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Big Idea: Why did God forsake Jesus on the cross?
An horrific text. message: I love this text string from a teenage daughter to her dad.
Dad there is a moth on the outside of the bathroom door can you get rid of it? Pls hurry because I’m going to cry.
Dad
Dad
And here is the reply…
Dad is dead. You’re next. Love, Moth
As a dad who has experienced life with a teenage daughter I get this. It’s funny. The daughter is desperate, texting for help, but it’s a moth!?!
Now imagine a cry far more serious; a cry for help that echos through history… In Mark 15:34 we hear Jesus’ words from the cross:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
That’s not a cry for help. It’s a heart wrenching question. God abandon Jesus, his own Son, at His darkest moment. What difference does that make for you? Mark starts his gospel calling it… the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Gospel means Good News. But here at the cross it looks like bad news. Jesus the promised Saviour, nailed to a Roman cross, mocked by enemies, and crying out to a silent God. Throughout Mark’s gospel we have seen that Jesus wasn’t always alone. God’s text bubble to Jesus was not always empty. At the start of His ministry God spoke from heaven.
You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.
Later God said:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
And Jesus’ words were powerful too. With a word he made a lame man walk. With a word he raised a little girl from her death bed. With a word he fed a very big crowd. With a word he calmed a terrible storm. He was doing and saying the things that God had sent him to do and say. So why is God silent now? Why is Jesus forsaken?
To answer that think about this: When my kids were teenagers they borrowed our car with the very clear instruction to just pay attention and drive carefully. They didn’t pay attention of drive carefully. Ignored instruction. Returning with a crumpled car!
That’s a feeble example of what the Bible calls sin. Sin is ignoring God and His Word resulting in brokenness and wrecked relationship. Sin is serious because it forever wrecks our relationship with God and like a car accident, leaves damage and mess. When I took the car to the panel beaters for a quote and subsequent repair he remarked, “I make my living from teenager drivers.” Seems that lots of dads pay the cost for teenage distractions. Dads of teenagers bearing the cost of the damage to put things right, because teenagers never have the means to do that themselves. Dads’ way of saying, I love you. That’s grace.
God’s grace means that according to God’s love He forgives us when we don’t deserve it. On the cross, Jesus took the ‘crash’ of our sins. God let Jesus face the punishment we deserve, like paying for a crumpled car, so we could be forgiven. This wasn’t random. Long ago, in Psalm 22, the Bible predicted a Saviour who’d cry,
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Jesus’ words, this cry from the cross, shows that he is fulfilling God’s plan. Mark gives us clues to see this. Read v33.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
This is God’s anger at sin, like storm clouds gathering. But instead of hitting us it hit Jesus. How good was it when the threat of TC Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low! Disaster averted. My old house did not experience the full force of a Cat 2 tropical cyclone.
On the cross Jesus bore the full brunt of the storm of God’s anger against our sin. Meaning storm averted for all who trust in Jesus. Mark also mentions a curtain in the temple (v38).
Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
In the temple, a huge curtain, thicker than a handspan. It kept people from God’s presence. But at the death of Jesus it tore in two top to bottom. This was a God thing. This curtain was like a ‘No Entry’ sign because our sin kept us from God. When it torn, God said, “The way is now open! Jesus has paid the price, so you can now come to me.”
That’s the good news of Good Friday. Jesus forsaken so you wouldn’t be. His cry on the cross was God’s message to you, “I love you so much, I paid everything to have you back.”
In another book of the Bible God says this …
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Maybe you are ignoring Jesus, not giving your relationship with him much thought. Or may be you are actively pushing him away. Thinking that things are better with you in charge. Or maybe you are a pretty decent person, a good bloke and you’re sure it will all work out in the end.
You know what emoji that is? That’s the middle finger emoji… That is rejecting God’s gift. Saying no to the best Easter present you could ever receive. If you say no to Jesus then you will have to pay the cost of your own wreckage, your own sin. Jesus says, “Let me pay, let me take it. Your sin is not bigger than my sacrifice; your rebellion is not bigger than my love.”
So what will your text bubble say back to God? Will you scroll past His love or will you say, “Yes, I need You”?
On Sunday, we’ll celebrate the rest of the story. Jesus rose from the dead, proving that He has won eternal life for his followers.
I’ve been to Jesus’ tomb in Jerusalem. It’s empty!
If this Jesus stuff is new or confusing, I’d love to talk. Or go to our website www.mpc.org.au “MEET JESUS” tab… “321 Course”. Or, go to the “What’s On” tab… Christianity Explored. Or come chat with me after.
If you’re ready now, if you see Jesus’ love and want to say yes, you can pray quietly in a moment. Just say, “Amen” to yourself to tell God, “I’m in.” The prayer is on the screen. Let’s pray.
Dear Lord, I know I’ve messed up and need forgiveness. Thank You that Jesus took my punishment on the cross. I’m sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and help me follow You. Thank You for Your love and eternal life. Amen.
Before you leave here this morning please consider this carefully… God’s text bubble to you says,
Trust my Son, follow Him.
What’s your reply to God?
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