Face to Face with Death: Jesus' Forsaken Cry

Tonight’s worship centers on the cross: ancient psalms, prophetic readings, and the Gospel account converge to place Jesus face to face with death. Confession draws on David’s Psalm 51 and the assembly joins in an ancient plea for mercy, followed by the declaration that Christ’s perfect life and atoning death credit believers with forgiveness. Matthew 27 presents the crucifixion in stark detail: darkness from noon to three, Jesus’ cry of dereliction, the tearing of the temple curtain, earthquakes, and the centurion’s confession that Jesus was truly God’s Son. The text insists that Jesus bore the full weight of God’s wrath, standing in the gap for human sin so that punishment no longer rests on those who trust him.

The account highlights a profound mystery: the Son experiences forsakenness as the Father turns his face away, fulfilling the anguish voiced in Psalm 22. Even there, reciting Scripture becomes the means of hope—memory work shows how the promises of God steady the one who suffers. Jesus does not die as a passive victim; he knowingly lays down his life, fulfills the Father’s commission, and gives up his spirit. That voluntary surrender reframes death as the pathway to reunion with the Father and ensures that death does not ultimately triumph. Isaiah’s prophecies and the Suffering Servant passage underscore that the suffering was redemptive: pierced for transgressions, crushed for iniquities, and by his wounds the people find healing.

The liturgy closes with prayers, the Lord’s Prayer, and a doxology that affirms Christ’s obedience unto death and his exaltation. The trajectory moves from confession and darkness to the confident proclamation that the price has been paid—“it is accomplished”—and that resurrection dawns as the assurance of forgiveness and life. Worshippers are invited to hold fast to Scripture’s promises, rest in the peace secured by substitutionary atonement, and to live in the hope of the risen Lord.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Christ bore God's full wrath Jesus plunged into the divine judgment that sin deserves so that sinners would not have to. That bearing of wrath transfers legal guilt from the guilty to the guiltless, making reconciliation possible without compromising God’s justice. This work frees believers from seeing present suffering as divine punishment and reframes hardships as occasions for sanctifying discipline, not final retribution. [21:10]
• 2. Forsaken yet held by promise The cry “My God, why have you forsaken me?” reveals real abandonment within the Savior’s experience, yet it unfolds within Scripture’s promise arc. Forsakenness exposes the depth of atonement, while the psalm’s closing turns that absence into a prelude for God’s deliverance and vindication. That tension teaches how faith can voice honest despair while anchoring hope in divine covenant faithfulness. [23:19]
• 3. Scripture steadies in suffering Reciting Psalm 22 on the cross shows how memorized Scripture supplies language, theology, and hope when everything collapses. Remembered promises interrupt spirals of despair and reorient perception from present pain to promised vindication. Regular engagement with God’s words trains the soul to find refuge and perspective in the worst moments. [25:51]
• 4. Death surrendered, resurrection confidently secured The crucifixion did not snatch life from Jesus; he laid it down and took it up again by divine authority. That voluntary giving reframes death as a commissioned act that leads to resurrection and vindication. The result secures peace for believers: death no longer dictates destiny but becomes the doorway to face-to-face fellowship with the Father. [27:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:51] - Night of Darkness: Opening Announcements
• [10:10] - Confession from Psalm 51
• [13:18] - Declaration of Forgiveness
• [14:23] - Matthew 27: The Crucifixion Account
• [20:52] - Darkness, Forsakenness, and Wrath
• [24:42] - Psalm 22: Memory on the Cross
• [27:57] - Jesus Gives Up His Life
• [29:58] - Resurrection Hope and Peace
• [48:06] - Isaiah: Redemption Promised
• [55:40] - Isaiah 53: The Suffering Servant
• [66:03] - Closing Prayers and Lord’s Prayer

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
Matthew 27:45-54 (ESV)
> Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Isaiah 53:4-6 (ESV)
> Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Psalm 22:1, 24 (ESV)
> My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?... For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Observation questions

1. What three specific, supernatural events does Matthew record happening at the moment of Jesus' death?
2. According to Isaiah 53, what was the purpose of the suffering described? What specific outcomes did it achieve for us?
3. What is the stark contrast between the beginning (verse 1) and the end (verse 24) of Psalm 22 that Jesus was quoting from the cross?
4. What was the centurion's conclusion about who Jesus was after witnessing these events? [15:22]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus cries out about being forsaken, yet he is quoting a Psalm that ends in hope and deliverance. What does this tell us about how Scripture can function in the midst of our deepest suffering? [25:51]
2. The sermon emphasized that Jesus "gave up his spirit" and his life was not taken from him. How does this voluntary act change our understanding of his death from a tragic execution to a purposeful accomplishment? [27:57]
3. Isaiah 53 says "the punishment that brought us peace was upon him." If the punishment for sin was fully placed on Jesus, what implications does this have for how we interpret difficult circumstances or suffering in our own lives today? [21:44]
4. The temple curtain tearing from top to bottom signified that access to God was now open. How does Jesus bearing God's wrath make it possible for us to approach God without fear?

Application questions

1. Christ bore the full wrath of God for sin so that we would not have to. When you are tempted to see a present hardship as God's punishment, how can you actively remind yourself that the ultimate payment has already been made? What difference should that truth make in your emotional and spiritual response? [22:10]
2. Reciting Scripture became the means of hope for Jesus in his deepest suffering. What promises of God have you stored up through memory or regular engagement with His Word? How can you intentionally "fill your thoughts" with these promises the next time you feel overwhelmed or hopeless? [25:51]
3. Jesus experienced real forsakenness so that we would never truly be forsaken by God. When you feel that God is distant or has turned his back on you, how can the truth of the cross anchor you? What is the difference between feeling forsaken and being forsaken?
4. Because Jesus willingly laid down his life and secured resurrection, death is reframed as a doorway to fellowship with God. How does this hope change the way you think about your own mortality or the loss of a believing loved one? [28:47]
5. The centurion's confession came from seeing how Jesus died. If "how one dies explains what they believe," what does your daily life and your perspective on trials say to those who are watching about what you believe concerning God's character and promises? [18:21]
6. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. In what practical ways does the peace of being reconciled to God—knowing He is not angry with you—impact your decisions, your relationships, and your internal sense of security? [30:14]