As we return to Matthew 27 we are in the midst of a horrifying scene. Jesus has been crucified and now hangs from the cross, suspended in the air by nails in his hands and feet. He has been crucified between two other criminals. The scene before us is a scene of shame and mockery. People are passing by on their way in and out of the city of Jerusalem. As the people walk by, they are hurling insults and shaking their heads at Jesus. The scribes, elders, and chief priests are also mocking Jesus. I want us to remember that each of these events, and even the very words these insulters are proclaiming, are all recorded prophetically in Psalm 22. The details are shockingly accurately. In our last lesson we looked carefully at the many connections to Psalm 22. But I want to remind you that we are seeing Psalm 22 unfold before our eyes.
The Darkness (Matthew 27:45)
Then something fantastic occurs. We are told in Matthew 27:45 that from the sixth hour (noon) to the ninth hour (three in the afternoon), darkness fell over the whole land. Even if we know nothing about the scriptures or about its symbolism, we would know that darkness in the middle of the day, lasting for three hours, is quite ominous. No one would think about darkness falling in the middle of the day as a good thing. The scriptures consistently use darkness as a picture of God’s judgment (cf. Amos 8:9; Isaiah 59:9-10; Joel 2:2, 10, 31; Zephaniah 1:15). One of the more notable instance of darkness falling over the land occurred during Israel’s exodus from Egypt and the ten plagues. The ninth plague was darkness (cf. Exodus 10:21-23). Please consider that when the darkness fell in Egypt, it was a picture of God’s judgment on Egypt and the Egyptian leadership, particularly Pharaoh. Now darkness falls over the land of Israel and it is a picture of God’s judgment on Israel and the leadership of Israel. They have crucified the Son of God. They have rejected God’s anointed. What Israel has done is worthy of judgment, which is what the apostles will directly proclaim throughout the book of Acts.
The Cry (Matthew 27:46)
Jesus has been on the cross for hours as it is now three in the afternoon. The darkness has persisted for three hours. But now Jesus has something to say. You will notice that what Jesus says is not in a whisper. Jesus does not give a quiet prayer to his Father. Rather, we are told that Jesus cried out in a loud voice. Jesus shouts with whatever strength he has while he hangs by nails in the air for all to hear him. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This leaves everyone who reads this with many questions. Did Jesus not know what was happening? Is Jesus confused in this moment and praying to his God for answers? What is happening and why is Jesus saying this?
Now it is important that we take care when we explain what Jesus is doing and what God is doing in this moment. We do not want to understate or overstate what is happening. Nor do we want to make up what is happening and go beyond what the scriptures teach here. I want us to think carefully about what Jesus said. Jesus regularly called God his Father. Jesus must have a reason for calling God, “My God,” and not, “My Father” as he always said before. The reason becomes obvious because we quickly recognize that what Jesus said is what David wrote at the beginning of Psalm 22. Therefore, as we do with any New Testament quotation of Old Testament prophecy, we must allow the prophecy to inform the moment we are reading about. We have done this throughout our study of Matthew and we have done this in all of our New Testament studies. So we must let Psalm 22 inform this moment in Jesus’ final hours. Turn in your copies of God’s word to Psalm 22 and we will take a quick scan of Psalm 22 so that we can use it to help us understand what Matthew is recording for us.
Notice that David starts this psalm with the same words. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Notice what David means by these words in the rest of verse 1. “Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” Verse 2 gives the idea further. David is crying out day and night, but he is not finding any rest and not seeing God answer. God is not giving him rest or relief in his situation. In short, his salvation will not be right now in this moment. Now remember what insults the leaders are hurling at him right now. They are saying that if he truly trusts in the Lord, then let God save him now and they will believe. The psalm cries for the same rescue and salvation, but it is not happening now. But Psalm 22:3-5 reveal that though David is not experiencing salvation right now, he still trusts in the Lord just as those in the past trusted in the Lord and were rescued. But while David trusts in God, he is experiencing insults. You will notice that what David says in Psalm 22:6-8 is exactly what is happening with Jesus. They are saying the same insulting words and shaking their heads at Jesus as they pass by on the road. But David is still trusting (Psalm 22:9-11). David says he has trusted from the very beginning of his life and he is still trusting now. We could say the same thing about Jesus’ life. He trusted in God from the start and is still trusting now, even though God is far from saving him.
Psalm 22:12-18 now record the excruciating suffering to the point of death. The enemies are surrounding him (22:12-13). His strength is gone, his bones are put out of joint, and he is about to lay down in the dust of death (22:14-15). Evildoers are around him (22:16). His hands and his feet are pierced (22:16). People stare and gloat over him (22:17). His clothes are divided and lots are cast (22:18). We have seen all of these moments happen in Matthew 27. Yet David is not giving up on God. He is still crying out for God to be near him and to come to his rescue. Rescue me from these evildoers! Rescue me from the sword! Come quickly and help!
But then something happens in David’s life. Psalm 22:21-24 show that God did rescue him. In verse 21 David says that God did answer him and he will praise God’s name before all the people. He will praise God to everyone because God did not despise him or abhor him. Look carefully at the rest of verse 24. “He has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.” So Psalm 22 is David expressing how he felt forsaken and he felt that God was far from him. He was surrounded by his enemies, insulted, and pierced. Yet David continued trusting in God in spite of his circumstances and he was rescued. God heard his cries and delivered him.
Think about appropriate Psalm 22 is to the situation that Jesus is going through while on the cross. The people have rejected him. They are mocking him as he goes through his anguish. But Jesus is still trusting in God. Perhaps Jesus shouts these words to get the people to think about the message of Psalm 22 since even the words his enemies are saying were prophetically recorded in this psalm. The enemies are saying that God has rejected him (Matthew 27:43), but Jesus is still expecting deliverance. It looks like God has rejected him. It feels like God is far from him. But Jesus is not letting go of God and continues to hold on to him, regardless of what the people say about him or what the people do to him.
The Response (Matthew 27:47-50)
So what is the response to Jesus’ cry? Rather than hearing Psalm 22 and considering what is happening and what they are doing, they misunderstand Jesus further. They think that Jesus is calling for Elijah. This misunderstanding is revealed when we see the Aramaic wording in verse 46. Rather than hearing “my God, my God,” they are hearing Jesus call for Elijah. No one says, “Hey, that’s David’s words!” No one says, “He is speaking the scriptures.” No, they think he is crying out for himself that Elijah would come. Someone brings a sponge filled with sour wine, puts it on a reed, and offers it to Jesus to drink. This also continues to fulfill the scriptures, this event recorded in Psalm 69:21. Every moment that is happening was predicted by the prophets in the scriptures. But the mockery continues as some say to wait and see if Elijah will come and save him. They are making fun of him even more. But with these events complete, Jesus cries out with a loud voice and gives up his spirit. Jesus gives his life. Was Jesus wrong to trust in God to hear him and rescue him? Was the crowd vindicated when Jesus died, showing that he was rejected by God and that God did not desire him?
The Reversal Pictured (Matthew 27:51-53)
Matthew wants to answer these things quickly. Look at what happens when Jesus gave up his spirit as recorded in Matthew 27:51-53. First, in the temple of God the curtain was torn from top to bottom. The curtain was blocking access into the presence of God. But the curtain is torn, indicating that access into the presence of God was available for all (cf. Hebrews 10:20). Second, the earth shook. Earthquakes were also symbolic of God’s judgment in the scriptures. This time the earth shook, the rocks were split open, and the tombs were opened. It is like creation exploded with the Son of God died. Third, when Jesus rose from the dead three days later, he was not the only one. You will notice that Matthew 27:53 records that the tombs were opened and, after Jesus’ resurrection, those who were in the tombs came out and walked into Jerusalem and many people saw them. Can you imagine this event? What a three day event! A great earthquake happens. The rocks are exploding. The curtain in the temple is torn. The tombs are opened. Then three days later, the dead are made alive and walk into Jerusalem. There is only one conclusion that can possibly be drawn.
The Proof (Matthew 27:54)
Look at the conclusion that must be drawn in verse 54. “Truly this was the Son of God!” Unfortunately, it is not the religious leaders who understand this. It is not the Jewish people of Jerusalem who draw this conclusion. It is a Roman centurion who was watching all of these events. He draws the correct and necessary conclusion. Jesus was definitely the Son of God. He was who he said he was. He was not rejected by God. Jesus was not wrong to put his trust in God. God had not turned his face or abhorred him but rescued him three days later. This fits exactly what Jesus taught while he walked on the earth. Listen to what Jesus taught.
Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (John 16:32 ESV)
So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28-29 ESV)
Jesus said that God was with him and he was proven correct. When Jesus rose from the dead it proved that he was God’s delight and he is the Son of God. When Jesus rose from the dead, he showed that his faith was not misplaced. Brown made the point well, “He trusts in God despite all indications that God had left him to his enemies” (Teach the Text commentary). So what is the message for us?
The Message
Here is our major message of hope. You can feel forsaken by God and look abandoned by God. But that does not mean that God is not near or that God will not rescue you. God is not far despite what we feel. We can feel so far from God. We can feel like God has turned his back on us. We can feel like God is not listening to us. We can feel like our prayers are falling on deaf ears. We can be insulted and rejected for trusting in God. We can be persecuted for our faith. But God is not far from us even when we are going through such difficult circumstances and times of suffering.
So when God feels far, keep trusting God. You will not be disappointed. You will not be put to shame. Your faith will not be found to be empty or worthless. Keep trusting God and keep looking for his answer in your life. Keep trusting God and keep looking for the reversal to come. This is exactly what David said and what David did in Psalm 22. He cried out for help. It did not look like God was going to answer and it looked like his enemies were right. But then God rescued him. God did not despise his servant but gave him deliverance. This is exactly what Jesus said and what Jesus did. He cried out for help. It did not look like God was going to answer and it looked like his enemies were right. But then God rescued him. God did not despise his servant but gave him deliverance, raising him from the dead three days later. So we cry for help. It may not look like God will answer and it can look like our enemies are right. But God will answer and God will help us in our time of need.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 ESV)
God has not turned his back on you. Keep trusting and look for God to answer at just the right time. God is never late. God is always there at the right time.