THE GREATEST EXPRESSION OF FAITH AND TRUST IN THE BIBLE

Texts: Psalm 22; Matthew 27:45-56

I. ELI, ELI AND ELIJAH (Matthew 27:46-47//Mark 15:34-36)

A. Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ words, in v.46 is interesting because it is a mixture of two languages: Hebrew and Aramaic:

Matthew 27:46 (NASB95)
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli [Hebrew], lama sabachthani? [Aramaic]” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Mark 15:34 (NASB95)
At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi [Aramaic], lama sabachthani? [Aramaic]” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

1. Jesus’ breathing was probably labored, which may help explain why people misunderstood “Eloi” (My God) for “Eli” (Elijah).

2. This would explain why some standing near the cross thought Jesus was calling for ELIjah (Matthew 27:47; cf. Mark 15:35).

3. Malachi prophesied, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of Yahweh” (Malachi 4:5; Matthew 11:14; 17:10-12).

4. We’ve previously learned in Matthew’s Gospel that John the Baptizer was the Elijah to come (Matthew 11:14; 17:3,10-12).

B. The mention of Elijah at the cross reminds us that the cross was “the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5).

C. The cross was God’s final judgment upon sin for those whom Jesus died.

Malachi 4:5
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.

D. All of the shame of the cross, the pain, the darkness, the God forsakenness – that will be the place of every sinner when Jesus returns and says to those on His left, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt.25:41).

E. Baptism is a sign that a person and household have escaped from the Judgment to come. Now is the day of salvation. Be saved from this perverse generation. Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.

II. “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Matthew 27:46//Mark 15:34; Psalm 22)

A. Jesus’ cry from the cross is still misunderstood today. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” is thought by millions to be a cry of defeat, disappointment, frustration and failure.

1. “That fear inspired exclamation is reminiscent of someone that is not resigned to their fate. Surely if it [sic] is the “son of god” then why such utterances? Abraham’s son, Isaac offered no resistance and shouted not when his father was preparing to slay as an act of obedience” (Muslim correspondence).

2. “We must conclude that in those last agonizing minutes he truly felt personally abandoned, his mission coming to grief. Such being the case, Jesus could not be the Messiah that Christian missionaries believe him to be” (Gerald Sigal, The Jew and the Christian Missionary: A Jewish Response to Missionary Christianity p.97).

3. “On the cross even he [Jesus] is in doubt whether the death is a fatal mistake. The words “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (15:34) are the words of a tragical mistake, uttered by a man who thought he acted out the will of God, but was not acting out anything else but his own religious fantasy” (Ole Davidsen, “Is There a Monkey in this Class?” Semeia Vol.71 p.156).

Psalm 89:26-29

“He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

“I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.

“My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him.

“So I will establish his descendants forever And his throne as the days of heaven.

“One could wish no easier death than that of Socrates, calmly discussing philosophy with his friends; one could fear nothing worse than that of Jesus, dying in torment, among the insults, the mockery, the curses of the whole nation. In the midst of these terrible sufferings, Jesus prays for his cruel murderers. Yes, if the life and death of Socrates are those of a philosopher, the life and death of Christ are those of a God.” (Jean-Jacques Rousseau [1712–1778] philosopher of the Enlightenment whose political ideas influenced the French Revolution; in Emile: Or, On Education [1762])

B. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” is not a cry of failure, but faith (Genesis 28:20-21; Psalm 3:7; 25:2; 42:6). It is the loud voice of resolute confidence, steadfast trust, persistent reliance, and perfect assurance.

C. In my opinion it is the greatest statement of faith and trust in the Bible. Even in the midst of forsakenness, even in the agony of outer darkness, Jesus still calls upon God as “My God, My God.”

DESCRIPTION OF MESSIAH’S SUFFERING IN PSALM 22	DESCRIPTION OF MESSIAH’S SUFFERING IN MATTHEW
Psalm 22:16 …They pierced my hands and my feet.	And when they had crucified Him…(Matthew 27:35).
Psalm 22:18: They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.	“And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots” (Matthew 27:35)
Psalm 22:17 …They look, they stare at me;	“And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there” (Matthew 27:36) “Many women were there looking on from a distance” (Matthew 27:55)
Psalm 22:7 All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head…	And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads (Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29)
Psalm 22:8 “Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”	“He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words. (Matthew 27:43-44)
Psalm 22:1: My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?	“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt.27:46; Mark 15:34)

III. WITHOUT FAITH AND WITHOUT TRUST IN GOD A PERSON CANNOT BE SAVED (Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10)

A. Jesus was mocked from the words of Psalm 22, “He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:43 with Psalm 22:8). The proof that Jesus was the Son of God is that He still perfectly trusted in God even when He was forsaken!

B. Faith is not merely a profession of belief. Faith is a prayerful resting upon God’s promises in the Scriptures. Faith is knowledge of God’s Word and will which is lived out in our lives. We see all of these things at the ninth hour of the cross. Jesus has a faith that works because His death on the cross was an act of perfect obedience.

C. There is a sense in which we can say that Jesus was saved by faith. Likewise, you cannot be saved without a faith and trust in Jesus.

D. Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus alone for your salvation?

1 Peter 2:22-24
who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Pray that God would enable you and give you the desire to be conformed to His Word as read and preached today. Pray that God would grant you saving faith and a faith that perseveres to the very end.

How is Psalm 22 prophetic of the cross?

What did people think Jesus was saying when He cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli”?

Why would Matthew (and Mark) mention anything about Elijah at the cross?

What does the mention of Elijah have to do with our lives and the Great Commission?

Before this morning’s sermon, did you think that Jesus’ loud cry, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” was a cry of perfect faith and trust? Why do millions of people think that this is a cry of defeat and failure?

Do you think that it was harder for Jesus to trust in God than it is for us? Explain.

How does Jesus exemplify faith at the cross?

Explain how Jesus was saved by faith. How is this related to our salvation by faith?

How has the greatest expression of faith, “My God” become one of the most common blasphemies of our culture (cf. Psalm 3:7; 25:2; 42:6)? God does not take lightly His Name being taken in vain (Exodus 20:7). Do you?