“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?” — A Cry of Pain, Prophecy, and Redemption
(Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
Among the Seven Last Words of Jesus on the Cross, none pierce the heart and soul quite like this one:
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”
— Matthew 27:46 (cf. Mark 15:34)
This haunting cry stands as one of the most mysterious and profound statements in Scripture. Spoken by Jesus at the height of His suffering, it raises powerful theological, emotional, and spiritual questions. Why would the Son of God, in His final moments, feel abandoned by the Father? What does this mean for us today?
Let’s explore this cry in three dimensions: its context, its theological meaning, and its relevance today.
1. The Historical and Scriptural Context
The Scene at the Cross
It was the ninth hour (around 3 PM). Jesus had already suffered for hours — physically tortured, emotionally mocked, and spiritually burdened by the sins of humanity. Darkness had covered the land since the sixth hour (noon), a cosmic sign of judgment and sorrow (Matthew 27:45).
Amid this darkness, Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
A Direct Quote from Psalm 22
This statement is not just a cry of agony — it is a quotation of Psalm 22:1, a deeply Messianic psalm written by David a thousand years earlier:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?” — Psalm 22:1
By quoting this psalm, Jesus wasn’t just expressing His anguish — He was fulfilling prophecy. Psalm 22 continues to describe in detail a scene that mirrors crucifixion:
• “They pierce my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16)
• “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment” (Psalm 22:18)
Jesus was pointing to this psalm to show that His suffering was foretold — and that victory would follow.
2. Theological Significance: What Does This Cry Mean?
A. Jesus Bearing the Full Weight of Sin
This cry reveals the spiritual agony of Jesus as He bore the sins of the world. According to Scripture:
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
"“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”.
1 Peter 2:24
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'
Galatians 3:13
At this moment, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, experienced the full separation from God that sin causes. He stood in our place, taking upon Himself the judgment that was meant for us.
This moment reflects the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:
“But the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
— Isaiah 53:6
And:
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer…”
— Isaiah 53:10
B. A Real Human Experience of Abandonment
Jesus, fully divine, was also fully human. He wasn’t faking His pain. He felt abandonment as any human would — physically, emotionally, spiritually. This makes His identification with our suffering even more complete.
Hebrews 4:15 reminds us:
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses…”
Jesus felt what many of us have felt — forsaken, unheard, forgotten — and He expressed it in prayer.
C. A Moment, Not a Final State
Although Jesus felt forsaken, it doesn’t mean He was truly separated from the Father in essence. God did not cease to be the Trinity; the relationship within the Godhead was never broken in nature, but Jesus experienced the full consequences of sin as a substitute for humanity.
He chose to enter the darkest spiritual experience — so we wouldn’t have to.
3. Relevance to the Present Day
A. For Those Who Feel Abandoned by God
Many people today ask the same question Jesus did:
“God, where are You? Why have You forsaken me?”
Whether it’s through grief, depression, war, betrayal, or suffering — we often feel alone. Jesus’ cry shows that it’s okay to bring our raw, honest pain before God. God doesn’t reject our questions — He welcomes them.
In fact, because Jesus felt forsaken, we never truly are. As Hebrews 13:5 says:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Jesus was forsaken so we never have to be.
B. For Those Questioning the Purpose of Suffering
In a world where suffering is often seen as meaningless, this cry reminds us that God can bring purpose through pain. Jesus’ suffering led to the greatest good: our redemption.
In our suffering, too, God can bring transformation, depth, and ultimately, hope.
C. For Strengthening Our Faith
Even in His cry of abandonment, Jesus addresses God as “My God.” He still clings to faith. This teaches us that faith is not the absence of questions, but trust in the midst of them.
4. From Forsakenness to Fulfillment: Psalm 22’s Ending
While Psalm 22 begins with despair, it ends with victory and praise:
“He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one… He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” — Psalm 22:24
“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord…” — Psalm 22:27
Jesus’ cry points to the entire arc of the Psalm — from pain to praise, from death to deliverance. He was not abandoned forever. On the third day, He rose again — and so will all who trust in Him.
Conclusion: A Cry that Echoes with Hope
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
This is a cry of pain, but not of despair. It is the voice of Jesus identifying with our suffering, fulfilling prophecy, and redeeming humanity.
Many today wrestle with feelings of isolation, depression, or spiritual emptiness. Jesus’ cry assures us that God understands our darkest moments. He was not immune to despair, and in His cry we find solidarity. Yet, Psalm 22 ends in hope — reminding us that even when God seems silent, He is still present and working.
Today, this cry offers us:
• Permission to be honest with God in our suffering.
• Assurance that we are never alone, no matter how we feel.
• Hope that God brings life even out of death.
May we hear in this word not just Jesus’ anguish — but His love.
