Utterly Abandoned?
…………………Totally Forsaken?
When unbeliever’s accost the character of God, those who love and know Him naturally defend that Character. Not that God needs anyone to ‘defend’ Him. What would it be, if we who believe were the very one’s who accused God and were found mocking or defrauding that very character? “I would never do that!”, we might answer, but, have we already done this? Do we make a habit out of maligning the character of God? You may be surprised . . .
The command concerning Bible Study is to ‘show ourselves approved to God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ (2 Timothy 2:15) The Greek word for ‘rightly dividing’ in this verse is the word: Or-thot-om-eh-o. Ortho is the Greek prefix we use when describing a dentist. (orthodontist) The dentist basically ‘straightens’ our teeth. Orthotomeho means to erect or build straight, or honest. It is a deliberate act at precision.
The ancient Bereans made a demand of the Apostle Paul to sit down and reason with them concerning the Word of God. “They received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things (Paul taught) were so.” (Acts 17:11) They were not in the habit of allowing someone else to teach them what to believe. We would do well to copy their habit, finding out for ourselves ‘what sayeth the Word of God.’ And now to our Study.
If we wanted to learn about the Tree of Life we would go directly to Scripture that speaks specifically about that subject. We would do that honestly. There would be no need to look up every reference concerning Fig trees or the occasional Sycamore tree found in Scripture in order to discern absolute truth about the Tree of Life. And yet . . . that is precisely what we do when we study the Central Theme of Christianity, namely, The Cross of Christ and the Relationship between the Father and the Son when He was upon it.
Many believe that the Father utterly abandoned or totally forsook His Son when on the Cross. What does Scripture say? If we malign the character of the Father in relationship with the Son when, in His greatest moment of need and in the very action the Father sent Him to perform for our sakes, then in part we deny ourselves the basic understanding of the Faithfulness of God. Don’t take my word for it . . . but DO TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT! The following passages of Scripture deal directly with the Cross. Interestingly enough, we find out the whole Truth about the Father in relationship with the Son, in every one of these passages.
- Matthew 27:45, 46
- Isaiah 53:10-12
- Psalm 34:19, 20
- Matthew 26:38, 39
- Luke 22:40-44
- Luke 23:33, 34
- Luke 23:44-46
- Psalm 22
- John 8:25-29
- John 16:32
First let us start off with the reason why people claim that the Father totally abandoned His Son when on the Cross. It comes from a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of a single Greek word.
- Matthew 27: 45, 46 (During the Crucifixion)
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
The Greek word for ‘forsaken’ is: (phonetically) eng-kat-al-i-po. The word normally has a very wide meaning . However in this verse it specifically means . . . to ‘leave down in’. Let us look at every other passage and then come back to the root of this verse found in Psalm 22. The evidence is literally and irrefutably discovered concerning the relationship between the Father and the Son while on the Cross . Please have patience as we continue.
- Isaiah 53:10-12 (During the Crucifixion)
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt 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.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In this passage, Isaiah deals directly with the Crucified Christ upon the Cross. Look at verse 11: “ ‘He’ shall see of the travail of His soul, and ‘He’ shall be satisfied . . .” Verse 10 answers that for us in telling us that it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He put Him to grief! He made His soul an offering for sin! He shall see HIS seed and HE shall prolong His days!
If you and I cannot see the Father in this verse claiming that HE is the One doing this to His Son, then we must be willingly blind! Verse 11 again: “He Shall SEE the travail of His soul and shall be Satisfied!” Could it be any plainer? The Fellowship between the Father and the Son is not broken here! Let us move on to the next passage . . .
- Psalm 34:19, 20 (During the Crucifixion)
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
This passage deals directly with the Cross and in verse 20 we find that ‘HE is keeping all His bones, so that none of them are broken.’ Again, we find the Father keeping even the bones of the Son so that none are broken! This Keeping occurs while Jesus was on the Cross! The Fellowship between Father and Son is not broken here!
- Matthew 26:38, 39 (Immediately prior to the Crucifixion)
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father , if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Three times He prays to the Father…….But He is praying to the Father!!! In the Garden the Fellowship is not broken between Father and Son!
- Luke 22:40-44 (Immediately prior to the Crucifixion)
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him . 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Again, in the Garden, the Fellowship between the Father and the Son is not broken!
- Luke 23:33, 34 (On the Cross at Calvary)
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
On the Cross, Jesus is in communication with the Father. Earlier in John 11:42 He said: “Father I know that You always hear Me . . .”
On the Cross, Jesus has absolute assurance because He answers the Thief in Luke 23:42, 43:
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Does that sound as though it is coming from a Man Forsaken or Totally Abandoned?
- Luke 23:44-46 (On the Cross at the moment of giving up the Spirit!)
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
Unbroken Fellowship from the Garden to the Moment of Death! How is it that we have taught differently and have maligned the very character of God? We need to repent of this terrible habit! To understand once and for all that God the Father DID NOT turn His face from His Son when on the Cross, nor did He turn a deaf ear to Him while He paid for our sin, lets go back to the very Psalm Jesus Himself quotes!
- Psalm 22 (During the Crucifixion)
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Verse 24 says it all. When Jesus was upon the Cross, the Father did not hide His face from Him, nor did He offer a deaf ear to Him, but He saw, He heard! Unbroken Fellowship.
- John 8:25-29 (Prior to the Cross)
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
The Father did leave His Son in terrible straits, but He never, never, absolutely Never, Utterly forsook or abandoned Him. When we confess that the Father totally abandoned or utterly forsook His Son Jesus while on the Cross, we join in with those who maligned the very character of the Father. Matthew’s Gospel gives us this recording of what they said.
- Matthew 27:39-44
Even the Chief Priests mocked Him, with the Scribes and the Elders saying: “He saved others but Himself He cannot save. If He is the king of Israel, let Him come down from the cross right now and then we will believe Him. He put His trust in God (the Father) let Him (The Father) deliver Him (the Son) now, IF He (The Father) will have Him. (The Son) For He (The Son) said, I am the Son of God.” (The Father) The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth.”
One more for those incredibly Not convinced.
- John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Going UPstream! 