"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 'He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!' Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."  Psalm 22:1-18

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’”  Matthew 26:39-42

“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?’”  Matthew 27:45-46

1. Because Jesus bore my sins in his body on the cross as my substitute I need never fear being forsaken/cast out/rejected by the Lord. (Psalm 22:1-2, Hebrews 12:2, 28; Hebrews 13:5-6)

It is all about the grace of the cross, not my present day experience.

2. Because Jesus was scorned, despised and mocked by the system of his day (meritocracy) I can walk in the liberating wholeness that union with Christ brings. (Psalm 22:6-8, Colossians 1:21-22)

3. Because Jesus consumed the cup of judgement for me I have no fear of being overwhelmed by present day circumstances as I trust in the goodness of the triune God. (Psalm 22:12-13, 16, 20-21)

4. Because of the power of the cross, I experience the forgiveness of sin, and am gloriously adopted as his child; therefore, I am never ultimately despairing (Psalm 22:14-18)

“The cross is love’s highest human expression and beauty’s ultimate source. Before a sunset or a mountain range or a painting or a song can be relished as beautiful, our souls have to awaken to true beauty.  The cross is real beauty. Everything else is reflection.”  Steve DeWitt, Eyes Wide Open, p. 40

Because Christ drank from the cup of judgement that sinful people should consume, those who are forgiven can now drink from the cup of blessing as we celebrate the gospel of ‘DONE’.’ (Matthew 26:26-29, Revelation 19:9)