The Cross of God: God-Forsaken and God-Grieved

We often talk about what the Cross of Christ means for us.

But what did the Cross mean for God? What did it do to God?

Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 • Psalm 22 • Hebrews 4:14–16, 5:7–9 • John 18:1–19:42

Sermon available on YouTube COMING SOONER/LATER
and as a PDF by clicking HERE

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

         Why are you so far from helping me,

         from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;

         and by night, but find no rest.

                                                                     — Psalm 22:1–2

COULD JESUS HAVE COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS?

When I was in seminary in Pasadena, California, I took most of my core theology courses from Ray Anderson, who not only taught as a fulltime, graduate-school professor, but who also served as the pastor of a church. Dr. Anderson was something of a maverick theologian. He would often begin class with a provocative question. Then, after a bit of discussion, he would offer his own response, which tended to be even more provocative than the question itself.

     I remember one question in particular. We entered the class and got ourselves settled, and after leading us in prayer, he posed this question, “Could Jesus have come down from the cross?” The class became instantly animated as various people offered their passionate responses, most of which amounted to, “Yes, Jesus could have come down from the cross, but he chose not to.”

     To my way of thinking, that seemed right. After all, on the night of Jesus’ arrest, when Peter attempted to rescue him, by cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus said to Peter

Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:52–53)

 So, yes, Jesus could have come down, but he chose not to.

WE CANNON SEPARATE POWER FROM CHARACTER

After the class discussion died down, Dr. Anderson offered his own response. He said, “No. Jesus could not have come down from the cross.” And here was his explanation as best as I can remember it. Jesus could not have come down because it was his love and that of his Father’s that held him to the cross. It wasn’t the nails, but God’s love for the world that held him there. If Jesus had come down from the cross, then there would not have been God’s love for the world.