The Cry of Abandonment: “My God,
My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?”
The Cry of Abandonment
The 4th of 5
Sermons in the Psalm 22 Series
Introduction
Psalm 22 begins with one of the most haunting cries in all of
Scripture: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” When David
wrote these words around 1000 BC, he was speaking out of his own
suffering. Surrounded by enemies and mocked by onlookers, David felt
as if God had turned away from him. His words expressed the anguish
of one who feels cut off from God’s deliverance. By the inspiration
of the Spirit, David’s lament became prophecy. A thousand years
later, Jesus Christ took these words upon His lips as He hung on
Calvary (Matthew 27:46).
This cry was not
over the scourging or the nails. Crucifixion was brutal, yet the
Gospels never record Jesus screaming in despair because of physical
pain. The cry came when the fellowship He had always known with the
Father was broken. For the first time in eternity, the eternal Son
was forsaken, not because of His own sin, but because He carried
ours. To understand this cry is to begin to grasp the depth of His
sacrifice and the seriousness of sin.
David’s Cry
and Christ’s Fulfillment
David often cried out to God in distress. He felt abandoned but
still called upon the Lord as “my God.” Psalm 22 begins in anguish
but ends in praise, showing that even in despair David trusted God.
In his life, David felt forsakenness as enemies pressed in and as
circumstances made him feel alone. Yet his cry pointed to a greater
fulfillment. Jesus experienced what David only felt. He bore the
true separation from God brought on by sin.
The Eternal
Fellowship Broken
From eternity the Father and the Son shared perfect fellowship. John
says the Son was in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18). Jesus
declared, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). At His baptism and
transfiguration, the Father’s voice said, “This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.” That bond had never been broken. At the
cross, however, the weight of the world’s sin was laid on Him.
Isaiah 59:2 explains that sin separates man from God. Jesus bore
that separation in our place. He had no sin of His own, but He
became the sin-bearer so we could be reconciled (2 Corinthians
5:21).
The Creator
Who Chose the Cross
It is vital to remember who it was hanging on the cross. Jesus is
the Creator of all things. John wrote, “All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).
Colossians adds, “By him were all things created… and by him all
things consist” (Colossians 1:16–17). The very One who spoke the
universe into being and holds it together by His power allowed
Himself to be nailed to the wood He Himself had created. At any
moment He could have called twelve legions of angels (Matthew
26:53). At any moment He could have ended the suffering, returned to
glory, and left mankind to perish. He did not. He chose to remain.
Love, not nails, held Him there.
The
Struggle in Gethsemane
Jesus knew the cross was coming. In Gethsemane He prayed with such
agony that His sweat was like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). He
fell on His face and prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let
this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). He was not afraid of
scourging or nails. He trembled at the thought of becoming sin and
enduring the wrath of God. He prayed for another way, but there was
none. He surrendered: “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”
(Luke 22:42). That submission shows His obedience and His love for
us.
The Horror
Beyond the Nails
The scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails through His hands and
feet, the mocking crowds—these inflicted great pain. Yet the Gospels
record no cry of despair from Him for those things. His cry came
when fellowship with the Father was withdrawn. That was the deepest
agony of the cross. The Holy One, who had known only perfect
communion, experienced abandonment. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for
us.” The curse was ours, but He bore it.
The Fate of
the Human Race
In that hour the destiny of every soul rested upon His obedience.
From Adam to the last person who will ever live, the fate of mankind
hung on His choice to endure. If He had stepped down, humanity would
be forever lost. If He had refused the cup, there would be no
forgiveness, no hope, and no salvation. He stayed on the cross. He
bore the separation. He endured the curse. His obedience brought
life to all who would obey (Hebrews 5:9).
The Temporary
Separation of Christ and the Eternal Warning for Man
Jesus’ separation from the Father was real, but it was not
permanent. He was restored to fellowship because He had never
sinned. His cry of forsakenness ended in triumph, for the Father
raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to His right hand. Our
situation is different. We have sinned, and sin separates us from
God. Because we are mortal and have never experienced eternity with
the Father, we cannot fully grasp the horror of separation. Yet
through the cry of Jesus we get a glimpse of what eternal
forsakenness will be like.
For the lost,
that separation will be permanent. Jesus described hell as outer
darkness, a place where the wicked are cast away from the presence
of God (Matthew 25:41, 46). The forsakenness He endured for a moment
is the eternal condition of those who die in sin. The difference is
that Jesus was restored because He was sinless. We can be restored
only because of Him. He bore the separation so that we could be
reconciled. He endured forsakenness so that no one who obeys His
gospel must ever know it.
The Proof
of His Love
Even in His cry Jesus said, “My God.” He still addressed the Father
with trust. He still spoke in faith. He fulfilled prophecy in His
darkest moment so that the world would know He is the Christ. His
cry is proof of His love. He endured what we could not bear so that
we might live in fellowship with God forever.
