Why Did Jesus Say,

“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

One of the most profound and heart-wrenching statements made by Jesus Christ is found in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, where Jesus cries out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” These words have puzzled many throughout the centuries, as they appear to reflect a deep sense of abandonment and despair. To understand the significance of this statement, we must explore the context, the biblical interpretation, and the theological implications.

1. The Context of the Cross

Jesus uttered these words at a pivotal moment during His crucifixion. It was the ninth hour (around 3 p.m.), and Jesus had been hanging on the cross for several hours. He had already endured immense physical suffering, including the brutal flogging, the weight of the cross, and the nails driven through His hands and feet. On top of this, He was experiencing a sense of deep spiritual agony.

The crucifixion was not just a physical death; it was also a moment of profound spiritual significance. According to the Bible, Jesus was not only dying as a human being but also bearing the weight of the sins of the world. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus, being sinless, was now taking on the punishment that humanity deserved because of sin. This is the ultimate sacrifice — the Lamb of God offering Himself for the sins of the world.

2. Theological Significance: Jesus’ Identification with Humanity’s Sin

At that moment on the cross, Jesus was not only physically suffering but was also bearing the separation that sin causes between humans and God. “Why have you forsaken me?” was not a cry of doubt or disbelief, but a powerful expression of the weight of the sins He was carrying. This was the moment where He, the sinless Son of God, became sin on our behalf. The fellowship between the Father and the Son, which had existed from all eternity, was temporarily broken because of the sin Jesus was bearing.

In this moment, Jesus experienced the full depth of human estrangement from God caused by sin. Theologians call this the “mystery of the forsakenness of Jesus.” It was a moment of intense relational separation — not because Jesus was actually abandoned by the Father, but because He was experiencing the consequences of humanity’s sin and the separation that sin brings.

3. Jesus’ Cry as a Fulfillment of Scripture: Psalm 22

When Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” He was quoting the opening line of Psalm 22, a psalm of David that was written centuries before Jesus’ crucifixion. Psalm 22 is a vivid prophetic picture of the suffering of the Messiah. The psalm begins with a cry of abandonment, but it ends with hope and victory. By quoting Psalm 22, Jesus was not only expressing His feeling of abandonment but also pointing to the fulfillment of the psalm in His own suffering.

In Psalm 22:1, David writes, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This cry of anguish was echoed by Jesus on the cross. However, as we read through the entire psalm, we see that David, despite feeling abandoned, ultimately expresses faith in God’s deliverance. Psalm 22 ends with a declaration of God’s triumph, and the psalmist anticipates God’s victory over the forces of evil. Jesus’ use of this psalm on the cross was a declaration that His suffering was part of a divine plan — a plan that would culminate in victory, not defeat.

4. The Separation Between the Father and the Son: The Mystery of the Atonement

One of the most difficult aspects of this cry is the implication of separation between the Father and the Son. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is one in essence but exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus had always enjoyed perfect fellowship with the Father. But on the cross, He experienced something unique and terrible: the moment of alienation from the Father. This was the cost of our salvation.

Jesus’ cry is a profound expression of what it meant for Him to bear the full weight of human sin. The Father, in His holiness, could not look upon sin without His wrath being poured out upon it. For the first time in eternity, the perfect fellowship between the Father and the Son was interrupted, and this was a necessary part of the atonement. Jesus had to experience the full extent of the Father’s wrath against sin in order to reconcile humanity to God.

This moment also underscores the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, which teaches that Jesus took upon Himself the penalty for sin that humanity deserved. He was forsaken so that we could be accepted, He was abandoned so that we could be brought near.

5. Jesus’ Faith and Trust Despite the Forsakenness

While Jesus’ cry reveals the depth of His suffering, it also reveals His trust in God. Notice that He does not cry out to “God” in a distant or impersonal manner; He still addresses God as “My God.” This shows that, despite the feelings of abandonment and isolation, Jesus still maintains His relationship with the Father. His cry is not one of a complete severance, but rather a desperate plea from a place of deep emotional anguish.

Even in the midst of feeling forsaken, Jesus continues to express faith in the God He knows and trusts. He identifies with humanity’s sense of abandonment and alienation but still clings to the Father as His God.

6. The Victory in the Cry of Forsakenness

Although Jesus’ words seem to reflect a moment of defeat, they are actually a declaration of the depth of His sacrifice. He was willing to endure this separation for the sake of reconciling humanity to God. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus ultimately triumphed over sin, death, and Satan.

In John 19:30, Jesus declares, “It is finished!” This triumphant cry comes after the cry of forsakenness, indicating that the work of atonement was completed. The cry of abandonment was not the final word; the victory was secured. Jesus’ moment of forsakenness led to the reconciliation of all who would believe in Him.

Conclusion

The cry of “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” is a profound expression of Jesus’ identification with the full weight of human sin and the alienation it causes. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, bore the punishment for humanity’s sin, and in that moment, He experienced the separation from God that we deserve. This cry was not one of despair but of fulfilling God’s redemptive plan for the world. It is a cry of deep anguish but also a cry that points to ultimate victory.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to quote Psalm 22 during His crucifixion? What does this tell us about His understanding of His suffering?
2. How does understanding the cry of forsakenness help us grasp the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity?
3. In what ways can we relate to Jesus’ feeling of abandonment in our own struggles with faith and hardship?
4. What does it mean for us that Jesus, despite feeling forsaken, continued to call God His “God”?
5. How does the cry of forsakenness point us toward the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death?

Meta Description:

Explore the profound meaning behind Jesus’ cry, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Understand the theological significance, its fulfillment of prophecy, and the ultimate victory in Jesus’ sacrifice. Share, comment, and reflect on this powerful moment of Christ’s suffering.

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