Today we’re 2 weeks away from Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus’ Death. All through Lent we’ve been preparing to hear about His Death. We’ve been hearing about all He did for us. He didn’t die because people hated Him. He died because He wanted to die.

It was about 9AM when Jesus was nailed to His Cross. It was noon when “the lights went out” and 3PM when He died. When “the lights went out” He cried out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” These are the opening words of Psalm 22. In that Psalm, Jesus sings. He tells us about all His suffering. He vividly describes His Crucifixion. He even looks ahead to His Resurrection.

Let’s focus on Jesus’ words: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Jesus is completely united with His Father. But here He says His Father has turned His back on Him. He’s really angry with Him. He’s suffering hell itself. Hell is the one place where God’s love cannot be found. It’s what we deserve for all the bad we’ve done. Our sins earn for us both the end of our earthly lives and then eternity in hell.

That’s why Jesus suffered hell and death on The Cross. He didn’t want you to be apart from His love forever in an eternal prison. He didn’t want you to stay dead either. He wanted to rescue you from all evil. He wanted to turn death into your escape from this sinful world into His loving arms. So He died and rose, for you. God is not angry with you. He loves you. He’ll never turn His back on you.