“About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Matthew 27:46). This painful quote, the last words of Jesus before His death and resurrection, confused me a bit. Did God actually abandon Jesus? Was Jesus expressing regret? Why did Jesus say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus said, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” or “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” for two main reasons. This was a lament, a cry of pain as Jesus, though innocent, took on all of the sin of the world and the punishment thereof—separation from God. Additionally, Jesus quoted Psalm 22, revealing to us that this crucifixion of the Messiah, down to the last detail, was prophesied and is now fulfilled.
A Biblical Reference
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? … All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” (Psalm 22:1-18).
In biblical times, scripture was not a compilation of chapters and numbered verses. While today, we reference a certain part of the Bible with chapter and verse (such as Psalm 22)…the Hebrews of Jesus’ time referenced these scriptures by quoting the first sentence in that chapter. So anyone familiar with scripture (as many Jewish people were), would be familiar with the fact that “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani” was a scriptural reference. It wouldn’t even be a question of what Jesus meant-His intentions were clear. His last words were a Bible reference. He essentially said, “Psalm 22.” He gave instructions—basically, “read this chapter?”
So if Jesus’ last words were a biblical reference, why was this particular chapter, Psalm 22, so important? Jesus wanted the disciples, all of us, to read Psalm 22, because Psalm 22 is a prophetic chapter about the Messiah. Not only does it contain prophecy about the Messiah, prophecy that Jesus fulfilled, but it contains prophecy about the Messiah’s death. It reveals details about Jesus’ crucifixion that is undeniable. What details does this chapter reveal? See below to find each element and the reference to the New Testament event.
- Jesus’s poignant, painful last words (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
- Jesus was mocked and insulted (Psalm 22:7; Matthew 27:27-31, 41, 44, Mark 15:16-20, Luke 23:11, 35, John 19:2-3).
- The crowd said mockingly, “Let God rescue him.” (Psalm 22:8; Matthew 27:43, Luke 23:35).
- His hands and feet were pierced (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, John 19:18).
- He was killed in a public manner with a crowd watching (Psalm 22:17; Matthew 27:17-26, Mark 15:8-15; Luke 23:18-25, 35, John 19:15-16).
- They divided His clothes (Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:23).
- They cast lots for His garment (Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:23-24).
He could have died in another manner. An illness, a murder in private…but Jesus fulfilled every Messianic prophecy down to every last detail. Experts estimate that Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. Psalm 22 only covers a small handful. In all times, even the brutality of the crucifixion, God provided evidence for us so that we never need to have a single doubt.
The pain of His sacrifice
So now we know why Jesus said, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani, or my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? This was a biblical reference, proof for His disciples, and all of us, that Jesus is the Messiah. And that His purpose was not to lead Israel to political freedom from Rome, to rule as an earthly King (for now). The Messiah’s purpose was so much greater.
He is the Son of God, who came down from Heaven as a humble newborn baby, meant to suffer and die as the sacrifice for our sins. This was the final sacrifice that would reconcile humanity to God. It was always the plan, displayed when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, only to provide a ram (Genesis 22). Revealed when John the Baptist cried out, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
He had to die. Our Lord had to die publicly, to be mocked, insulted, and pierced. He would rise again soon. But this is the tough part that we can’t overlook just because it is painful. The anguish in the line is apparent. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?. This was the moment, that Jesus, the Son of God, had to experience separation from God the Father. The same One to Whom He prayed, “Abba, Father,” (Mark 14:36) the night before, had to look away. His last words weren’t a question, they were an exclamation, a lament. He was in pain. More pain than anyone has ever borne.
True death is separation from God. Jesus had to die, to literally travel Sheol and defeat death and the grave. And for that, for a moment, He had to take on all the sin, all of the shame, of every person who has every lived. Thank you LORD, that you were forsaken, so that we will never have to be.
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken in him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Thank you for reading, Why did Jesus say, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Consider reading more with 3 Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled His Last Week of Ministry and 3 Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled During the Crucifixion.
