Thomas Goodwin On The Forsakenness Of Jesus On The Cross

Thomas Goodwin spoke more often at the Westminster Assembly than any other delegate. I've already written about his faithful teaching on the cross here: Thomas Goodwin On The Father's Love And Anger At The Cross

Thomas Goodwin got the forsakenness of Jesus on the cross right:

That he, that is God blessed forever, should be made a curse, this you have in Gal. 3:13. That he, that is, 'the Holy One of Israel,' should be made sin, aye, and what is more, he that cannot endure sin, for nothing is more contrary to the holiness of God than sin, and yet 'he that knew no sin was made sin,' this you have in 2 Cor. 5:21. That God should never be more angry with his Son than when he was most pleased with him, for so it was when Christ hung upon the cross, God did find a sweet-smelling savour of rest and satisfaction even when he cried out, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (The Works Of  Thomas Goodwin, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Glory Of The Gospel (Tanski Publications: Eureka, California: 1996), 275)

In that he is God as well as man, therefore he must needs be able for any undertaking, be it never so hazardous. If it had been possible for his Father to have forsaken him (as he complained that for a time he did), and afford him no succour, no support, but leave him to himself, nay, do his utmost against him, and make known against him the power of his wrath (as indeed he did), yet he is able alone to uphold himself, for that the 'fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in him,' Col. 2:9, and therefore there was an impossibility of miscarriage, as you have it, Acts 2:24, 'It was not possible that he should have been held under the pangs of death.' If anything would have held him, it would have been death and hell; for then his power was put to it to raise himself; but it was impossible that he should be held by them, because he was God. It is one of his great names, Isa. 9:7, that he is the mighty God: therefore he is mighty and able to save himself and others. (Of Christ The Mediator, Page 122)

Thus when it is said, that Christ was made a curse, not only in bodily miseries, but in his soul also, the meaning is not that the hypostatical union was dissolved, or the influence of divine grace restrained, but only, that in regard of comfort he was 'forsaken' of God, and felt the fearful effects of his anger due to our sins, without sin and despair. (Of Christ The Mediator, Page 461)

Though enemies persecute us and have their wills of us, yet we are said not to be forsaken, as 2 Cor. 4:9, 'Persecuted, but not forsaken;' that is, though left in the hands of men, yet not forsaken by God; so that forsaken is put in opposition to being left to the persecutions and power of our enemies. But Christ is not only said to be left to the power of enemies, but to be forsaken by God himself, which how it could be, I shall afterwards explain. And this was the extremity of his emptying, emptying to nothing, as Dan. 9:26, 'Messiah shall have nothing,' that is, nothing left to comfort him; so his cutting off is expressed. (Of Christ The Mediator, Pages 472-473)

He might look upon himself as a Son, and a Son performing an obedience to his Father, even in suffering his wrath, and never pleasing him more than now, and in that respect most beloved of him; and yet withal, as a surety for sinners, and so punished, and in that respect he might apprehend God for the present angry, and full of wrath against him, as being made sin and so a curse for us, yet so as to the end that he might be well pleased with sinners in him. And both these differing apprehensions of his did Christ accordingly express in that one sentence, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' He speaks it as apprehending himself a Son still, and united to God, and beloved of him, and yet forsaken by him, and, as a surety, accursed. (Of Christ The Mediator, Page 480)

But there was another principle in him, and that was present sense of the impressions of God's anger: his mind by sight or vision seeing nothing else, and his will by the impressions on it feeling nothing else. (Of Christ The Mediator, Page 481)

For, when CHRIST complained, "My God! my God! why has you forsaken me" (when as great an eclipse, in regard of the light of God's countenance, was upon his spirit, as was upon the earth,) yet he never obeyed God more; was never more strongly supported, than at that time; for then he was obeying to the death. (A Child Of Light Walking In Darkness)

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

Getting The Cross Right

We must get the cross right! For more on Christ's forsakenness on the cross, please read:

1. A Concern About The Way Pastor Kevin DeYoung Writes About The Cross In His New Daily Doctrine Book

2. The Bible Says The Father Turned His Face Away From Jesus On The Cross

3. Forsaken, Or Felt Forsaken

4. More Thoughts On Being God-Forsaken

5. The Sufferings Of The LORD Jesus Christ On The Cross

6. Forsaken: A Very Unhelpful Chapter On The Cross

7. Did The Father Turn His Away From Jesus On That Cross?

8. A Satanic Reading Of Psalm 22 That Should Be Forsaken

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, His cross, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here and here for free!