R.C. Sproul

Do you understand that the cross is the supreme circumcision?

Because when Jesus takes the curse upon himself, so identifies with our sin that he becomes a curse, God cuts him off.

And justly so, because at the moment that Christ takes upon Himself the sin of the world, that figure that is on the cross is the most grotesque, most obscene mass of sin concentrated in the history of the world.

And God is too holy to even look at iniquity, and when Christ is hanging on the cross, the Father, as it were, turns His back

He removes his face.

He turns out the light.

He cuts off his son.

And so here is Jesus bearing the sin and touching his human nature who has been in perfect, blessed relationship with God throughout his ministry.

Now, God forsakes.

I've heard a million sermons about the nails and the thorns.

And granted, the physical agony of crucifixion is a ghastly thing.

But there's been thousands of people who have died on the cross.

But only one has received the full measure of the curse of God while on that cross.

I doubt if Jesus was even aware of the nails and the spirit.

He was so overwhelmed by the outer darkness.

Dear friends, on the cross, Jesus is in hell, right there, totally bereft of the grace and the presence of God, utterly separated

from all blessedness of the Father.

He becomes a curse for you so that you someday will be able to see the face of God so that the light of his countenance will fall on you.

God turned his back

on his son.