Would you turn with me to the
27th chapter of the book of Matthew? Matthew 27. While you're turning
there, I was going to say that Paul Daniel had surgery this
week and he's already here. I'm still amazed by that. And
Bob Pruitt also had surgery this week to try to help him with
that tremor. And there's two or three steps
that is involved in it. But the first step was successful.
He had that done this week at UK. And also Holly's dad, Frank
Tate, had surgery on his back and is in some pain. And we'll
remember them in prayer. I quoted Psalm 22, read Psalm
22, where David said, my God, my God, why has thou forsaken
me? Now, did David know that these
would be the words of the son of David from the cross? Did
he know that? Perhaps, perhaps not. He simply
felt as if he had been abandoned, forsaken, deserted by God. Now who hadn't felt that? David
was speaking of what he felt in his heart. But these are also
the words of the Lord Jesus Christ at his darkest hour. My God,
My God, why hast thou forsaken me? I have entitled this message,
Why Was He Forsaken? Why Was He Forsaken? For 33 years, Jesus of Nazareth
lived a perfect life. He never sinned, not in thought,
not in word, not in deed. He never had a bad thought. He
never had a bad motive. He lived in perfect communion
with his father. His father said regarding him,
this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. He could say of himself, I do
always those things that please the father. What a life. 33 years. of sinlessness. Then, his friend,
Judas, betrayed him, and the father didn't help him. He's brought before the high
priest, he's falsely accused, mocked, abused, and mistreated,
and the father didn't help him. Remember that passage of scripture
I read, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And why are
you so far from helping me? Peter denies he knows him and
all the disciples forsake him. And the father didn't help him. He's brought before Pilate, then
Herod and back to Pilate, mocked, abused and scorned by the soldiers. and the father didn't help him. Why? If that was your son, would
you help? His father didn't help him. He's condemned to be crucified
and his father doesn't help him. Why are you so far from helping
me and the words of my roaring? Now let's begin reading in verse
26 of Matthew chapter 27. Then released he Barabbas unto
them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be
crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor
took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole
band of soldiers, and they stripped him. Can you imagine the Lord
naked before these wicked soldiers, abusing him, making fun of him? And they put on him a scarlet
robe. And when they had plated a crown of thorns, they put it
upon his head and a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the
knee before him and mocked him saying, hail, king of the Jews. And they spit upon him and they
took the reed and smote him on the head. And may I add, his
father didn't help him. And after they'd mocked him and
took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him, they
led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found
a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him, they compelled to bear his
cross. And when they were come to a
place called Golgotha, that is to say a place of the skull,
they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall. And when he
tasted thereof, he would not drink and they crucified him. and parted his garments, casting
lots that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet.
They parted my garments among them. And upon my vesture did
they cast lots and sitting down, picture this in your mind, sitting
down, they watched him there as he was crucified. They sit
down to watch and to enjoy. And his father didn't help him. Verse 37, and he set up his head,
his accusation written, this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. And there were two thieves crucified
with him, one on the right hand and another on the left. And
they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads and saying,
thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days,
save thyself. If thou be the son of God, come
down from the cross. And his father didn't help him. Likewise, also the chief priests
mocking him with the scribes and elders said he saved others.
Himself he cannot save. They had no idea what they were
saying there, did they? If he be the king of Israel,
let him come down now from the cross and we'll believe him.
He trusted in God, let him deliver him now if he'll have him. For
he said, I'm the son of God. And his father didn't help him.
The thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his
teeth. Now from the six hour at noon, now you think of the
noon sun shining at this time, all of a sudden darkness covered
the earth. You reckon those people freaked
out at this time? If it was noon, what was going
on? And all of a sudden, the sun
stops shining and darkness covers the earth. I imagine these people
were frightened at this time. What is going on? And I suppose
in this thick darkness at this time, all you could hear was
the groans of those nailed to a cross, writhing in anguish
and pain, as the songwriter says. Verse 46, And about the ninth hour, Jesus
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, that
is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? This was the Savior's darkest moment.
And this was the apex of the Savior's obedience. My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me? Now I have three points to this
message, very simple. First, the reality of the Savior
being forsaken. He really was forsaken by God. And the second point is the reason
for the Savior being forsaken. Why was he forsaken? And the
third point is the result of him being forsaken. Now, pray for me that I'll preach
the gospel in the power of God, the Holy Spirit. And you pray
for yourselves that you'll hear the gospel in the power of the
Holy Spirit. Now, first let's consider the
reality of the savior being forsaken. And Psalm 22, When David cried
this, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He felt he
had been forsaken. He felt he had been abandoned.
