ requests or utterances. This message looks at the significance of the last words of Jesus recorded by Matthew and Mark: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Why did he ask this question? And what did he mean?

BIBLE READING: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12

REJECTION

[1] By man: Isaiah 53:3 – compare: Peter ‘I do not know this man’ – Mark 14:51; Herod and his soldiers ‘ridiculed and mocked him ’ – Luke 23:11. 

[2] By man: Isaiah 53:7 – compare: soldiers – Matthew 27:27-31.

[3] By man: Isaiah 53:8 – compare: Luke 22:52.

[4] By God: Isaiah 53:4 – compare: Matthew 27:43; 27:46. 

REJECTION’S REASONS

[1] God’s purpose – Isaiah 53:10: ‘It was the Lord’s will to crush him’. Compare: Revelation 13:8: the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’; Ephesians 3:11 – ‘according to his eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus’.

[2] God’s purpose in which Christ concurred: Mark 10:45; Mark 8:31; Luke 12:50.

[3] A penalty – ours: Isaiah 53:4-6. Compare: Romans 6:23.

[4] A penalty – ours, not his: Luke 23:20-22; Hebrews 4:15; John 8:46.

REJECTION’S RESULTS

[1] The penalty paid in full: Isaiah 53:11b. Compare Romans 5:8; Galatians 3:10,13; 2 Corinthians 5:21;1 Peter 2:24.

[2] The purpose fulfilled – sinners can now  be accepted by the holy God: Isaiah 53:10: Romans 8:3-4; Ephesians 1:4-5; John 1:12; Hebrews 2:10.

CONCLUSION

God’s answer to Christ’s final question:

Christ was rejected: so that we can be accepted.

Christ was condemned: so that we can be acquitted.

God turned his back on Christ, so that never again will it be necessary for him to turn his back on us.

 Either we accept God’s rejection of Christ, our substitute, or we ourselves are still rejected by God, both now and for eternity.