125. MAT 27:46. CHRIST’S LAMENTATION ON THE CROSS

Mat_27:46. Christ’s Lamentation On the Cross

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsakes me?"’97Mat_27:46.

There was nothing which occurred at Calvary more strange and deeply mysterious, than the bitter exclamation which we have adopted as a text. Jesus had been so gloriously recognised and honored by his heavenly Father at his baptism, and on the mount of transfiguration, that we naturally feel astonished at his desertion in that most important and solemn of all moments, when he was yielding up the ghost, and sinking into the cold arms of mortality Let us then make it the subject of our serious meditation, and consider,

I. The Time and Circumstances of Messiah’s Complaint.

1. The time of Messiah’s complaint.

It was about the ninth hour, or three in the afternoon. Jesus had now been suspended six hours upon the cross. He had been enduring an exceedingly painful, yet lingering death. Darkness had covered the whole land three hours. And it is supposed that during these three hours Jesus had not uttered a single sentence. At length the long silence is broken, and he exclaims, "My God," &c.

Observe,

2. The manner of his exclamation.

"He cried with a loud voice." Indicating that he was still possessed of full power; that nature was not, as in ordinary cases, exhausted. And that his life could not be forced from him; but that he had power to lay it down, and also power to take it up again. As a sacrifice for sin, it was indispensably necessary that it should be his own free and voluntary Acts 3. His exclamation was that of scripture prophecy.

Psalms 22. This was he case, also, when he commenced his ministry’97when he was tempted’97when reasoning with the Jews’97when referring to his sufferings and death; Luk_24:46-48.

4. It was language indicating his claim to the Messiahship.

He had ever professed to be the Son, the sent of the Father, the Saviour of the world He had been condemned for this’97was now dying for this. And he still claims Jehovah as his God with his expiring breath, My God, my God," &c.

5. It was the only complaint he uttered upon the cross.

He did not complain of the apostacy of his friends’97of the treachery of Judas’97of Peter’s denial’97of Pilate’s sentence’97of the scourging’97the rudeness of the rabble’97he complained not, when nailed to the wood: but whan he felt the mental and spiritual darkness, he was overwhelmed, and in utter amazement and intense agony cried, "My God, my God," &c. Let us consider,

II. The Nature of his Complaint.

We are not to suppose that the divine was now separated from the human nature of Christ. Nor yet that God did not delight in him and love him as intensely as ever. Christ was never more dear and precious to the Father than at this time. But,

1. He was now deprived of the joys of his Father’s presence.

He was now offering up his soul as a sacrifice for sin. It, therefore, behooved aim to experience the dreadful penalty of sin, as it consists in excluding the soul from the favor of God. As man’s Surety and Mediator, it was necessary that he should experience the judicial hidings of his Father’s face.

2. He had now completed all his engagements, and therefore claimed the approval of his Father.

It is generally thought that Christ’s soul had been judicially forsaken for three hours. He now, therefore, appeals, as if he had said, O Father, the cup is now exhausted’97the whole demand has been met: therefore now let thy cheering beams return; now let me have the token of thy accepting love. "My God, my God," &c.

3. After all, it was the cry of confidence.

He knew his unalienable interest in his Father’s regard; and was satisfied that his Father always loved and therefore would always hear him; he exclaimed, "My God, my God," &c. Let us consider.

III. The Instruction which we derive from Christ’s Complaint upon the Cross.

We learn,

1. The ability and sufficiency of Christ as a Saviour.

Jesus overcame singly all our and all his own adversaries. Proved himself mighty to save.

2. The qualification he possesses as our great High Priest.

He knows what poverty, temptation, calumny, persecution, death, and desertion, mean;

"For he hath felt the same."

3. We learn the infinite evil of sin.

When Christ, as our substitute, had it pressing upon his holy soul, it caused him to exclaim, "My God," &c.

4. The essential value of God’s reconciled countenance.

How necessary to us in life! but more so in adversity, in sickness, in death, and in eternity. Bless God! we may obtain it and enjoy it through faith in his Son. He is the way to the Father; and whosoever comes to God through him, shall in no wise be cast out.

5. The claims of Christ upon us.

What has he not a right to possess? He deserves our body, spirit, soul, our all, both in time and in eternity.

Let us then love, honor, and obey him. that at last we may join the heavenly hosts, and praise him forever.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS