m a y s o n g l e t t e r s

I’ve always wondered why Jesus would say on the cross “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” when He knew all things and the exact hour of His death of the cross. He says “ My hour has not come yet” so many times in the Gospels. So why is it that he says that to the Father on the cross?

Theologically, my thoughts on Matthew 27:46 contradicted the doctrines I believed. However, it was one of those things I just let be. I came to think that it was a sign of him being ready for the cross, perhaps he was questioning the Father. Maybe Jesus was asking God because He felt as if He was being wronged and didn’t want to take the fullness of God’s wrath anymore. Perhaps His knowledge was limited while being God in the flesh? NO. I got it all wrong. He says in Matthew 27:46 “…Eli Eli, lema sabachthani?,” which is “ My God my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is saying this during the ninth hour before the veil is torn and the earth’s shaking. People hear, curious to see if Elijah will come and save Him. He cries it out again!

Jesus is not confused or upset at God. Jesus is in fact doing the opposite. He loves us so much that he dies in our place to reconcile us with God. On the cross when Jesus cries out “ My God my God, why have you forsaken me?” –He is quoting Psalm 22! Jesus knows exactly what He is doing for our sake and His glory. During His last few breaths He is crying out because Jesus is saying that He is the fulfillment of this very Psalm that King David wrote -and His people still reject Him. He is the Christ who finishes the tasks of all that is prophesied.

Let’s take a read: Psalm 22

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise. 

A Psalm of David.

1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?

[b]Far from my deliverance are the words of my [c]groaning.

2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;

And by night, but [d]I have no rest.

3 Yet You are holy,

O You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4 In You our fathers trusted;

They trusted and You delivered them.

5 To You they cried out and were delivered;

In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,

A reproach of men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me [g]sneer at me;

They [h]separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

8 “[i]Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;

Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;

You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.

10 Upon You I was cast from [j]birth;

You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for [k]trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

13 They open wide their mouth at me,

As a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

And all my bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It is melted within [l]me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;

And You lay me [m]in the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded me;

[n]A band of evildoers has encompassed me;

[o]They pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones.

They look, they stare at me;

18 They divide my garments among them,

And for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;

O You my help, hasten to my assistance.

20 Deliver my [p]soul from the sword,

My only life from the [q]power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;

From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;

All you [r]descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And stand in awe of Him, all you [s]descendants of Israel.

24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from him;

But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;

I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.

26 The [t]afflicted will eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations will worship before [u]You.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s

And He rules over the nations.

29 All the [v]prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,

All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,

Even he who [w]cannot keep his soul alive.

30 [x]Posterity will serve Him;

It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.

31 They will come and will declare His righteousness

To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Let us rejoice that He has come to let us know Him. Let us be a people that does not reject His wonders, but sees, hears, and obeys the King of Kings, our High Priest, Savior, and Friend, Jesus.