April 14, 2006

Seven Questions

Why Has Thou Forsaken Me?

Matthew 27:36-46

Opening Words: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at dawn on Easter. Not counting Sundays, which are mini Easters, Lent lasts forty days. The number forty is reserved in the Bible for sacred time periods. In the story of Noah it rained for forty days and nights. The Jews wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted for forty days before being tempted by Satan. Jesus walked the face of this world for forty days in his resurrected state after Easter. For forty days we will join the Christian world and strive to live lives that are more pleasing to God.

This morning you will hear sermon number seven in my seven part Lenten sermon series is called Seven Questions. Six of the questions Jesus asked the disciples. They are seven questions that Jesus is asking us. The master did not ask these questions to expose our ignorance. The master asked these questions to help us grow in the faith. The last question Jesus asked God, Himself. This morning’s question is why has thou forsaken me? It is a question of suffering. Let us hear this Gospel reading together.

Introduction

In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 "famous and exceptionally gifted people" called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness, what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people's lives. Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were. Maybe that is Jesus’ story?

Body

This evening we are in the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew, verses 46 through 56. It is in this section that we find the final question. This is the final question. Why has thou forsaken me? Jesus actually quotes the twenty-second Psalm. The twenty-second Psalm was written by David. In those sacred words David is questioning God. He wants to know why good people have to suffer. Have you ever wondered why good people have to suffer? Have you ever wondered if God has forgotten you in your time of need?

This evening, using Jesus hanging on the cross as our back drop, I want to talk about three words. These three words will help us understand Jesus’ question. Why has thou forsaken me? Each one of these words relate to your life and begins with the letter T. So if you are ready for these three words say, “Amen!”

Word Number One: Tragedy

The first word is the word tragedy. This evening we remember one of the great tragedies in the history of the world. Jesus died on the cross! He never committed a single sin yet he was executed for the sins of the world. He didn't just die. He died a horrible death. The Romans were masters at making people die in horrible ways. Jesus hung on the cross for six hours. In that period of time he really died in his own body fluid. Jesus' death was truly a tragedy. No wonder Jesus asks the question, why has thou forsaken me? As Jesus hung there he felt forgotten by God.

Jesus was not the first or the last to feel forgotten by God. The Old Testament is filled with people who are going through some difficult times and wonder why God doesn’t do something? That is the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. That is the story of Moses. That is the story of Joshua, David and the prophets. From time to time, they all felt forgotten by God. Why has thou forsaken me?

The early church asked the question. Why has thou forsaken me? It has been said that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the early church. There was much suffering in the early church. Did you know at the Nicene Council, in the 4^th century, there were 318 delegates. Less then 12 of those 318 delegates had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.

There is no lack of suffering in our time. There is no lack of suffering in our church. Every one of us knows someone who is suffering. The suffering may be emotional. The suffering may be medical. The suffering may be financial. There is no shortage of suffering in this world. There is no shortage of tragedies in our lives. Someone asked C.S. Lewis, “Why do the righteous suffer?” “Why not?” he replied. “They’re the only ones who can take it.” Jesus asked the question that we have all asked from time to time. Why has thou forsaken me? Have you ever felt forgotten by God? If you have ever felt abandoned in this world say, “Amen!” Do feel guilty about that fact. Even Jesus felt that way. The first word is tragedy.

Word Number Two: Touch

The second word is the word touch. As Jesus hung on the cross he was untouchable. He was surrounded by all kinds of people. Some of those people loved him. Their hearts were breaking. Others in the crowd hated him. He couldn’t die fast enough. The crowd was different but the crowd was the same. No one could touch him. Mark 15:36 says a man filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick and offered it to Jesus. Why the stick? Because, Jesus was too high to be touch. When you are going through some difficult times don’t you feel better when someone touches you? A sincere touch expresses more than words. Does anyone here this evening need a hug?

We reserve a touch for life’s very best and worst. I have seen it a million times. How many weddings have I officiated at? The wedding takes months to plan but only minutes to live out. After the bride walks down the aisle with dad, after the special music, after the exchanging of the rings and the vows, the couple forms the receiving line. Everyone files by to express their best wishes. Most people shake the grooms hand and gives the bride a hug.

I have stood by your hospital bed. You have told me the details of your story and the coming surgery. I will look at you before I leave and say, “Why don’t we pray?” Without any instructions hands begin to reach for other hands. When the end of the prayer comes what do we do? We squeeze those hands as if to say I am there for you. We squeeze those hands to express something we would never say, “I love you.” We need to be touched during life’s best and worst experiences.

Jesus could not be touched on the cross. He was too high. He had to go through that experience alone. No wonder he asked the question. Why has thou forsaken me? The second word is the word touch.

Word Number Three: Trust

The third word is the word trust. Jesus knew that God had a plan. Jesus knew he was going to die. Jesus knew how he was going to die. Jesus must have seen other people die on the cross. It was a common form of Roman execution. Jesus knew the pain he would experience but he trusted God. In those moments before the cross he must of thought about the cross and asked why has thou forsaken me?

Preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics a television show featured blind skiers being trained for slalom skiing, impossible as that sounds. Paired with sighted skiers, the blind skiers were taught on the flats how to make right and left turns. When that was mastered, they were taken to the slalom slope, where their sighted partners skied beside them shouting, "Left!" and "Right!" As they obeyed the commands, they were able to negotiate the course and cross the finish line, depending solely on the sighted skiers' word. It was either complete trust or catastrophe. Jesus trusted God! Do you trust God during lifes most difficult experiences? The third word is trust.

Conclusion

When Lincoln's body was brought from Washington to Illinois, it passed through Albany and it was carried through the street. They say a black woman stood upon the curb and lifted her little son as far as she could reach above the heads of the crowd and was heard to say to him, "Take a long look, honey. he died for you". Take a long look, He died for you. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”