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Part 4 of 7 "7 Words from the cross" in the Spring 2016 VISION Newsletter
Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 - My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
It has been reported that Martin Luther secluded himself to prepare a sermon on this verse and sat trance-like for many hours. Finally, he got up, and walking away remarked: “God forsaken of God, who can understand that?”
- It is the mystery of substitution. In this moment, Jesus substitutes Himself for mankind, takes on our every sin and punishes Himself so that mankind can escape God’s judgement. 1 Peter 2:24: says, Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
- His words document that God does not acknowledge Himself to His Son at this moment. Jesus experiences His sacrificial death alone just as mankind does. God does not intervene or comfort Him as described in Psalm 22: 1-2, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me?”
- In other moments of prayer, Jesus refers to God as Father, but not at this moment.
- This is the moment of payment for mankind’s sins and the victory of Jesus Christ that satisfies the righteousness of God.