“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Our Lord Jesus was forsaken by God in the utter darkness of eternal Hell in our place. It was necessary in order that we might be adopted as the children of God, and be privileged to call God, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). On the cross, Christ was disinherited so that believers might become heirs of God (Romans 8:17) and citizens of His Kingdom. Christ passed through eternal Hell on the cross, suffered the infinite wrath of God against sin, and emerged from the darkness of death in order that sinners might be saved from the guilt and penalty of their sins by trusting in Jesus. The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 17, tells us that “By the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God’s wrath, and so obtain for and restore to us righteousness and life.”
Christ entered completely into the wages of our sins and suffered what every chosen sinner deserved. Jesus suffered the second death, which is eternal damnation, yet He ever lives to make intercession for the saints (Heb. 7:25). He suffered all of this so that His sheep would never be made to suffer eternal death … so that they would never be made to shout the cry of eternal death, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me!” What manner of love is this, dear Christian, that Christ would drink the cup of God’s eternal wrath to the bitter dregs, in our place, so that we might be called the children of the living God? (1 John 3:1)
The Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, laid down His life for us, His sheep (John 10), so that we might dwell safely with Him for eternity. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a multitude of wretched sinners from every tribe, tongue and nation of this world! Have you praised your Savior Jesus today for redeeming you from eternal damnation and destruction?
“Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise the Savior’s name; He has hushed the law’s loud thunder, He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame! He has washed us with His blood, He has brought us nigh to God.” (John Newton)
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