Explain “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Using the scriptures Psalms 22:1, 1 Pet 2:24, Isa. 59:1-2, Mark 15:33-37, I will attempt to
explain “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Jesus Christ cries out on the cross. The statement he makes has baffled many Christians,
scolars, and non-believers.
“33
Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth
hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”[f] 35 Some of
those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then
someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink,
saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.” 37 And Jesus cried out
with a loud voice, and breathed His last.” Mark 15:33-37
From this text we gain simple facts: God was not with Jesus when he was on the cross,
Jesus was ridiculed, Jesus was in immense pain emotionally and physically.
The questions we want to answer are why wasn‟t God with Jesus while he was on the
cross? (Isa. 59:1-2)What is the significance of Jesus being on the cross? (1 Pet 2:24) Are there
any other parallel scriptures. (Psalms 22:1) David writes this psalm to God as he runs from Saul,
who wants to kill him. His cry to God are similar in nature to that of Jesus.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
2
O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.
3
But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4
Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
5
They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6
But I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7
All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8
„He trusted[b] in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!‟” Psalms 22:1
 Jesus represented to sins of the world when he hung on the cross. He bore our sins and
because of this God could not be with him as we see in Isa. 59:2
“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live
for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Pet 2:24
God could have saved Jesus from pain and shame of the cross but we would not have a
savior. Sin separates us from God, this is why we need a pure lamb to bare our sins.
“1 Behold, the LORD‟s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
2
But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.” Isa. 59:1-2

This text is important to some who is not a member of the Church of Christ because it
will teach them about the sin. God can not dwell with you in your sin; therefore we must come to
Christ for redemption. This topic teaches members that a righteous life is important and possible
if we repent of our sins and keep the faith.

References:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version.