(Part 2/3 – A summary of the Sunday morning teaching on 02-Aug-15, in AFT Church, English service. From the series The Foundation For Victorious Living)
A POIGNANT SILENCE
Now when the 6th hour had come there was darkness over the whole land until the 9th hour and at the 9th hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying “eloi, eloi lama sabacthani’” which is translated as ‘My God, My God why have you forsaken me?’……Some of those when he stood by said, look he is calling for Elijah and someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed and offered it to him to drink saying let him alone, let us see if Elijah will come to take him down. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Mark 15:33-38
It was at the point where He was nailed to the Cross that Jesus cried out to His Father saying, My God! My God! why have you forsaken me?’
Heaven remained silent!
Doesn’t that sound excruciatingly painful? It was a deep cry that arose from a forsaken heart.
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Let’s pause there and get a grasp on the scene unfolding before us. In order to understand this better, let’s head to the Epistle of Galatians which describes the Redemption on the Cross.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:10-14
1) THE SIN BEARER
The Bible says that the Law is meant to be followed to the T. This passage says that there is no person who hasn’t failed the Law. The Law is a pointer to our sins and enables us to recognize that we are helpless and need to turn to Jesus for our Salvation.
God hates sin and He wanted to put an end to our sinful state. In order to do that God sent His Son to the earth. He lived a perfect and sinless life. God took all the sin, punishment and curse of mankind and flung it on Jesus. The Old Testament in Deuteronomy 28 describes the curses on the nation of Israel if they lead unrighteous lives. Some of the curses could literally destroy one’s life to smithereens! Imagine that! The sinless Son of God steeped in the curse of this world! The sin bearer became a substitute to atone for our wretchedness!
2) A PRIESTLY BLESSING
The Bible also describes God’s blessings. In the book of Numbers, He blessed the Israelites in a prophetic manner. Numbers 6: 23-26 say, ‘‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”’
So essentially, a man is blessed when –
a)God turns His face towards a man and lets His face shine upon Him and is gracious to Him.
b)God lifts His countenance upon us and gives us His peace, protection, favor and blessings.
…to be continued…
