Cry Of The Forsaken
Bible Study
The Critical Questions... And More
Three Pre-Easter Bible Studies
Object:
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Lesson Objective: That all who complete this lesson will begin to know the terrible cost of sin and what it meant for Jesus to take on himself the sins of the world.
Prayer Focus: Pray that each one in your group might come to see the price that Jesus paid to atone for sin. May they understand the awful separation from God that sin brings.
Lesson
Rejection realized
Darkness has fallen over the barren, rugged countryside outside of Jerusalem. It is an eerie, heavy darkness, unusual for afternoon hours. The mob milling around three crosses seems momentarily distracted from the macabre scene in front of them. A heaviness fills the air and it seems to touch all present. It especially touches the man on the middle cross. As darkness literally shrouds the hearth, the shadow of sin covers the man who wears a crown of thorns. The filthy, grimy stain of sin begins to darken a soul never before touched by such vileness. The man in the middle, Jesus, takes upon himself the sins of the world. It is truly a dark time.
As dark as it may be on earth, it is even darker in heaven. At that moment, a bond that has existed before time is broken. God the Father has been linked with God the Son for eternity. At this instant, however, that bond is snapped. God the Father turns his back on his Son. He cannot bear sin. His holiness won't allow it. So, perhaps with a tear in his eye, he turns away. The silence in heaven is deafening. All of history has pointed to this moment. Since the second the forbidden fruit was eaten, the Father and Son knew this day would come. How does one prepare for such a time?
The silence in heaven is pierced with a cry of agony. It comes from the heart and soul of Jesus. The words echo Psalm 22:1 and David's lament, but they touch on something much deeper. It is the realization of rejection. "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" For the first time, Jesus is completely alone. He is separated from God by the devastating consequences of sin. As the sacrificial lamb, he takes all sin upon himself. As Paul would later write, "The wages of sin is death." Jesus now begins to realize that truth. Jesus is bearing the brunt of sin's punishment. He is alone, apart from his Father. It is hell. The words echo from the prophet Isaiah, "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering."
Rejection recognized
The consequence of sin was on display at that moment. It is difficult for us to imagine the horrors of the cross. Oh, there are parts of it we can understand. We can study history and know the incredible pain of crucifixion. We can study Roman culture and see how brutally they treated the condemned, beating them ruthlessly until they nearly died. We can look at the written record, both biblical and secular, to see how Jesus was betrayed and despised by the people of that time. Yes, there are parts that we can get. There is one aspect, though, that I'm convinced we'll never know. What did it mean for Jesus when my sin separated him from his Father?
You see, that's really the deal, isn't it? I'll never have to know the pain of being separated from God because Jesus endured that for me. Christians are enamored with Easter and rightly so. The resurrection is the center of our faith. I think, though, there is such a rush to get to the empty tomb, that not enough time is spent at the cross, contemplating the cost of sin.
This agonized, desperate cry of Jesus reminds us that freedom isn't free. The words of the hymn hit close to the heart: "Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow."
Rejection refuted
There is a glimmer of light in this dark cloud. Jesus' rejection is only temporary. He paid the price for sin and overcame death and the grave. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Matthew 24:42). The scorned, abused, and betrayed Son became King of kings and Lord of lords.
This is truly good news. For is there any of us here who has not experienced rejection? Divorce shatters homes, leaving heartsick spouses reeling in the wake of the words, "I don't love you anymore." The desperate job seeker becomes numb to the recurrent refrain, "I'm sorry. We just aren't hiring right now." The single adult sits by a phone that never rings, wondering, "What's wrong with me?" A lovely nursery contains a cradle that stays empty. Rejection, rejection, rejection -- for many, the dream doesn't quite come true and the plan doesn't work.
There is still another rejection that all of us face. It is the ultimate rejection. We can't and won't ever measure up to what God calls holy. We can try to be good, but we can't be good enough. We can try to work hard, but we can't seem to work hard enough. We can try to give and be generous, but it is never enough. Our attempts to reach God are the equivalent of a third grader's attempt to shoot baskets over Shaquille O'Neal -- rejected every time.
That's why this moment in time is crucial. Jesus was rejected by God at this moment so that we would never have to be. We will never have to know what it means to live apart from God. We will never have to feel that sense of abandonment. This moment also reminds us of the fleeting nature of rejection. For the Christian, rejection is only temporary. It is merely the prelude to what is glorious, good, and right.
The cry, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" is followed by another word. It is a prelude to "Into your hand I commit my spirit."
Conclusion
The acute pain of rejection has made an imprint upon all of us. From the first time we were not chosen on the playground through the myriad of unmet expectations and unfulfilled dreams, rejection has been with us. We also know the hard truth that, based on what we do, we cannot get right with God. That is why it is crucial that Jesus knew rejection. He not only feels our pain, but has brought a remedy. Never forget that he was rejected so that you wouldn't have to be.
Suggested Songs And Hymns
"Jesus Paid It All"
"At Calvary"
"Just A Closer Walk With Thee"
Thought/Discussion Questions
1. Describe what you think Jesus must have felt at his Father's turning his back on him? What does that tell you about sin? What does it tell you about Jesus' love? God's love?
2. Do you think it is true that we don't spend enough time at the cross? Explain.
3. Nearly everyone has been rejected at some point in life. What does that feel like? What does it mean to you that Jesus was rejected?
