My God, My God

Michael McCoy

Crucifixion • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

0 ratings

· 1 view

In this message, we will explore Psalm 22 and its relevance to Jesus’ crucifixion and the meaning/example of his death.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction:

We have seen the importance of Psalm 22 to Mark’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Thus far, he has made three points of contact with that Psalm:

Mk. 15:24: a direct quotation.

The prisoner exchange.

The behaviors of the “passersby.”

In this message, we will see that Psalm 22 becomes even more integral to understanding Jesus’ crucifixion, especially his view of God.

Jesus’ manner of death now gives us reasons to reflect deeply on its meaning.

We know that through the crucifixion we can confirm God’s love (Jn. 3:16; Ro. 5:8).

The crucifixion makes known to us that whatever is wrong with us as human beings, we cannot fix it ourselves. Our personal actions cannot rectify our sinful condition. If they could, the crucifixion would need not have happened.

Jesus gives us an example. What is so important to us that instead of saving ourselves, we would willing let our lives be taken instead of living in a lie? How loyal are we to him?

How persuaded are we in God’s faithfulness to the promise of resurrection that we would trust him to vindicate us after death instead of compromising ourselves to prevent death? Jesus puts true loyalty on display.

One avenue of exploration of Psalm 22 in Mark 15 must be around the matter of trust. What does it look like to trust God? When is that loyalty to him displayed most completely?

Jesus Speaks

We have previously noted Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ silence.

Now, the Lord speaks again/for the final time.

He appears to address God, although, Mark focuses on the quotation itself and the reaction the people have to it.

A Historical Example of Commitment: Sanctus

[20] “Sanctus also himself endured nobly, beyond measure or human power, all the ill-treatment of men, for though the wicked hoped through persistence and the rigour of his tortures to wring from him something wrong he resisted them with such constancy that he did not even tell his own name, or the race or the city whence he was, nor whether he was slave or free, but to all questions answered in Latin, ‘I am a Christian.’1 (Kirsopp, L. (1926–1932). Preface. In T. E. Page, E. Capps, W. H. D. Rouse, L. A. Post, & E. H. Warmington (Eds.), & K. Lake & J. E. L. Oulton (Trans.), The Ecclesiastical History and 2: English Translation (Vol. 1, pp. 415–417). William Heinemann; G. P. Putnam’s Sons; Harvard University Press.)

Breakdown Psalm 22:

1. Messiah's cry for deliverance - He trusts God (Vs. 1-8)

2. Messiah's need for deliverance - He faces intense opposition and is weak (vs. 9-18)

3. Messiah's confidence in God. (V. 19ff).

Part 2: Jesus’ Death

Mark has kept time to provide a chronology of events.

He has traced the fulfillment of Psalm 22, and Jesus has quoted Psalm 22 in confidence of the resurrection.

One important feature of the account is its normalcy.

We would expect embellishment.

Now Mark will remind his readers of the additional evidence of death.

He has already noted the darkness.

Jesus Dies

After those around the cross rush to offer him a drink and to see if he would be rescued.

Jesus will die on the cross without death being prevented.

Mark does not give a dramatic account of Jesus’ death.

Jesus raises a loud voice. (Mark does not tell us what he says)

He exhaled, that is, he died.

We should distinguish between the power of God to vindicate and resurrect even when unjust death takes place.

True justice occurs in eternity not in this temporal world.

The evidence of God’s faithful to his word in the past should serve as our reason to find him trustworthy about the fulfillment of his promises in the future. This is hope.

Unexpected Evidence and Witnesses of Death

No doubt Mark’s audience needed to be reminded of the evidence for their own assurance.

They relied on eye witness testimony and the declarations of the apostles.

They did not have “scripture” to point to for evidence…yet.

Mark gives four evidences of death.

The rent temple veil: this is a supernatural phenomenon that coincides, perhaps, with the three hour darkness. It is the only phenomenological evidence.

The witness of the centurion: This man, perhaps, commanded the station of Jesus’ cross. He concluded that Jesus is the Son of God based on the way he died (this is the opposite of an apotheosis).

The women who were watching from a distance: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of “little James” and “Josetus” or perhaps a third lady is intended, perhaps Salome is his mother.