The following sermon is by John MacArthur, pastor, author, and Bible teacher with Grace to You.

If you've never contacted Grace to you, we want to send you a free booklet by John called How to Prepare for Christ's Return.

The Bible says to fix your hope on the Lord's return, but until Christ comes back, how should you spend your days?

This booklet answers that important question.

Request your free copy of How to Prepare for Christ's return by writing to prepare at gty.org.

That's prepare at gty.org. This offer is good in North America and Europe through December 2025, and now unleashing God's

truth one verse at a time.

Here is Grace to you Bible teacher John MacArthur.

I would invite you to go back in your Bible to the 15th chapter of Mark.

There are so many elements in the crucifixion story as told by the writers of the four

Gospels.

But I want to draw your attention in particular back to verse 33.

Mark 1533, when the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth

hour.

At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Ilo Iloi Lama Sabakhtani, which is translated,

My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?

That is a profound statement.

That is not usually understood.

Did God not show up at Calvary?

We know that the death of Christ was the most effective act on behalf of condemned sinners, the most effective act ever

rendered because it was the atonement for our sins that satisfied God.

We know that the crucifixion was the main event in the plan of redemption.

...