"LET HIM DELIVER HIM NOW"

MATTHEW 27:4

A. "HE TRUSTED IN GOD; LET HIM DELIVER HIM NOW: FOR HE SAID, `I AM THE SON OF GOD'"
  1. These words, although slanderous in intent, are a fulfillment of Bible prophecy:
    1. "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him; let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." Ps. 22:7, 8
    2. It seems incredible that men professing faith in God can become so heartless, without pity and without any compassion, as men manifested at the crucifixion of the Son of God.
  2. What makes the crime against the Son of God more hideous is the fact:
    1. The murderers of the Son of God claimed to be the children of God, sons of Abraham - John 8:33-44
    2. How many beastly crimes against the human race have not been committed in the name of religion! John 16:2
B. IMPLICATIONS OF OUR OPENING TEXT
  1. An unusual acknowledgement by sinners:
    1. "He trust in God"
      1. Could sinners give a higher compliment to the Son of God!
    2. Some of them must have observed Him when He was in prayer - John 11:41
    3. They knew of the Lord's intimacy with His Father, and His reliance upon God - John 12:49, 50; Matt. 6:25-32
    4. They were aware of His blameless life. Never did they accuse Him of carelessness or hypocrisy; they attacked His teaching only.
  2. Essence of the taunt of sinners:
    1. He trusted in God; let Him deliver him now.
    2. This taunt was peculiarly painful, make no mistake.
      1. God allowed His Son to suffer fearful abuse and the pain of the cross without interference by Him.
      2. The bitter cry of the Son of God, in His dying moments, "My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?" seemed to support their taunt.
  3. The taunt of sinners seeks to pin suffering and pain to sin:
    1. Even the disciples had this idea - John 9:2; Luke 13:1-4
    2. Heathens had this idea - Acts 28:4
    3. They ignored the prophecy which gives the reason for our Lord's suffering and death - Isa. 53:1-12
C. GOD'S FAITHFULNESS
  1. Our God does deliver us out of trouble:
    1. That is His gracious promise - Ps. 41:1; 50:15
    2. The Bible teems with vivid examples of such deliverance by God -
      1. Joseph - Gen. 37: 39; 41
      2. Daniel and his friends - Dan. 2; 3; 4; 6
      3. Jeremiah - Jer. 38:6, 13
      4. Paul and Silas - Acts 16:25-30
      5. Peter and a host of other witnesses.
  2. Sinners forget that the suffering and the death of Christ were for them; they were entirely because of our transgression:
    1. He was made sin for us - 2 Cor. 5:21
    2. God dealt with sin in the person of His Son
    3. This was done by God to justify or satisfy the broken law - Rom. 5:12-19; 8:1-3
  3. The Father did deliver the Son from death:
    1. He did not permit His body to see corruption - Acts 2:27
    2. He brought forth the Captain of our salvation from the dead - Rom. 1:3, 4
    3. The suffering and death of the Son of God were vicarious.
    4. They were voluntary - John 10:18
    5. They were for our sakes - 1 Cor. 15:3
    6. He took the cup that rightfully belonged to you and me.


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