Jesus, The Greater Than Elijah - Part 1

In Matthew 27:45-56, Pastor Chris Gordon preaches on the death of Christ as the climactic moment of Matthew's gospel, where Jesus cries out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" — fulfilling Psalm 22 and expressing his bearing of God's full wrath for our sins. Gordon draws a striking parallel between this passage and 1 Kings 19, contrasting Elijah, who fled in despair, with Jesus, who willingly endured forsakenness, the splitting of rocks, earthquake, and darkness — yet whose death opened tombs and foreshadowed resurrection rather than judgment. The tearing of the temple veil and the Roman centurion's confession — "Truly, this was the Son of God" — reveal the identity concealed throughout Christ's ministry, now openly proclaimed at his death. Jesus is shown as greater than Elijah: where Elijah ran from his calling, Christ took on the curse, and his death rather than bringing wrath brought resurrection power and the gospel to the nations. The sermon closes with a call not to sin against the gospel through discouragement, since Christ has fully atoned for sin and nothing can separate believers from the love of God.