But had he? No, the Lord never abandons his
people. The Lord never forsakes his people,
not even for a second. But the Savior really was forsaken. My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? Now, the physical sufferings
were, who can describe? Think about being nailed to a
cross. I can't even begin to imagine
the physical sufferings of the Savior. But the soul sufferings
were infinitely worse. When thou hath made his soul
an offering for sin, forsaken by man, left alone. Matthew 26, 56 says, then all
the disciples forsook him and fled. He had no helper. Forsaken
by God, deserted, abandoned. He went through all of this without
the presence of the Father. Now, I want you to hear this
statement. At this time, he was suffering
what a damned soul would suffer. Times, millions and millions. That's what was going on. He
was suffering what a damned soul would suffer. And because of
who he was, The pain was much more acute. Oh, being deprived
of the presence of his father, being deprived of the smile of
his father. having nothing but the awful
frown of his father. And at this time, he could not
call him father, could he? He didn't say, father, why have
you forsaken me? He said, my God, my God, why
has thou forsaken me? You see, damned souls do not
address God as father. He's lost all light, He's lost
all communion, He's cut off and shown no mercy, having nothing
but the frown of His Father. Now while He hung on that cross
in physical pain, in greater emotional and spiritual pain,
He was forsaken by God. was forsaken, abandoned. The father turned his back on
him and would not hear him. The father did not look at him
and say, oh, my beloved son, I know these sins really aren't
yours. They belong to somebody else. And I'm simply treating
you as if they were. There would be a nobility in
that. No, his father saw him as sin. He made him sin. The son couldn't say, I'm dying
for somebody else's sins. They're not really mine. He couldn't
say anything like that. He didn't have his people saying,
Oh, we love you for doing this for us. No, he was forsaken,
abandoned by man, his own disciples. And he was abandoned by God. He really was forsaken as he
was nailed to that cross. Lifted up between God and men,
forsaken by both, he was truly alone. Isolated, forsaken. That darkness that was there
at that time tells us that you and I will never really understand
what was going on. This was a transaction between
him and his father. He was forsaken by God. That's the reality. Now, my second
point is why was he forsaken? That's a horrible thing to think
of the son of God being forsaken by his father. Why was he forsaken? because that's what I deserve. I deserve to be forsaken by God. If God forsook me, he would be
giving me exactly what I merit. He was forsaken. Because that
is what I personally deserve. As the sinner's substitute, he
bore the sin that I deserve to be forsaken for. Would you turn
with me to 1 Peter 2. Verse 23, who when he was reviled,
reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
And look at this next statement. Who his own self bear our sins
in his own body on the tree. Now that is why he was forsaken. who his own self, he bear our
sins in his own body, on the tree. What all does that mean?
I don't know, but it's horrible. My sin became his sin. He so identified with his people
that their sin and their guilt became his. Now let me show you
this in the scripture, Psalm 40. This is why he was forsaken. Now we know that the 40th Psalm
is nothing less than the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Quoted in Hebrews 10, verses 6 and 7. Sacrifice and offering
thou didst not desire, mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt offering
and sin offering thou hast not required. Then said I, lo, I
come. In the volume of the book it's
written of me. I delight to do thy will. O my
God, yea, thy law is within my heart. These are the words of
the Lord Jesus. Quoted in the New Testament. Now look in verse
12. Same one speaking. For innumerable
evils have compassed me about mine iniquities, not Todd's iniquities. You see, he took my sin and my
sorrow and made them his very own. He bore the burden to Calvary
and suffered and died alone. Mine iniquities have taken hold
upon me so that I'm not able to look up. They're more than
the hairs of my head. Therefore, my heart fails me."
Turn to Psalm 69. Now, this too is the Lord Jesus
speaking. Look in verses 20 and 21. Reproach hath broken my heart,
I'm full of heaviness. I look for some to take pity,
and there was none. And for comforters, but I found
none. They gave me also gall for my meat. In my thirst they
gave me vinegar to drink." Now we see this is the Lord speaking,
isn't it? This is nobody else in the Lord Jesus Christ speaking.
But look what he says in verse Four, they that hate me without
a cause are more than the hairs of mine head. They that would
destroy me being mine enemies wrongfully are mighty. Then I
restored that which I took not. And now look what he says. Oh
God, thou knowest my foolishness. Now this is the son of God speaking.
Because my sin so truly became his that this is how he speaks.
You know my foolishness and my sins are not hid from thee. Now, understand this. For his
righteousness to become mine, my sin had to become his. And that's why he was forsaken. For God to have heard him or
helped him would have been wrong because the wages of sin is death. That's the only wage for sin.