The Lesson
for Us
The cry of abandonment teaches us the true nature of sin. Sin
separates from God. Jesus bore that separation so that fellowship
might be restored. His cry warns us of the horror of sin and invites
us to embrace the salvation He offers. If we remain in sin, we will
face the forsakenness He tasted. If we obey His gospel, His blood
cleanses us and restores our fellowship with God (1 John 1:7).
Outline for Preaching
Introduction: Psalm 22 and the Cry of the Cross
-
David’s
lament became prophecy fulfilled in Jesus (Psalm 22:1; Matthew
27:46)
-
Jesus’ cry
was about separation, not physical pain
-
Purpose: To
understand the depth of His sacrifice and the seriousness of sin
I. David’s
Cry and Christ’s Fulfillment
A. David felt forsaken in times of trial (Psalm 22:1–2)
B. David’s psalm moves from lament to trust
C. Jesus fulfilled it in its truest sense
II. The
Eternal Fellowship Broken
A. Father and Son had perfect unity from eternity (John 1:18; John
10:30)
B. The Father declared delight in the Son (Matthew 3:17; 17:5)
C. Sin caused separation at the cross (Isaiah 59:2; 2 Corinthians
5:21)
III. The
Creator Who Chose the Cross
A. Jesus is Creator of all things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16–17)
B. He could have summoned angels (Matthew 26:53)
C. He chose to remain, held by love
IV. The
Struggle in Gethsemane
A. Jesus prayed for another way (Matthew 26:39)
B. His agony came from bearing sin (Luke 22:44; Isaiah 53:6)
C. He submitted fully to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42)
V. The
Horror Beyond the Nails
A. The scourging and crucifixion were brutal
B. The cry came from forsakenness (Matthew 27:46)
C. He bore the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13)
VI. The
Fate of the Human Race
A. The destiny of mankind rested on His obedience
B. If He stepped down, there would be no hope
C. His endurance secured salvation for all
VII. The
Temporary Separation of Christ and the Eternal Warning for Man
A. Christ’s separation was real but not permanent (Acts 2:32–33)
B. He was restored because He never sinned
C. Our separation is permanent if we die lost (Matthew 25:41, 46)
D. We glimpse the horror of eternal forsakenness through His cry
E. We can be restored only through His sacrifice (Romans 5:10–11)
VIII. The
Proof of His Love
A. Even forsaken He said, “My God”
B. He fulfilled prophecy in His agony (Psalm 22:1)
C. His cry testifies of His love
IX. The
Lesson for Us
A. Sin separates from God (Isaiah 59:2)
B. Jesus bore that separation so we can be restored
C. His cry is both warning and invitation (1 John 1:7)
Call to
Action
Hear the cry of Jesus on the cross. Recognize that it was the loss
of fellowship with the Father that broke His heart. That is what sin
does. His separation was temporary because He was sinless. Ours will
be eternal if we die in a lost state. Through His agony we glimpse
the horror that awaits the lost. He bore it so we would not have to.
His blood restores fellowship. Do not carry your sins to the grave.
Obey His gospel and walk in the light of His presence.
Key
Takeaways
-
David’s
lament became prophecy fulfilled in Christ (Psalm 22:1; Matthew
27:46)
-
Eternal
fellowship between Father and Son was broken when He bore sin
(John 10:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
-
The Creator
chose to stay on the cross when He could have left (John 1:3;
Colossians 1:16–17; Matthew 26:53)
-
In
Gethsemane He submitted to the Father’s will though He dreaded
bearing sin (Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:44)
-
The true
agony of the cross was forsakenness, not physical pain
(Galatians 3:13)
-
The fate of
humanity rested on His obedience, and He endured
-
His
separation was temporary because He was sinless; ours is eternal
if we die lost (Acts 2:32–33; Matthew 25:41, 46)
-
His cry is
both warning and invitation to reconciliation through His blood
(Romans 5:10–11; 1 John 1:7)
Scripture
Reference List
Psalm 22:1–2 — The cry of forsakenness
Matthew 27:46 — Jesus fulfills David’s words
John 1:3; Colossians 1:16–17 — Jesus as Creator
John 1:18; John 10:30 — Eternal fellowship between Father and Son
Matthew 3:17; 17:5 — The Father’s delight in the Son
Isaiah 59:2 — Sin separates from God
2 Corinthians 5:21 — He became sin for us
Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42–44 — The struggle in Gethsemane
Isaiah 53:6 — The Lord laid on Him our iniquity
Galatians 3:13 — Christ became a curse for us
Matthew 25:41, 46 — Eternal separation for the lost
Acts 2:32–33 — God raised and exalted Christ
Romans 5:10–11 — Reconciliation through His death and life
1 John 1:7 — Fellowship restored through His blood
Prepared by
David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO
|
The
church of Christ
