Trenton Bulletin 4 March 2001

Did God Forsake Jesus While He Was On The Cross? (Gary C. Kerr)

Matthew describes in detail the events related to Jesus' crucifixion. He notes that about the time the darkness lifted and just before His death, "Jesus cried with a loud voice ... My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). Generally these words of Jesus have been understood by our brethren to indicate the severity of the trial Jesus was undergoing. I have no problem with that.

However, brethren have gone even further in ascribing to these words of Jesus an abandonment by God while Jesus was on the cross. The following quotes (all by Christians, from various articles and sermons) are typical: "Our substitute, He was enduring the stripes that we might be healed." "He was plumbing the depths of hell that we might escape." "Bearing vicariously the sins of the whole human race, He was experiencing the separation from God that was the sinner's lot."

"He was suffering the death that should have been ours ... and the extent of His love is shown in that He suffered it as the lost sinner must -- without the assurance of the Father's favor." "Jesus could not see beyond the tomb; He did not have at that point any certainty that the Father would accept His sacrifice, that He would come forth from the tomb victorious. Even the supernatural darkness seemed to show that the Father was hiding His face and His favor from Him."

The last words of Jesus that Matthew recorded are thus often seen as a genuine cry of despair from One suffering vicariously the sinner's fate. But I believe Jesus' words may communicate more, or something different than, the above quotations suggest. The words He spoke were from the Old Testament -- Psalm 22:1. Was Jesus just borrowing coincidentally appropriate wording, or was He intentionally quoting this psalm?

Matthew's intention consistently has been to show that Jesus was the expected fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. He uses the Greek word PLEROO, "to fulfill," sixteen times; and fifteen times it refers to Jesus' messages and the events surrounding His life as fulfilling the expectations of the Old Testament. While other New Testament writers also have this purpose, Matthew exhibits it more frequently. His chapters describing Jesus' suffering are particularly concerned with this. I believe Jesus' words -- and Matthew's recording of them -- are a part of this intention.

A glance at Psalm 22 reveals it to be virtually an inspired, step-by-step program for the crucifixion. The events happening around Jesus must certainly have brought this passage to His mind. Note the expressions the Psalm contains: "But I am ... a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All those who see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, the shake the head, saying, 'He trusted in the Lord; let him rescue him'" (verses 6-8) . "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint ... dogs have surrounded me; the assembly of the wicked has enclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots" (verses 14-18).

Other expressions in the Psalm reveal the emotions and attitude Jesus apparently experienced in common with the psalmist. Recognition of the Old Testament context of Jesus' words transforms them from a cry of utter despair to one of triumphant faith in the face of despair.

Psalm 22 begins with the psalmist's expression of distress at what seems to him the Lord's desertion of him. He has been crying for help and receiving neither answer nor aid. But the psalm moves from this mood of despair to one of faith. Because God is holy, He will certainly answer in His own good time.

Note the positive expressions in this psalm -- expressions that Jesus must have claimed as His own as He hung on the cross, and expressions that He must have wished to call to the minds of those who heard Him: "Yet You are holy ... our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them; they cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed." (verses 3-5) "I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You." (verse 22)

"For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to Him, He heard." (verse 24) "A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this." (verses 30-31)

I do not wish to suggest in this article that Jesus did not experience discouragement or even despair. I believe He did, just as the psalmist did. However, in the face of this seemingly hopeless situation and the resultant despair, Jesus trusted God, and in that faith He clung to the hope, the assurance, that God would work all things out with justice and mercy in the end. Jesus' words, calling attention to the 22nd Psalm, speak of despair. But more importantly, they served to remind those who were witnessing the crucifixion -- and us as well -- of our heavenly Father, a God who hears our prayers and ultimately delivers His people.

Understanding this about Jesus confirms our perception of Him as a man of faith. And what a witness it gives to us as we face situations of hopelessness and times of utter discouragement! Like the psalmist, and like Jesus when He faced the horrors of crucifixion, we may learn to continue trusting God in the face of despair.

Explanation: God (Danny Dutton - 8-Year-Old)

One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.

God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have. Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.

Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.

His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important. You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.

You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God. Don't skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.

If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids. But ... you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And ... that's why I believe in God.