““My God, My God, My God, My God, why have You why have You

forsaken Me?” forsaken Me?” Mark 15Mark 15

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• 22 22 And they brought Jesus to the place called And they brought Jesus to the place called

Golgotha (which means Skull Place). Golgotha (which means Skull Place). 23 23 They They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. He did not take it. 24 24 Then they crucified Him… Then they crucified Him… (Mark 15:22-24) (Mark 15:22-24)

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• 33 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the When it was noon, darkness came over the

whole land until three in the afternoon. whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34, HCSB)forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34, HCSB)

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• ““My God, My God, why have You forsaken My God, My God, why have You forsaken

Me?” (Mark 15:34)Me?” (Mark 15:34)

1.1.The Crushing DarknessThe Crushing Darkness2.2.The Cry of DesertionThe Cry of Desertion3.3.The Complementary DecisionThe Complementary Decision

The Crushing DarknessThe Crushing Darkness• 33 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the When it was noon, darkness came over the

whole land until three in the afternoon. whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34, HCSB)forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34, HCSB)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• 21 21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out

your hand toward the sky, that there may be your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.” darkness which may be felt.” 22 22 So Moses So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. Egypt for three days. 23 23 They did not see one They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:21-23)light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:21-23)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• 18 18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, darkness, and not light, 19 19 as if a man fled as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a snake bit him. wall, and a snake bit him. 20 20 Is not the day of Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18-20)with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18-20)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• 9 9 “It will come about in that day,” declares the “It will come about in that day,” declares the

Lord GOD, “That I will make the sun go down Lord GOD, “That I will make the sun go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad at noon and make the earth dark in broad daylight. daylight. 10 10 I will turn your feasts into I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will cause everyone to wear lamentation; I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make that grief like mourning for an only son make that grief like mourning for an only son and its outcome like a bitter day.” and its outcome like a bitter day.” (Amos 8:9-10)(Amos 8:9-10)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• 7 7 When I blot you out, I will cover the When I blot you out, I will cover the

heavens and make their stars dark; I will heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. shall not give its light. 8 8 All the bright lights of All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord darkness on your land, declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 32:7-8)God. (Ezekiel 32:7-8)

• ……a day of darkness and gloom, a day of a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! (Joel 2:2)clouds and thick darkness! (Joel 2:2)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• ““The darkness meant judgment, the The darkness meant judgment, the

judgment of God upon our sins, His wrath as judgment of God upon our sins, His wrath as it were burning itself out in the very heart of it were burning itself out in the very heart of Jesus, so that He, as our Substitute, suffered Jesus, so that He, as our Substitute, suffered most intense agony, indescribable woe, most intense agony, indescribable woe, terrible isolation or forsakenness. Hell came terrible isolation or forsakenness. Hell came to Calvary that day, and the Savior descended to Calvary that day, and the Savior descended into it and bore its horrors in our place.” - into it and bore its horrors in our place.” - William HendriksenWilliam Hendriksen

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law

by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13)tree.” (Galatians 3:13)

• All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:6)Him. (Isaiah 53:6)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on

our behalf, so that we might become the our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)(2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• ““The sinless one was made sin for us which must The sinless one was made sin for us which must

mean that He bore the penalty of our sin instead mean that He bore the penalty of our sin instead of us, and He redeemed us from the law’s curse of us, and He redeemed us from the law’s curse by becoming a curse for us, which must mean by becoming a curse for us, which must mean that the curse of the law lying upon us for our that the curse of the law lying upon us for our disobedience was transferred to Him, so that He disobedience was transferred to Him, so that He bore it instead of us. He took the curse so that bore it instead of us. He took the curse so that we may receive His blessing; He became sin who we may receive His blessing; He became sin who knew no sin so that may become righteous with knew no sin so that may become righteous with His righteousness.”His righteousness.”– John Stott, – John Stott, The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• 44 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and “But I say to you, love your enemies and

pray for those who persecute you, pray for those who persecute you, 45 45 so that so that you may be sons of your Father who is in you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45)(Matthew 5:44-45)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• And the angels who did not stay within their And the angels who did not stay within their

own position of authority, but left their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day… (Jude 1:6)the great day… (Jude 1:6)

