Forsaken
Good Friday 2024 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Tonight, more than 2000 years ago, the greatest event in human history happened. There is no close second. On this day 2000 some odd years ago, the Son of God was crucified. He drank the cup of the wrath of God for the sins of the world.
Last Sunday, I preached on the silence of Jesus on the road to the cross. Tonight, I want to talk to you briefly about some of the words of Jesus on the cross.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Explanation
Explanation
What is finished? That phrase, “It is finished, in the Greek is “tetelestai.” The word means more than to be finished with something. It means to develop something astounding and complete the work.
You finish a puzzle. You finish your piece of pizza. You finish cleaning the kitchen.
Da Vinci completed the Mona Lisa. Ustad Lahori completed the Taj Mahal.
Moreover, this word has the overtone of completing or fulfill in a religious obligation.
So, what masterpiece did Jesus complete? What did his life build? What did his death accomplish?
Jesus, on the cross, completed the work of God to redeem His people. How did this happen? Isaiah 53:4-6 tells us: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
On the cross, Jesus, the only perfect one, took sin upon Himself.
On the cross, Jesus, the Son of Man, was stricken as the appropriate sacrifice for sin to become the atonement for man. Only the death of a man could redeem man.
On the cross, Jesus, the Son of God, was also the sufficient sacrifice for the sin of mankind. Only the death of a man could redeem a man, while only the death of God could redeem all of mankind.
On the cross, Jesus, the sinless one who became sin for us, drank the wrath of God for the sins of all who would call upon His name.
On the cross, Jesus, member of the Triune God, was separated from His Father.
“My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me.”
On the Cross, Jesus became the remedy for sin. And the gospel is the message of Jesus dying on the cross that we might have life through a relationship with God, in Him.
The gospel is the instrument taken forward into the world that man would know God.
The gospel is the sword that deals the death blow to death.
The gospel is the medicine and remedy that heals the sick
The gospel is the light that shines in the darkness.
There is no gospel without this moment. Jesus on the cross.
In that moment, a cure is granted for EVERYTHING that ails the human heart.
The sin that Adam and Eve wrought on the world is reversed.
The separation that is wrought from Adam and Eve is broken as the veil is torn.
The wrath of God for the sins of all who would call upon Jesus is instantly satisfied in the death of Jesus.
The brokenness that we feel over our sins.
The restless heart that can only find rest in Jesus.
The work of redemption is not finished in finished in its efficacy, but it is not finished in its application.
While the gospel will still need to be preached to the nations, the message is a complete message. We need add nothing to the cross.
The only question that you have to answer is this one: does this gospel now apply to me?
I love the story of the Siberian Husky, Balto. Balto was a sled dog. In 1925, a large breakout of diphtheria in a small Alaskan village called Nome. Many young children and older adults were in mortal danger due to the disease. In Nome, they had no antibiotics to cure the disease, and they had no easy access to anywhere that had the serum. The Great Race of Mercy was undertaken to get village antibiotics, but the only way to get there was sled dog.
Balto was an older dog that was a part of the expedition. He was the lead dog of the final thrust of the journey. He led his sled team through a blizzard and -40 degree weather to get the medicine to the village.
This story shows that there is a difference between having the cure for something and that cure being supplied.
Thomas Watson, “Christ went more willingly to the cross than we go to the throne of grace.”
Invitation
Invitation
D. A. Carson // “If God had perceived that our greatest need was economic, he would have sent an economist. If he had perceived that our greatest need was entertainment, he would have sent us a comedian or an artist. If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would have sent us a politician. If he had perceived that our greatest need was health, he would have sent us a doctor. But he perceived that our greatest need involved our sin, our alienation from him, our profound rebellion, our death; and he sent us a Savior.”
When you look at the cross, remember that in the cross is everything that you need because on the cross was the perfect one who hung in your stead.