And he is treated as a damned soul. He was made sin and he
was forsaken. He was forsaken by God. He was forsaken by God because
this was God's eternal purpose. Turn with me to Revelation chapter
13. There's not a more important
verse of scripture in all the Bible than this scripture. Verse 8, And all that dwell upon
the earth shall worship him, the beast, empowered by the serpent. All shall worship him whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
lamb slain from the very foundation of the world. You see, it was
God's purpose. It was God's eternal decree for
Christ Jesus, the Lord to be forsaken. Now, why was he forsaken? Because it was God's purpose
for him to be forsaken because he's the lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. Acts chapter two, Acts chapter 2. Verse 23. Him being delivered
by Herod and Pontius Pilate and the Jews? No. Him being delivered
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. You have
taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Look in
chapter 4 of Acts. Verse 27, for of a truth against
thy holy child Jesus, whom thou has anointed both Herod and Pontius
Pilate with the Gentiles of the people of Israel were gathered
together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined
before to be done. When he was forsaken by his father,
it's because it was determined before to be done. My God, My
God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why was he forsaken? He said, Father, right before
his death, John chapter 12, Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy son, that thy son
also might glorify thee. Why was he forsaken? To glorify
his father. Now, how in the world does that
glorify God? It does. He said, the hour has
come. Glorify thy son, that thy son
also might glorify thee. Now listen to me, in the forsaking
of the son, in the father forsaking the son, the father glorified
all of his attributes. Now, if you want to know who
God is, if you really want to know the living God, I don't
mean just know about him, I mean know him to where you know him
and he knows you, where you call upon his name and he answers
and he hears. If you want to know the living
God, you will only know him through Christ being forsaken. That's the only way that you
can know the living God. You see, God makes himself known
through this. How? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ
would rather be forsaken by His Father than let one sin go unpunished
and His Father's law dishonored? How He loved His Father. Remember, this is the ultimate
act of obedience. Though He slay me, Yet will I
trust Him." How the Father's holiness and justice is glorified. He'll never, never let one sin
go unpunished. Doesn't that magnify His justice? Oh, how this magnifies His wisdom! That God could make a way to
actually be just! and justify somebody like me
to where I really am just in His sight. What wisdom is displayed
in the Father forsaking His Son so that I wouldn't have to be? What love is displayed in the
Father forsaking His Son? God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son. He loved me so much He gave I
can't get a hold of that. I can't find the reason to it.
Why would he love me that way? I sure can't find a reason to
myself. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved
them unto the end. Why was he forsaken? Because of his love to his people. I love my family. I love my family. I love my daughter. If she was guilty of a crime,
if I could take her guilt, and if I could take her punishment,
I would. Now, you that are parents, you
know that. You do that. You do that for your child. You
love them. Oh, the love that is there. But here's the problem.
I can't do that. I can't take somebody else's
guilt. I can't be punished in somebody's place because that
would be wrong. I'm not the one that did it. They did it. If
the law takes my daughter, it's because she's guilty. I can't
take her guilt. The law's got to punish her.
I love my wife. If I could, whatever disease
or sickness she has, I would take it to myself and I would
give her my health. I would. But I can't. He could. And he did. That's how he loves
his people. Why, you ask? Well, the reason
is not found in his people. Aren't you glad you don't have
to look for a reason in yourself to think of the Lord's love for
you like that? If I had to find a reason myself, I know I couldn't
find one. but simply because he would, because of the love
of his great heart. God is love. Having loved his
lone, which were in the world, he loved them to the end. I think
of that hymn we sing, he took my sins and my sorrows, he made
them his very own. Why? Love. Love to me. Why was he forsaken? Because
I deserve to be. And he took my place. Two, because
it was God's purpose. Three, he did it. I forgot to
bring this note. This is what happens when I don't
look at my notes. I forget. This was a good point. He was
forsaken that the scriptures might be fulfilled. said that
throughout all the scriptures. He was forsaken that the scripture
might be fulfilled. Fourth, he was forsaken because it glorified
God, his father. And fifth, he was forsaken because
he loved me. That's why he was forsaken. Now
the third point, the results of him being forsaken. Now he
really was forsaken. God forsook him. God turned his
back on him. God showed him no mercy. He had
no light. He had not the presence of God. He was treated as a damned soul,
only infinitely more. What's the result of him being
forsaken? Everybody he died for will never
be forsaken. He says, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned
for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes. That
soul though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never,
no never forsake. because he was forsaken, I will never be forsaken. Not only will I never be forsaken
because he was forsaken, I'll never forsake him. Turn with
me to Jeremiah chapter 32. Verse 38, And they shall be My
people, and I will be their God. Verse 39 of Jeremiah 32, And
I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me
forever. for the good of them and of their
children after them, and I will make an everlasting covenant
with them, and I will not turn away from them to do them good.
