1. Forsaken by God (33-41)

From noon, darkness covered the whole land until three in the afternoon. It was a sign of God's mourning or judgment. On the cross, Jesus was bearing our judgment. In his anguish, he cried out, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' Because of our sins, Jesus experienced the horror of God's abandonment. 'God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God' (2 Cor 5:21). As Jesus breathed his last, the curtain of the temple-symbolizing the separation of God and man-was torn in two. God accepted Jesus' sacrifice and opened the way for us to have forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus' separation from God brought us peace with God.

2. Place in the tomb (42-47)

Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. He wrapped it in linen and placed it in a tomb. Jesus' burial fulfilled Scripture: 'He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death' (Is 53:9). God the Son lowered himself all the way to the tomb, the destiny of sinners. Nevertheless, his burial was necessary for his resurrection.


Application: Lord Jesus, thank you so much for your sacrificial death on the cross for sinners like us.
One Word: Salvation through forsaken Jesus