Matthew 27:26 Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he scourged and delivered up to be crucified. (27) Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus... (28) And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe around Him, (29) And they wove a crown of thorns and placed it on His head and put a reed in His right hand; and they kneeled before Him and mocked Him saying, Rejoice, King of the Jews! (30) And they spit on Him and took the reed and beat Him on the head. (31) And when they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. (35) And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among themselves, casting lots. (36) And they sat down and guarded Him there. (37) And they set in writing over His head the charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (38) At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. (39) And those who were passing by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads (40) And saying, You who destroy the temple and build it up in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross! (41) Likewise also the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked Him and said, (42) He saved others; Himself He cannot save. He is King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe on Him. (43) He trusts in God; let Him rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said, I am the Son of God. (44) And in the same way the robbers who were crucified with Him also reproached Him. (45) Now from the sixth hour darkness fell over all the land until the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Although man was unrighteous, beginning in verse 45 God came in in a righteous way. The sixth hour is our 12 noon, and the ninth is our 3 p.m. The Lord was crucified at the third hour, our 9 a.m. He was suffering on the cross for six hours. In the first three hours, He was persecuted by men for doing God's will; in the last three hours, He was judged by God for the accomplishment of our redemption. It was during this time that God counted Him as our suffering substitute for sin (Isa. 53:10). Hence, darkness came over all the land because our sin and sins and all negative things were dealt with there, and God forsook Him (v. 46) because of our sin. By the time of verse 45, men had exhausted their deeds. They had done everything they could. At that time, God came in to judge this crucified Savior and to forsake Him. Verse 46 says, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" God forsook Christ on the cross because He took the place of sinners (1 Pet. 3:18), bearing our sins (1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:6) and being made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Matthew, pp. 811. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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