Today is Good Friday, the day we focus on Jesus’ death on the cross. There is a 90’s praise song called “You Are My King,” (Words and Music by Billy Foote, 1997 Worshiptogether.com Songs). The song focuses on the contrasts between the price that Jesus paid that day and the benefits that are applied to those who repent of their sins and trust in Him alone for salvation. One portion of the song says, “I’m forgiven because you were forsaken. I’m accepted; You were condemned. I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me, because You died and rose again.” Today, I want to take a brief look at the price He paid so that we might be forgiven, accepted, and have eternal life.
Loneliness is a difficult thing for many people to deal with, but being forsaken is far worse. The word “forsaken” means “to leave, to utterly abandon.” Jesus was forsaken to a degree that no other man has ever known.
- Jesus was forsaken by the world He created. Jesus created all things (Gen. 1:1; John 1:3). He came to the world He created but the world would not receive Him because it did not in fact even know Him (John 1:10).
- Jesus was forsaken by the nation of Israel. He was from the seed of Abraham, the tribe of Judah, the family of David. He was a Jew according to the flesh, yet His own nation rejected Him. John 1:11 says, “He came to His own (creation), and those who were His own (nation) did not receive Him.”
- Jesus was forsaken by the people of the village where He lived. Jesus grew up in the village of Nazareth about fifteen miles west of the Sea of Galilee. Yet in this very village He could do no miracles because they did not believe in Him (Luke 4:23-24). Jesus referred to Nazareth when He said, “A prophet is not without honor, except in His own country” (Mt. 13:57). He preached His first sermon in Nazareth (Lk. 4:16-24) but the people rejected Him, so He left.
- Jesus was forsaken by His brothers. Joseph and Mary had other children that were half-brothers to Jesus (Mt. 13:55-56). They watched Him grow up and live a sinless life, but they still did not believe in Him until AFTER His death, burial, and resurrection (John 7:5).
- Jesus was forsaken by the disciples He trained. For over three years they walked with Him, ate with Him, listened to Him preach, and watched Him perform miracles. He told them that they would all forsake Him, but Peter said he would never do so (Mt. 26:33). A few hours later Peter began the process of denying Jesus three times in one night (Lk. 22:57). The next day when Jesus was crucified, they fled in fear and defeat.
- Jesus was forsaken by His eternal Father. On the cross Jesus suffered the most bitter agony of forsakenness as He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” We cannot possibly comprehend the intense agony of that statement as the sins of the world were placed on the spotless Lamb of God (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus’ Holy Father could not look upon His Son who bore our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus was forsaken so that we, through faith in Him, need never be forsaken. This is unbelievable grace and “Amazing Love.” But how can the death of Jesus be of such value to us today?
- Jesus died as our substitute. We deserved death and separation from God because of our sin, but Jesus experienced it as our substitute. He came to the world as the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29).
- Jesus died redemptively. The death of Jesus was not in vain! Through His death He once for all secured the redemption of all those who come to God the Father through Him. There are three Greek words in the New Testament that help us understand this idea of redemption: a) The word “agoradzo” emphasizes the PRICE of redemption. It required the blood of a lamb without blemish or spot (Rev. 5:9-10). b) The word “exagoradzo” emphasizes the REMOVAL of the redeemed from the slave market of sin (Gal. 3:13). c) The word “lutrao” emphasizes the RELEASE, or setting free, of that which has been redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-19). Thus, through the redemptive death of Jesus on the cross, we have the PRICE paid for our sin, we are REMOVED from the slave market, and we are SET FREE to no longer be slaves to sin and death. Therefore, we will never have to experience the wrath of God if we place our faith and trust in Christ!
The story does not end there because Jesus did not stay dead! He rose from the dead on the third day having paid the price of our redemption.
- Jesus rose bodily. When men saw Him, they touched Him and ate with Him. He was raised PHYSICALLY from the dead!
- Jesus rose eternally. Other people had been resurrected by Jesus only to die again, but Jesus was raised never to die again!
- Jesus rose triumphantly. After 40 days He ascended on high and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3). He now sits there as both Lord and Christ and waits for His return to earth where He will rule and reign on the throne of David (Ps. 110; Acts 2). We’ll talk more about that on Easter Sunday!
Why did Jesus do this? Why would He go through such agonizing rejection? Why would He accept being forsaken? LOVE (John 3:16). We are forgiven. We are accepted. We will live forever. All because of the love of Jesus! This should cause us to shout “hallelujah” and honor Jesus in everything we do!
Amazing love
How can it be
That You my King would die for me?
Amazing love
I know it’s true
And it’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You