My God My God Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me (2)

              God, My God why has thou forsaken me?
Script: Mark 15.33
Intro: Forgotten, forsaken, forlorn, three words that moan with the agony
of existence. For what can the human spirit do but flinch when one's life is forgotten, when one finds himself forsaken, and one feels forlorn.
This is one word from Jesus we do not emphasize too much. We are afraid of its naked honesty—my God, my God why have you forgotten me?
Why have you left me? Why have you forsaken me?
This is not the image we treasure most as we look at the crucifixion of Jesus. Put you hand in the hand of the man who stilled the waters, a modern rendition of the power of Christ seems to pale with this word.
This one speaking does not seem to measure up to the Christ hanging from our walls; certainly not the one pictured on the face of the wrist watch selling for 12.95 promising that every minute will be one in which Jesus will be present. This word, my God, my God why have you forgotten me, is one that rings and awakens our own feelings at a level of depth that is quite disturbing.
We find ourselves either avoiding this word because in it are the quiet renunciations we have spoken under our own breath, or the unspeakable questions we have, or we find this word absolutely unbelievable because of he one who spoke it.
I. The image of absolute faith, the absence of doubt.
A. Jesus had seemed so sure. If there was ever a man of faith it is Jesus. He is at least in our minds a religious hero who can command the respect of most of us solely on objective grounds. What we know of him all says that he attempted to help people. He did it without murmuring or wincing.
1. He was so sure, when he told her to go her way and sin no more; And that one who was told to get out of his bed, his sins had been forgiven. He seemed so sure in his judgments.
2. He had no problem in designating where the action of God was taking place in human affairs and where it was not. Very sure that the religious leaders were like white-washed tombs; very sure that the first of them would be last, and that adulterers and harlots would enter the kingdom of God before them.
3. Remember the night he was betrayed? How sure he was as he chastized Peter for raising his sword and cutting off the ear of the soldier? "He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword." And a bystander might add, he who lives be love dies by crucifixion better it be the sword.'
B. Jesus seemed so sure, that he did not hesitate one minute to let people know how close God was to everyone.
1. The Kingdom of God is among you, he told his disciples. Why do you look elsewhere? Look at the lilies of the field, look at the birds of the air, look at the grass of the field, why are you so anxious? Does not God care for you more than these.