• 13 13 …is reserved the blackness of darkness …is reserved the blackness of darkness forever! (Jude 1:12-13)forever! (Jude 1:12-13)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• 11 11 “I tell you, many will come from east and “I tell you, many will come from east and

west and recline at table with Abraham, west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:11-12)(Matthew 8:11-12)

The Crushing The Crushing DarknessDarkness• In this is love, not that we loved God, but In this is love, not that we loved God, but

that He loved us and sent His Son to be the that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

The Cry of DesertionThe Cry of Desertion• 33 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the When it was noon, darkness came over the

whole land until three in the afternoon. whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34, HCBS)forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:33-34, HCBS)

The Cry of DesertionThe Cry of Desertion• 7 7 … when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven … when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven

with his mighty angels with his mighty angels 8 8 in flaming fire, inflicting in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Jesus. 9 9 They will suffer the punishment of They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, eternal destruction, away from the presence of away from the presence of the Lordthe Lord and from the glory of his might, and from the glory of his might, 10 10 when when he comes on that day to be glorified in his he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)

The Cry of DesertionThe Cry of Desertion• ““Then He will also say to those on the left, Then He will also say to those on the left,

‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!” (Matthew 25:41)angels!” (Matthew 25:41)

The Cry of DesertionThe Cry of Desertion• 22 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord,

Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ name perform many miracles?’ 23 23 And then I And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23)lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23)

The Cry of DesertionThe Cry of Desertion• ““For even the Son of Man did not come to be For even the Son of Man did not come to be

served, but to serve, and to give His life a served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

The Complementary The Complementary DecisionDecision

• ““We must not, then, speak of God punishing We must not, then, speak of God punishing Jesus or of Jesus persuading God, for to do so Jesus or of Jesus persuading God, for to do so is to set them over against each other as if is to set them over against each other as if they acted independently of each other or they acted independently of each other or were even in conflict with each other…Both were even in conflict with each other…Both God and Christ take the initiative together to God and Christ take the initiative together to save sinners. Whatever happened on the save sinners. Whatever happened on the cross in terms of ‘God-forsakenness,’ was cross in terms of ‘God-forsakenness,’ was voluntarily accepted by both in the same love voluntarily accepted by both in the same love that made atonement necessary…that made atonement necessary…

The Complementary The Complementary DecisionDecision

• If the Father gave the son, the Son also gave If the Father gave the son, the Son also gave Himself…The Father did not lay on the Son an Himself…The Father did not lay on the Son an ordeal He was reluctant to bear, nor did the ordeal He was reluctant to bear, nor did the Son extract from the Father a salvation He Son extract from the Father a salvation He was reluctant to bestow. There is no discord was reluctant to bestow. There is no discord between the Father and the Son…There was between the Father and the Son…There was no unwillingness in either…Their wills no unwillingness in either…Their wills coincided in the perfect self-sacrifice of love.” coincided in the perfect self-sacrifice of love.” - John Stott, - John Stott, The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken My God, my God, why have you forsaken

me?” (Mark 15:34)me?” (Mark 15:34)

• He Himself bore our sins in His body on the He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from

every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:14)good deeds. (Titus 2:14)

• It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (Hebrews 10:31)the living God! (Hebrews 10:31)

• ……for our God is a consuming fire. for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29) (Hebrews 12:29)

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• 31 31 What then shall we say to these things? If What then shall we say to these things? If

God is for us, who is against us? God is for us, who is against us? 32 32 He who did He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• 38 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, For I am sure that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, things to come, nor powers, 39 39 nor height nor nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

The Cross of ChristThe Cross of Christ• And when I think that God, His Son not And when I think that God, His Son not

sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross, my burden gladly in, that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. Then sings my soul, my Savior, God to sin. Then sings my soul, my Savior, God to thee. How great thou art, how great thou art. thee. How great thou art, how great thou art.

““My God, My God, My God, My God, why have You why have You

forsaken Me?” forsaken Me?” Mark 15Mark 15