A Question of Suffering
Matthew 27:35-46 (text v. 46—“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”)
Jesus asked approximately 295 questions recorded in the Bible. Of all the questions Jesus asked, this question is the most difficult. Unlike all the other questions Jesus asked of people, this is the only question Jesus asked of God.
It is a question Jesus asked, but God did not answer. And, who am I, a mere finite man, to presume to understand the answer of Jesus’ question. I can understand why David asked in Psalm 22, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” But I fail to grasp all Jesus meant when He cried out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?”
Martin Luther once sat in his study considering this text. After several hours of thinking on Christ’s question, Luther finally rose from his chair and said, “God forsaking God! No man can understand that!” And then turned his attention elsewhere.
Jesus uttered seven things from the cross. The question of our text is the fourth statement He made. It is the CENTRAL saying and the most mysterious of the seven.
I. The ASKING of the question.
A. The LANGUAGE. (Spoken in Aramaic)
- Jesus did NOT use the term of endearment “Father” as He did in His first prayer (Luke 23:34—“FATHER, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”), or in His last prayer (Luke 23:46—“FATHER, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”). In this instance He does NOT say “Father,” BUT “My God.” Somewhere between His first prayer and last prayer from the cross, that Father/Son relationship was temporarily broken.
- Jesus’ relationship with the Father is both 100% as God and 100% as man. Here Jesus was speaking to God as a man! This was not the question of Jesus as the Son of God. This was the question of “the MAN Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
B. The LAMENTATION — “WHY?” — No answer! Silence.
1. This was the question that tormented Job—“Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?” (Job 13:24). Job felt God abandoned him and he did not know why.
2. How often has someone prayed: “God, I’ve been living for you. I pray… I read my Bible… I go to church… I tithe… I’ve tried to be a good witness. WHY, am I going through this trial? WHY did I lose my job? WHY has my wife/husband left me? WHY am I so sick? WHY did my child die? WHY does it feel like You have deserted me when I need You the most?”
II. The AGONY of the question.
PARTIAL Sermon: FULL PDF HERE
