For centuries, the poignant cry of Psalm 22:1-2, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, has resonated deeply within the hearts of God’s people navigating their most profound moments of despair and confusion. These words articulate an anguish uniquely understood by the innocent soul enduring suffering, a sufferer who feels isolated and deserted by everyone, even God.
This raw expression of pain captures the very essence of feeling God-forsaken: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”
Many who have traversed seasons of intense hardship can identify with this cry. Battling chronic illnesses, facing episodes of profound depression, or enduring life’s unexpected trials can evoke this very sentiment. The experience of crying out for help during the day and receiving no response, or seeking solace at night only to find no peace for an anxious mind, is a deeply unsettling reality for many. This sense of utter desolation that accompanies deep suffering can be profoundly terrifying. It feels akin to being cast into an impenetrable darkness, leading to the agonizing question: Is God displeased? Is this suffering a manifestation of divine judgment?
Such suffering can be crushing, disorienting, and breed overwhelming feelings of abandonment, even by God. These emotions are authentic and should not be dismissed or minimized. However, the crucial question that must be addressed when grappling with such pain is: Does God genuinely abandon those who are in Christ? Will divine abandonment ever be the reality for believers?
The Echo of Dereliction: Jesus and the Cry “Why Have You Forsaken Me?”
We are not alone in voicing the words of Psalm 22 during times of intense agony. These very words were uttered by Jesus, the ultimate innocent sufferer, as he faced death for the sins of humanity. Understanding Jesus’ cry of abandonment becomes paramount in navigating our own feelings of being forsaken. Matthew 27:45-47 and Mark 15:33-34 recount this pivotal moment:
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).”
Matthew describes an unnatural, dense darkness engulfing the land for three hours. In Scripture, darkness often serves as a visible symbol of God’s judgment and displeasure. It represents separation from God, who is Himself light. This palpable darkness mirrored the plague upon Egypt in Exodus 10:21-22, a divine judgment separating the Egyptians from Israel. Therefore, the darkness enveloping Jesus on the cross should be interpreted as more than a mere natural occurrence; it was a divine sign of judgment and displeasure.
Jesus clearly understood the darkness in this light. He endured its oppressive weight for three hours, and as the ninth hour approached (approximately 3:00 PM), he emerged from this darkness, breaking the silence with a cry of anguished desolation: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1 poured forth from the lips of the sinless Son of God as he confronted abandonment by all, including his Father.
Divine Abandonment? The Reality of Jesus’ Forsakenness
Jesus’ cry of dereliction is profoundly challenging to comprehend. Was Jesus genuinely God-forsaken, or did he simply feel forsaken? Some interpret his cry as an expression of loneliness, while others view it as a declaration of triumph, pointing to the triumphant conclusion of Psalm 22. However, to truly grasp the weight of this moment, we must take Jesus’ cry at face value. It was a genuine cry of abandonment. As biblical scholar R.T. France notes, “The words Jesus chose to utter are those of unqualified desolation, and Matthew and Mark give no hint that he did not mean exactly what he said.”[1]
This scripture reveals the profound depth and horror of Jesus’ suffering. In that instant, Jesus was plunged into an outer darkness, separated from the Father’s presence, to bear the weight of the world’s sins. France further explains, “In giving his life as a ransom for many for the forgiveness of sins he must, for the moment, be separated from his Father.”[2] Having experienced unbroken communion with the Father from eternity past, Jesus felt the full force of separation from God – a separation demanded by our sin. For the first time, he was truly alone, utterly God-forsaken.
As we contemplate this difficult truth, it’s crucial to remember two key aspects. First, this was not an act of divine child abuse or cosmic injustice. The Father and the Son willingly and unitedly chose to enact this redemptive plan. Both experienced immense agony during Jesus’ crucifixion. To secure our salvation, the Father purposefully separated himself from the Son, but this separation was temporary. Second, the fundamental unity of the Trinity remained unbroken. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist eternally in perfect, unbroken fellowship. While the inner workings of the “psychology of the Son of God” at this moment remain beyond our full comprehension,[3] we affirm that Jesus experienced a real abandonment by the Father while simultaneously upholding the eternal unity of the Triune God. Returning to our initial question…
Unwavering Assurance: He Will Never Forsake You
Will God ever truly abandon those who are united with Christ? If Jesus’ cry of dereliction stemmed from a genuine, albeit temporary, abandonment by the Father, does this imply that we, too, could be abandoned by God? When we collapse under the weight of our burdens and cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, does this reflect our actual reality or merely our feelings? The glorious truth celebrated at Easter, and throughout our lives as believers, is that God will never abandon those who are in Christ.
Jesus’ cry of dereliction illuminates this very truth. He was forsaken for a fleeting moment so that we could live with eternal assurance. The innocent sufferer was God-forsaken so that we would never have to be. This is a profound and life-altering truth.
Even when we endure undeserved suffering, we remain inherently sinful beings. It is our sin that creates a separation between us and God. Even on our best days, we fall short of loving God with our entire being, treasuring Him above all else, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Therefore, we inherently deserve to be cast into outer darkness, separated from God’s presence. God would be just in deserting us, leaving us to perish in our sins.
Yet, Jesus, even in his most agonizing moment, loved God with all his being, cherished Him as his greatest treasure, and loved humanity. Jesus chose to experience separation from the Father so that we could be reconciled to God through him. Jesus was forsaken by God so that we might be forever forgiven and embraced. Nothing can alter this reality—not our circumstances, not our suffering, and not our sin.
This is the liberating gospel message that we must continually preach to ourselves, especially amidst pain and despair. Were it not for the radiant light of the gospel, the darkness of suffering would indeed overwhelm us. But because Jesus was crushed on our behalf, we possess an unshakeable hope. We can constantly remind ourselves, “There is always hope in Jesus!”
Dear fellow sufferer, know this truth deeply: there is always hope in Jesus. Whatever trials you are facing, especially during this Easter season, remember that God will not abandon you because you are in Christ. Feelings of abandonment may arise. The darkness may seem poised to consume you. But the unwavering truth upon which you can stand firm amidst your suffering is this: Jesus was temporarily abandoned on your behalf, so that you will never be truly forsaken.
[1] France, R.T. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2007. Print.
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid.
