THE BOTTOM LINE
Mark LaCour
"About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). ". . . He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel." (Gen. 3:15).
The most spectacular words uttered during the most spectacular event on record -- a scream that opens a mystery so deep, reveals a hell so appalling, displays a love so infinite, it could tempt even the seraphim to look (Isa. 6:2; 1 Pet. 1:12). Three truths these words disclose:
First, the awfulness of sin and the inflexible justice of God. The wages of sin is death --every person that sins will die. Separation from the body, separation from others, separation from every grace and mercy of God for eternity, period. No exceptions. All sinners will be totally forsaken, either in a substitute or in person. God so loves holiness that He didn’t waiver in condemning the apple of His eye.
Second, the obedience of the Son and the love of God. If Christ learned obedience through the things which He suffered (Heb. 5:8), then this was the crowning achievement -- an obedience that gave Him regal rights to everything of God (Rom. 5:19). While the crowd mocked Him for His ability to save others but not Himself, they were half right -- He was there to still save others and not Himself. No nail kept Jesus on the cross -- love for His Father and His people did.
Lastly, the culpability of the saints and the inability of Satan. Christians are the only sinners on the planet that are guilty of the most horrific sin ever committed -- Christocide. Others only break God's law, but Christians killed the owner of the vineyard. It's their shame alone -- and it's their redemption alone. And yet the only effect from Satan on Christ is a bruise -- a flesh wound on the heel.
Christ opened His mouth in pain so we could open ours in praise -- forsaken so we could be forgiven. If our boast is in the cross, then surely this part is the loudest. "Guilty, vile, and helpless we, spotless lamb of God was He; full atonement can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior!"
-Mark LaCour
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