The Anguish of Jesus (Matthew 27:45-50; Psalm 22)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
18 April 2025
On the cross Jesus cried “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He perceived that help from God the Father was not forthcoming. Jesus was perplexed.
Note the physical pain of Jesus. It is possible that he had not experienced physical pain before since he knew no sin. Or, he chose to experience pain to show his identification with humanity. Either way, his physical pain was excruciating.
Note the mental pain of Jesus. That cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” shows his deep anguish. Our Lord knew he would suffer mental pain but when it came it was almost unbearable. In Gethsemane he felt the anguish. At Calvary the anguish surfaced. Jesus felt the travail of his soul but he ultimately was satisfied (Isaiah 53:11).
Note the pain of the heavenly Father. He himself felt the pain of his Son. A man sends his young son to buy bread. The son is assaulted on the way. The father feels the pain of his son and the more so as it was he who sent his son on the errand. God sent the Son. The Son suffered because of that sending. If we understand the pain of the earthly father we should also understand the pain of the heavenly Father.
In all his anguish Jesus triumphed. He triumphed over the devil in the wilderness. He triumphed in Gethsemane and now at Calvary.
The visible anguish of Jesus shows he was in spiritual warfare. The devil came to Jesus in the wilderness and tempted Jesus to disobey the Father. The devil departed and waited for an opportune time to tempt Jesus again (Luke 4:13). This was at Calvary where Jesus was most vulnerable.
Note that the three temptations in the wilderness were essentially present when Jesus was on the cross.
In the wilderness Jesus was tempted to use his authority to provide food for his hungry body. On the cross he was challenged to come down from the cross and save himself. On both occasions it was about self preservation.
In the temptation he was challenged to serve the devil who in turn would give him the kingdoms of the world. On the cross Jesus could have saved himself, come down from the cross and rule over a fallen world --- a world under the rule of the devil. Christ would have inherited a fallen world. But he did not want a fallen world for he came to establish a kingdom where righteousness dwells.
In the temptation he was tempted by the devil to jump from a height on the basis that the Father would always protect him. On the cross he would have been tempted to come down on the basis that even if he disobeyed the Father the Father would still love and protect him. The devil sought to divide Father from Son.
But Jesus triumphed. He went all the way and died for the sins of his people. He could finally say “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). The divine plan of salvation was intact.
From anguish to accomplishment; from pain to Paradise, Jesus has traveled this path for us. He goes to prepare a place in heaven for us. We follow him. His death is our deliverance. His pain is our gain.