Matthew 27:46
The Fourth Word from the Cross: My God, My God, WHY have you forsaken me?
Scripture
Jesus’ words were “Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani” which means “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is quoting Psalm 22.
He is quoting the phrase in Aramaic, the common language of the day among the Jews. This is the common man’s way to speak. Aramaic is spoken in the every day tongue of the average Jewish man, woman, and child. He is speaking in the common verse of the day for all to hear. And that is the first point of this phrase: He wants all to hear. There is no hiding what is happening to him. He is being forsaken by God. He bears his hurt and shame, his cries are raised for God to hear and for us to understand. He’s been forsaken.
Why is this important? Because, for Jesus, the Word of God is so central to him that in his pain and misery he is quoting the Word of God. The Word of God helps him to work through this misery. The Word of God is like a script to help him understand and accept what is happening.
This gives us direction for dark times as well; we can quote the Word of God to seek direction, to seek peace. Life gets painful; we have an opportunity and a necessity to meditate on the Word of God, to seek its insight. Things don’t make sense around you; dive into the Word of God. Friends turn their back on you; focus on the Word of God. The centrality of the Word gives purpose to Jesus’ pain.
The centrality of the Word in our challenging times can also give clarity, purpose and a foothold.
Jesus is quoting scriptures in his darkest moments. How to make sense of all the betrayal and intrigue, all the mocking and derision? How? Jesus pores over the very truth of God and finds an answer. It does not relieve him of the pain but it helps Jesus to quantify and calculate the petulance of those who mock him and despise him.
Jesus fulfills prophecy
But this goes deeper and farther. As he is quoting Psalm 22 he is also experiencing the fulfillment of this ancient prophecy. In Psalm 22 he recognizes his place as the Messiah. He recognizes his place as the one who must be rejected by God so that we will never be rejected. And he sees each individual verse as prophecy which has been laid out for centuries, and now it is coming to completion on the horizon of his suffering.
It’s as if this were a script and each individual gathered at Golgotha, the place of the skull, is playing a part in this prophetic play. Let’s take several parts of Psalm 22 and see how this plays out.
Psalm 22 - fulfilled Prophecy
The people are mocking him. Psalm 22 predicted it. These verses are being lived out on Jesus’ periphery.
Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
The people mock Jesus. It’s not the way it should be but Scriptures predicts it.
Psalm 22:8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”
The priests and teachers of the Law chime in - Matthew 27:43 - “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him.” The very words of the high priests and the rulers of the people, as they spoke, became a fulfillment of Psalm 22.
Psalm 22:12 Many bulls encompass me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
Roman soldiers standing all around. They have already done their mocking. They abused and ridiculed him. These brutes are unjust in their treatment of him. But Jesus can endure because Scriptures has predicted this all ahead of time. He sticks to the Father’s plan.
Psalm 22:14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
This speaks of the medical and physical conditions Jesus would endure from loss of blood, dehydration, severe lacerations and the onerous nature of crucifixion. The trauma was so severe to his body that his heart became overtaxed (my hear is like wax; it is melted within my breast). Jesus endured extreme medical trauma on the cross.
Jesus speaks another word from the cross - “I thirst”. That fits this verse:
Psalm 22:15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
There are the dogs nipping at his heels according to Psalm 22. Who are the dogs? The Jews considered the Gentiles dogs. The Roman soldiers, these Gentiles with great power, stood by him and crucified him and laughed at him.
Psalm 22:16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
And another clear prophecy:
Psalm 22:18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
John 19:23-24 shows how this all takes place.
“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, ‘They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.’” (John 19:23-24)
Forsaken
Jesus is forsaken by His Father.
But there is more that makes this comment by Jesus heart-wrenching. These words of Jesus are speaking to God; he is no longer addressing him as “Father.” Jesus, the Son of God the Father in Heaven, is not addressing His Father as Father. He is saying, “My God, My God.”
When a Father turns his back on his son, it is a horrible thing. A father loves his children, every one of them. Of course there are exceptions. But even the worst of fathers cares about their child. Here we have the perfect Father, God in heaven. And the perfect Father denies His own loved perfect Son.
Why is the Son forsaken?
Jesus is fulfilling another Old Testament term, “Redeemer.” The Redeemer or kinsmen redeemer is often the eldest brother of the family. The eldest brother is responsible for the life and health and well-being of each family member. They rely on the eldest son. They depend on the eldest son; if there is a debt that one of the family incurs, the eldest son will use his resources to bail out this family member. That is the redeemer position. Jesus, is fulfilling the position of a Redeemer - He is paying a debt of Justice to God almighty for all the debt of sin that we have stacked up. Our daily sins become so filthy and such a stench in the nose of the Perfect God that they must all be punished; they must all be paid for.
Jesus, as the eldest Son of God, pays that debt for all. And the father ruefully turns his back on his dearly loved son. What does it take to turn your back on someone? What did it take for God to turn his back on Jesus?
He is forsaken so that we are Accepted
Jesus' father now accepts us. How great the Father’s love for us . . . 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
The reason the Father rejects His one and only Son, Jesus, is because He did not want to reject us. Jesus endured this shame and this rejection so that we would never be rejected by the Father - ever.
How deep the Father's love for us?
How vast beyond all measure?
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss?
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Jesus’ words at the cross are painful to hear. They shudder out a thunderous plea, yet Jesus knows full well that His misery brings us relief. Thank you Holy Jesus! We bless your name for all eternity!
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