Let’s look at the exegetical evidence for our Lord’s words on the cross when He said my god my god why have you forsaken me. Many people misunderstand why Jesus said that in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34
Ninth hour in Jewish reckoning meant 3p.m in the afternoon.
Many people misunderstand Jesus’ cry to mean that He’s saying why have You forsaken me and abandoned me. No, that’s not the meaning at all.
Jesus is not just quoting Psalm 22 but the significance of the Psalm. Jesus’ words at the cross mean; my god my god, how much more longer will you abandon me and not come to aid me in this abandoned condition.
It’s a cry that it is over now. Jesus has paid the price. Jesus has appeased the wrath of God that was meant for us! It is over! It ends now. Here’s what people miss and do not connect Matthew 27:45 and Matthew 27:46.
46 is meant to explain 45.
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.” Matthew 27:45
So when did the darkness end? At the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:46 tells us why. And the reason is when Jesus prayed at the ninth hour. When He prayed, God removed the darkness as a sign it is finished and the judgment is over.
Jesus was citing psalm 22:1.
“To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” – Psalm 22:1
Psalm 22 is all about Jesus and nothing to do with David.
The psalmist goes on to say in Psalm 22:23-24
“Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.” – Psalm 22:23-24
There you go! When i cried, he heard! Immediately now we see that is what the Psalm means.
So now we are going to read what Jesus said in a new light. He wasn’t saying why have you abandoned me. His point is it’s done Father. I’ve absorbed the wrath on behalf of sinners. I’ve drunk the cup in their place. I have now satisfied the divine justice. The debt of sin has been fully paid. And then when He says that, the Father says, indeed Son. It is finished. And He removed the darkness from the land as a sign the judgment has ended. The price has been paid. We’ve been reconciled and that’s what makes good Friday good!