Book of Matthew - Chapter 27 - Verse 46

When Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" on the cross, he was quoting the opening line of Psalm 22, a passage in the Old Testament that describes the suffering and anguish of the psalmist. By quoting this psalm, Jesus was not only fulfilling prophecy, but also expressing the depth of his agony and separation from God as he bore the sins of the world. In this moment, Jesus, who had always enjoyed perfect communion with the Father, experienced the full weight of sin and its consequences, feeling the abandonment and judgment that sin brings. Despite the intense suffering he endured, Jesus' cry of abandonment ultimately serves as a powerful reminder of his willingness to take on the sins of humanity and endure separation from God in order to bring about reconciliation and redemption for all who believe in him.

When examining the theological interpretation of the verse where Jesus cries out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" on the cross, it is crucial to understand the depth of what is being expressed. This cry is a poignant moment where Jesus, fully man and fully God, experiences the weight of the sins of the world upon himself. The phrase "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" spoken by Jesus is actually a quote from Psalm 22:1, which serves to fulfill the scripture and point to the fulfillment of prophecy. The use of this particular phrase highlights the fact that Jesus not only felt the physical pain of crucifixion but also experienced the spiritual separation from God that sin brings. This moment captures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who willingly took on the punishment for our sins so that we could be reconciled to God. Through this cry, Jesus demonstrates the depth of his love for humanity and the lengths to which he was willing to go to bring about redemption.