Why Did Jesus Cry ‘My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me’? The Meaning Behind His Words

Biblewithlife August 22, 2025

40 5 minutes read

Jesus Christ's cry from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" during the supernatural darkness. — A vivid visual representation of Jesus' agonizing cry from the cross, reflecting His spiritual burden and the profound meaning of His suffering.

The Powerful Cry from the Cross: Unpacking the Ultimate Agony ✨

Among the most powerful and heart-wrenching words ever uttered, the cry from Jesus on the cross—“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 KJV)—echoes through history with profound mystery and immense theological weight. On the surface, these words may appear to reflect utter abandonment and despair—a shocking lament from the Son of God Himself.

How could the sinless Savior—in perfect communion with the Father for eternity—be forsaken? Was this a moment of weakness or doubt? In truth, these words are not a sign of despair but a pivotal moment of divine fulfillment. This cry is a window into the very heart of God’s redemptive plan and a clear declaration of Jesus’ identity as the suffering Messiah.

This article will explore the context, prophecy, theological depth, emotional weight, and the implications for believers today behind this soul-wrenching cry from the cross.

1. The Context of Jesus’ Cry: A Moment of Supernatural Darkness 🌑

To grasp the weight of this statement, we must look at the immediate context of the crucifixion. Jesus had been betrayed, unjustly condemned, scourged, mocked, and nailed to a Roman cross. Yet even amid excruciating physical suffering, something deeper was happening—a spiritual burden no human has ever known.

The Ninth Hour: Divine Judgment Signified by Darkness ⏳

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” — Matthew 27:45–46 (KJV)

From noon until 3 p.m., darkness covered the land. This was no eclipse or weather event—it was supernatural darkness, signifying divine judgment. It was a cosmic sign that something beyond human suffering was occurring. Jesus, in that darkness, bore the full wrath of God—not for His sins, but for ours.

This moment was not about Jesus doubting the Father’s love but experiencing the weight of sin’s consequence: separation from God. It was in this darkest hour that light would eventually break forth.

2. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Psalm 22 and Jesus’ Deep Connection 📖

Many miss the scriptural significance of Jesus’ words. His cry was not random—it was a deliberate quote from Psalm 22, one of the most vivid messianic prophecies.

David’s Prophetic Cry Becomes Christ’s Declaration 👑

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” — Psalm 22:1 (KJV)

Jesus’ quoting of this psalm signals that He is the prophesied suffering servant. Psalm 22 describes in precise detail what happened during the crucifixion:

“They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16)
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:18)
“All my bones are out of joint” (Psalm 22:14)

From Suffering to Triumph

Importantly, Psalm 22 ends not in despair but in victory:

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD…” — Psalm 22:27

Thus, Jesus’ cry was not only a reflection of His suffering but a declaration of fulfilled prophecy and impending triumph.

3. Theological Meaning: Penal Substitution and the Great Exchange ✝️

The heart of this cry lies in one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith: penal substitutionary atonement.

Made Sin for Us

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

“And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” — Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)

Jesus did not become a sinner, but He was treated as sin, bearing the full judgment we deserved. In that moment, He experienced the abandonment we deserve, so that we might be eternally accepted.

This was not a separation of essence within the Trinity, but a relational break. The fellowship between Father and Son was, for a moment, shattered by sin—our sin.

4. Emotional Depth: Jesus Understands Our Loneliness and Pain 😢

This cry also reveals Jesus’ profound humanity. He was not a distant deity immune to suffering—He felt it all.

Our Empathetic High Priest

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” — Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

Jesus’ cry validates every moment of human loneliness, betrayal, or abandonment. He did not merely sympathize—He experienced it.

So when we feel forsaken, we can rest in the truth that Jesus felt it first, and He walks with us through our own dark nights of the soul.

🔗 Explore further: Through His Eyes: The Reflection of Love, Pain, and Sacrifice

5. A Cry of Victory, Not Defeat: “It Is Finished” 🏆

Some may interpret Jesus’ cry as hopelessness. But when paired with His final words, a different picture emerges:

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” — John 19:30 (KJV)

The Greek word tetelestai (“It is finished”) is a legal and financial term meaning “paid in full.” The cry of forsakenness was followed by the shout of accomplishment.

Jesus was not abandoned in defeat—He was securing our salvation in victory.

The Resurrection Proves the Father Never Truly Forsook the Son

Jesus rose again three days later, proving the temporary separation was part of God’s perfect plan. The Father received the sacrifice, and Jesus was glorified. Because He was forsaken for a moment, we are welcomed forever.

6. What This Means for Believers Today 🙌

You Are Never Truly Alone

No matter how spiritually dry or emotionally abandoned you feel, Jesus has walked that valley. Because of His cry, you are never without hope.

Your Sin Has Been Fully Paid

Every sin—no matter how deep—is covered by His sacrifice. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).

God’s Love Is Proven at the Cross

God did not spare His own Son. What further proof do we need of His love? In our darkest hour, we look to the Cross—and find light.

Conclusion: His Forsakenness, Our Adoption 🙏

Jesus’ cry, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” is not a cry of defeat but of unspeakable love. It reveals the unbearable cost of sin, the weight of divine justice, and the extent of Christ’s obedience and love.

Because He was forsaken, we are accepted. Because He bore our sin, we receive His righteousness. His darkest hour has become our eternal light.

When you feel abandoned, look to the cross. When you feel condemned, remember His cry. And when you doubt God’s love, remember that the Lamb was forsaken—so you never would be.