4. The point here is that rejection is temporary. What part of Jesus' crucifixion helps you through the times of rejection?
Lesson Objective: That all who complete this lesson will begin to know the terrible cost of sin and what it meant for Jesus to take on himself the sins of the world.
Prayer Focus: Pray that each one in your group might come to see the price that Jesus paid to atone for sin. May they understand the awful separation from God that sin brings.
Lesson
Rejection realized
Darkness has fallen over the barren, rugged countryside outside of Jerusalem. It is an eerie, heavy darkness, unusual for afternoon hours. The mob milling around three crosses seems momentarily distracted from the macabre scene in front of them. A heaviness fills the air and it seems to touch all present. It especially touches the man on the middle cross. As darkness literally shrouds the hearth, the shadow of sin covers the man who wears a crown of thorns. The filthy, grimy stain of sin begins to darken a soul never before touched by such vileness. The man in the middle, Jesus, takes upon himself the sins of the world. It is truly a dark time.
As dark as it may be on earth, it is even darker in heaven. At that moment, a bond that has existed before time is broken. God the Father has been linked with God the Son for eternity. At this instant, however, that bond is snapped. God the Father turns his back on his Son. He cannot bear sin. His holiness won't allow it. So, perhaps with a tear in his eye, he turns away. The silence in heaven is deafening. All of history has pointed to this moment. Since the second the forbidden fruit was eaten, the Father and Son knew this day would come. How does one prepare for such a time?
The silence in heaven is pierced with a cry of agony. It comes from the heart and soul of Jesus. The words echo Psalm 22:1 and David's lament, but they touch on something much deeper. It is the realization of rejection. "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" For the first time, Jesus is completely alone. He is separated from God by the devastating consequences of sin. As the sacrificial lamb, he takes all sin upon himself. As Paul would later write, "The wages of sin is death." Jesus now begins to realize that truth. Jesus is bearing the brunt of sin's punishment. He is alone, apart from his Father. It is hell. The words echo from the prophet Isaiah, "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering."
Rejection recognized
The consequence of sin was on display at that moment. It is difficult for us to imagine the horrors of the cross. Oh, there are parts of it we can understand. We can study history and know the incredible pain of crucifixion. We can study Roman culture and see how brutally they treated the condemned, beating them ruthlessly until they nearly died. We can look at the written record, both biblical and secular, to see how Jesus was betrayed and despised by the people of that time. Yes, there are parts that we can get. There is one aspect, though, that I'm convinced we'll never know. What did it mean for Jesus when my sin separated him from his Father?
You see, that's really the deal, isn't it? I'll never have to know the pain of being separated from God because Jesus endured that for me. Christians are enamored with Easter and rightly so. The resurrection is the center of our faith. I think, though, there is such a rush to get to the empty tomb, that not enough time is spent at the cross, contemplating the cost of sin.
This agonized, desperate cry of Jesus reminds us that freedom isn't free. The words of the hymn hit close to the heart: "Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow."
Rejection refuted
There is a glimmer of light in this dark cloud. Jesus' rejection is only temporary. He paid the price for sin and overcame death and the grave. "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Matthew 24:42). The scorned, abused, and betrayed Son became King of kings and Lord of lords.
This is truly good news. For is there any of us here who has not experienced rejection? Divorce shatters homes, leaving heartsick spouses reeling in the wake of the words, "I don't love you anymore." The desperate job seeker becomes numb to the recurrent refrain, "I'm sorry. We just aren't hiring right now." The single adult sits by a phone that never rings, wondering, "What's wrong with me?" A lovely nursery contains a cradle that stays empty. Rejection, rejection, rejection -- for many, the dream doesn't quite come true and the plan doesn't work.
There is still another rejection that all of us face. It is the ultimate rejection. We can't and won't ever measure up to what God calls holy. We can try to be good, but we can't be good enough. We can try to work hard, but we can't seem to work hard enough. We can try to give and be generous, but it is never enough. Our attempts to reach God are the equivalent of a third grader's attempt to shoot baskets over Shaquille O'Neal -- rejected every time.
That's why this moment in time is crucial. Jesus was rejected by God at this moment so that we would never have to be. We will never have to know what it means to live apart from God. We will never have to feel that sense of abandonment. This moment also reminds us of the fleeting nature of rejection. For the Christian, rejection is only temporary. It is merely the prelude to what is glorious, good, and right.
The cry, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" is followed by another word. It is a prelude to "Into your hand I commit my spirit."
Conclusion
The acute pain of rejection has made an imprint upon all of us. From the first time we were not chosen on the playground through the myriad of unmet expectations and unfulfilled dreams, rejection has been with us. We also know the hard truth that, based on what we do, we cannot get right with God. That is why it is crucial that Jesus knew rejection. He not only feels our pain, but has brought a remedy. Never forget that he was rejected so that you wouldn't have to be.
Suggested Songs And Hymns
"Jesus Paid It All"
"At Calvary"
"Just A Closer Walk With Thee"
Thought/Discussion Questions
1. Describe what you think Jesus must have felt at his Father's turning his back on him? What does that tell you about sin? What does it tell you about Jesus' love? God's love?
2. Do you think it is true that we don't spend enough time at the cross? Explain.
3. Nearly everyone has been rejected at some point in life. What does that feel like? What does it mean to you that Jesus was rejected?
4. The point here is that rejection is temporary. What part of Jesus' crucifixion helps you through the times of rejection?
