Statement #4: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
“From 12-3 in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 & Matt 27:46)
- Some thought he was calling for Elijah.
- One ran to get a sponge with sour wine and offered him a drink.
- Matthew makes it clear that it was completely dark.
Notice he says with a LOUD VOICE Jesus cried out. This was a scream, a groaning. This statement was predicted in Psalm 22:1, which looks forward to the coming, the life, and the death of the Messiah. In verse 2 we see a literal rendering of the word “groaning” is “roaring”. This same word used to describe the guttural roar and scream is used to describe the roar of a lion. Out of the darkness and silence comes a roar from our Savior, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This is the scene of the fourth statement from Christ.
- Can you imagine the feeling? Have you ever felt that way—like God, where are you right now? Have you ever felt desperate, wondering why you’re in a valley, hurting so bad, betrayed, deserted, abandoned, left feeling disconnected-whether from God or from people? Have you ever groaned from the pit of your stomach for answers?
Think about it, separation from the Father must have been the worst part of the Cross for Jesus who had never before experienced anything but intimate fellowship with His Father. Since Jesus was God, it’s hard to believe that He experienced actual separation from God the Father. However, when the Father poured out His wrath on Him-for taking upon the sins of the world-the relationship between the Father and the Son became different. Remember, God is Holy and sin cannot be seen in his sight. Separation happened when Jesus became the focal point of His judgment on mankind’s sin. This is what went down from 12-3 when utter darkness took over the land.
- “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) At this moment on the cross all the sins of the world (from then, now, and forevermore) were poured upon Jesus and He bore them. This is why the groaning from the pit of his stomach is happening. He bore all our sins alone! Though He was forsaken only temporarily, He knew first-hand the pain of separation from God experienced by every human being.
Catch this: The good news for us is that God the Father forsook His Son then that He might NEVER have to forsake us now. “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.” (Hebrews 10:10). This is what we mean when we say he is the “propitiation” for our sins. (1 John 2:2) Because of his propitiation, we receive his perfection (Heb 10:14), our debt is paid, and we can now be seen in the sight of the Father.
Matthew then tells us…
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
- Top to bottom is a supernatural act signifying that God is the One who ripped the thick curtain. It was not torn from the bottom by men ripping it.
- This event marked the end of the old Mosaic Covenant and the beginning to the New Covenant. Jesus Himself now replaced the temple. He became the Great High Priest of His people.