Why did Jesus cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” on the cross?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that Jesus cried out this phrase so that you would never have to. This cry marks the moment when God the Father, who is perfectly holy (Question 64), turned away from the Son who had willingly become the perfect vessel for all of humanity's sin (Question 107).
For the first and only time in eternity, the perfect, unbroken fellowship between the Father and the Son was ruptured. It was the moment of complete substitutionary atonement—Jesus was completely forsaken by God so that you, the believer, could be forever forgiven and accepted (Question 61). His pain was your pardon; His abandonment was your adoption (Question 97).
The Simple Answer
Jesus’ cry, recorded in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, is a direct quote from Psalm 22:1. It signifies two profound theological truths:
Spiritual Abandonment (The Atonement): This was the ultimate anguish, far worse than the physical pain. As Jesus bore the sin of the world, He experienced the spiritual consequence of sin: separation from God (Question 115). The Father withdrew His presence from the Son to pour out the full, righteous judgment (wrath) that sin deserves.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: By quoting the opening line of Psalm 22, Jesus intentionally signaled that the entire psalm—which describes the suffering and ultimate triumph of the righteous Messiah—was being fulfilled in Him at that very moment (Question 85).
The Deeper Dive: Bearing the World's Sin
This cry reveals the theological heart of the Gospel—the doctrine of Substitutionary Atonement (Christ died in our place).
1. The Divine Separation
The nature of the Trinity is perfect union (Question 14). For Jesus (the Son of God) to experience the Father's abandonment was an event that shook the foundations of reality. The cry was one of true, desperate spiritual isolation. The physical darkness that covered the land at this time (Matthew 27:45) symbolized the spiritual darkness and horror of the Son experiencing the penalty for sin.
2. The Transference of Guilt
The Bible teaches: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV).
The Exchange: When Jesus cried out, He was being treated by the Father as if He had committed all the sins of humanity. He was consuming the cup of God’s wrath, and the spiritual bond that had existed eternally was severed for a period of time.
The Purpose: This act ensured that when believers are judged by God, the judgment has already been satisfied and paid in full by Jesus (Question 92).
3. Why the Quote Matters
By citing Psalm 22, Jesus told everyone present (and all future readers) that His suffering was not a random tragedy but the fulfillment of divine prophecy. Crucially, Psalm 22, while beginning with deep distress, ends with triumph and praise—assuring that the separation was temporary and led directly to Jesus’ victory over death.
God's Assurance
God assures you that because of that terrible cry, you will never be forsaken by Him; you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Question 66) and welcomed into His presence.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18 (NIV)
You are assured that the distance created by your sin was crossed by the agony of your Savior.
Your Takeaway Thought
Never treat the Cross lightly. When you feel alone, or when you doubt God’s love, remember the cry of forsakenness. It is the ultimate evidence of God’s love for you—a love that was willing to pay the ultimate price of separation to secure your eternal fellowship. Respond to such a love with gratitude, obedience, and total surrender (Question 117).
