In Mat 27.46 we read that Christ cried out in loud voice asking God why He had forsaken Him. This verse is used by skeptics and cynics to present their case against the Triune God and that Jesus was not one with the Father. These doubters would argue that if the Father and the Son are one, how could the Father forsake the Son? Is it really possible?
Let us start with the fact that God forsook Christ on the cross and this forsaking is not exactly the abandonment of the Son but the people whom He had come to save because He replaces us the believers on the cross (1 Pet 3.18). He bore oursins (1 Pet 2.24, Isa 53.6). He was made sin for us(2 Cor 5.21). Isa 53.6 says that our iniquities fell on Him. 1 Pet 2.24, says that He bore our sins in His body on the cross, in order we having died to sins, might live to righteousness by whose bruise we were healed. 1 Pet 3.18 says that ‘…..being put to death in the flesh, but on the other hand made alive in the Spirit.’ In 2 Cor 5.21 says, ‘–Him who did not know sin was made sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.'
The above verses clearly indicate that though it was Christ on the cross, we the believers are actually crucified for our sins with Christ. Now, Imagine if we were crucified for our sins without Christ's redemptive work, then God’s Holy nature will demand Him to abandon us because of our sins. Unless and until we obtain forgiveness for our sins and sinful nature before our time comes to an end, we would never have an escape from our condemning crosses. However, the Lord Jesus took our sins and was made sin for us on the cross. Now, God’s abandonment of His Son was actually His abandonment of the creation that was under sin. Simply put, the abandonment of the Father which Jesus suffered was in fact our abandonment, but Hallelujah for Christ who suffered on our behalf. Isn’t this a mighty and a wonderful plan? What a wisdom! Hallelujah! I have no words to praise our wonderful and great God.
Next, if the Father and the Son were separate, then it would be sadistic for the Father to punish an innocent Person on our behalf. However, the Father and the Son are one, so the Father suffered along with the Son on the cross. This only states how infinitely loving our God is. Hallelujah. To understand this further, let us read an illustration. Imagine your child is fast asleep on your shoulder in a church meeting. Your arms are paining due to the weight of the child, but your love for the little one makes you ignore your paining arm and you will continue to hold your sleeping child carefully because of your love for him or her. You just forsook your arm just to keep the child comfortable. Similarly, the Lord Jesus as the arm of God was forsaken to suffer for us, so that we can be drawn back to the Father once and for all. Hallelujah. The fact that the Lord Jesus suffered even this abandonment gives credibility to our great God and how meticulous He is to satisfy His righteous requirement by receiving the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Amen
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