I will not forsake them, but I'll put my fear in their hearts
that they shall not depart from me." You see that? Not only will
He not forsake me, but I will not forsake Him. By His grace,
He's put His fear in my heart. And I don't have anywhere else
to go. What are the results of him being
forsaken? We'll turn once again to 1 Peter
2. I didn't read the rest of this verse. 1 Peter 2. Verse
24. who his own self bear our sins
in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sins should
live unto righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. Now notice it doesn't say by
whose stripes you will be healed or even you are healed. but by
whose stripes you were healed. Now, when he was forsaken, I
was healed. When he was forsaken, I was saved. When he was forsaken, what are the results of him being
saken? The complete salvation of the elect. That's what are
the results of his being forsaken. He was delivered for our offenses
and raised again for or because of our justification. When he
was forsaken, I was justified. When he was forsaken, I was redeemed. When he was forsaken, I was forgiven. When he was forsaken, I was declared
to be holy. That's the results of his being
forsaken. The complete salvation of everybody
he died for. Turn to 2 Corinthians 5. Here's the result of him being
forsaken. Verse 21. For he hath made him sin, for
us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of
God in him. Now here is the result of him
being forsaken. Look at me. I am the righteousness
of God. That's strong language, isn't
it? That's the language of scripture though. Every believer is made
the very righteousness of God. How good do you got to be to
be saved? You got to be good as God. How
good do you have to be for God to accept you? You have to be
as good as God. in Christ because he was forsaken
for me because my sin became his sin. His righteousness is
mine. Every believer is the very righteousness
of God. Now that's the result of him
being forsaken. Now I've got some counsel to
every believer And I've got some counsel for every unbeliever. First, the believer. What would
I say to the believer in light of this? Believer, don't look
to yourself for a thing. Look only to him. as your wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption. Live in the full assurance that
He will not forsake you, because His Father forsook Him as your
substitute. And you are complete in Him. Don't look to yourself for a
thing. Look wholly to Him. who was forsaken
for you and know assuredly that you will not be forsaken. Now here's my counsel to the
unbeliever. The exact same thing, exact same thing. Don't look
to yourself for a thing. You look to him who was forsaken
and rely upon him only. as your only grounds of salvation. You look to Him as your only
righteousness. You say, well, how can I do it
if I don't know if I'm saved? Because God commands you to. God commands
you to believe on the name of His Son. That's His commandment.
Well, what if I'm not one of the elect? God commands you to
believe on his son. You don't need to worry about
whether or not you're one of the elect. You don't need to worry about
whether or not Christ died for you. You don't need to worry about
whether or not you're saved. What you're to do right now is to believe on
the son of God as all you need to make you perfect before God.
Same counsel to the believer as to the unbeliever. Deny yourself. Take up your cross, this confession
of Him, and follow Him. Is any sacrifice for Him too
great? Love so amazing, so divine, demands
my soul, my life, my all. Now one last scripture. Would
you turn with me to the book of Lamentations? Right after Jeremiah. Now, when you read the book of
Lamentations, it is a great blessing to read it as it ought to be
read. These are the words of the Lord. You know, when He says
in the third chapter, I'm the man that has seen affliction,
that's the Lord Jesus speaking. He truly has seen affliction.
He's talking about His being forsaken by His Father. But look
at verse 12 of chapter 1. The Lord says this to me, And he says this to you. Is it nothing to you? All ye
that pass by behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto
my sorrow, which is done unto me. Wherewith the Lord hath afflicted
me in the day of his fierce anger, from above hath he sent fire
into my bones, and it prevaileth against them. He hath spread
a net for my feet, he hath turned me back, he hath made me desolate
and faint. All the day the yoke of my transgression
is bound by his hand, there wreathed and come upon my neck, he hath
made my strength to fall. The Lord hath delivered me into
their hands, for whom I am not able to rise up. The Lord hath
trodden underfoot all my mighty men in the midst of me. He hath
called me in assembly against me to crush my young men. The
Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in
a winepress. That's what happened on the cross.
Now here's my question. The Lord said, is it nothing
to you? Now this I know. It's either nothing or it's everything. May God give us grace to be of
that number to whom it is everything. It's a fearful thing for it to
be nothing. But oh, what a glorious thing it is for His sufferings,
His being forsaken to be everything in my salvation. Let's pray together.