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The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines

July 5, 2009
Pastor Dana Johnson

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" -Psalm 22:1

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?

 

1. What was Christ's experience in being forsaken?

a. It was temporary.

b. The experience seems like God is not helping or hearing.
Psalm 22:1-2 - My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? 2O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.

2. The question comes with a dual recognition:

a. That God is holy.
Psalm 22:3 - But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

b. That Christ was being treated like a worm.
Psalm 22:6 - But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people.

3. Why the "Why"?

a. For Christ, it is not the "Why" of ignorance that seeks an explanation or reason.
John 12:27 - "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
Isaiah 53:10-12 - Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. 11He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. 12Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Hebrews 9::28 - So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

b. It is not the "Why" of rebellious complaint.
Matthew 26:39 - He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

c. It is the "Why" of bitter sorrow.
Matthew 26:38 - Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

4. Christ's sorrowful cry was not a cry of defeat. It was followed by continual pleadings for help. And God answered.
Psalm 22:11 - Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
Psalm 22:19-21 - But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! 20Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. 21Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.
Psalm 22:24 - 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.
Hebrews 5:7 - Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear.

 

(All Scripture quoted is from the New King James Version)