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?” 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. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” 40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

– Mark 15:33-41 (NKJV)

While Jesus was on the cross he uttered the words, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” If you have never made the connection before look up and read Psalm 22. That Psalm was written several hundred years before Jesus was crucified and hundreds of years before crucifixion in general was even a thing.

So why was Jesus quoting this Psalm? I can think of four reasons. One, anyone who knew their Hebrew song book would know that what was happening was the fulfillment of prophecy uttered by David in that Psalm, or they could at least see the correlation.

Secondly, I think that Jesus was in a sense praising God on the cross for what was about to be accomplished. There is great comfort to be found in singing while suffering. Paul and Silas sang in prison and many saints have sung a hymn at the moment of their martyrdom.

Third, finish the Psalm and you’ll see the finished work of Christ on the cross. He was looking ahead to what these moments of agony would accomplish. He would not be separated from God forever and People from all nations would come to worship the Lord.

Finally, He felt every bit in whole what David felt in part as he penned the song. The very fabric of the Trinity was at its stretching point. He felt the full weight of what it was for the Father to turn his back on the son.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for the gift of salvation and marvel at the great lengths that Christ went to on the cross. He didn’t just die a simple death on the cross for our sins, but he was mocked, he was betrayed, he was abandoned all so that we might come to faith in you. He took on the cup of your wrath so that we might have eternal life. Words can’t express the gratitude that rightfully wells up in our heart when we realize what a great and costly salvation is ours in Christ. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.