Forsaken by God

My God, My God why have you forsaken me – Matthew 27:46

Jesus
was forsaken of God in all things. There is not one token of God’s
dealings left for Him. There is not one beam of sunlight permitted to
shine on Him. All of heaven is closed to Him and the gates of hell lurk
ahead. The hands of God disown Him and the hands of the devil reach out
to bind Him eternally. Hear how Jesus laments with a loud voice. H does
not complain about His pain. He does not pity Himself. He does not speak
as the rich man: ”I am tormented in this flame.” He does not ask for
water for the cooling of his tongue as it burns in thirst. No, Jesus
asks for God. His most awful thirst is for the mercy of His Father. He
thirsts for God as a deer cries for the water brooks.

Jesus has the right to ask why God has forsaken Him. There was no
earthly reason why He should be rejected. He never squandered the
inheritance of His Father as the prodigal son had done. Jesus cries to
God, but the Father does not answer Him. He wants to arise and go to the
Father, but the Father does not open His arms. The Savior cries, ”Thou
answerest me not, and I find no mercy in my sorrows.”

 

Of course Jesus knows God rejects Him for the guilt of
His people. He does not cry out in rebellion, but rather cries out in
desperate agony. He is appalled that He would not be able to bear this
desertion, if His divinity would not have supported Him.

 

God the Father does not answer His cries. Jesus is
forgotten of God. There is nothing worse than being forgotten by God.
This is indeed deep darkness for the Savior. This echoes the justice of
God upon a sinner. Light is prepared for the righteous and gladness for
the upright in heart, but no sinner will escape certain destruction when
God takes vengeance in judgement. God is righteous and, therefore, God
would not be God anymore if he did not punish sin.

 

Jesus said that those who pray shall also receive; He
said that those who seek shall find, and that the door shall be opened
for those who knock. But on the cross Jesus finds no open door. Jesus
said to the woman taken in adultery that He would not condemn her. But
on the cross Jesus comes under judgement. Jesus forgave the sins of
publicans. But on the cross, He hangs as a publican before God. He who
called the greatest of sinners to Himself now calls to God in vain.