Why did Jesus say why have you forsaken me?

When Jesus is on the cross he cries out My God my God why have you forsaken me?


I’ve seen many teachings on this and it fills me with utter sorrow what many preachers say about this . They talk about those last few moments of Jesus and often say this is where he was left by God to take the sin of the world upon him that it is often taught God poured out his wrath upon Jesus , that Jesus was forsaken by God that a wrathful God took all his wrath and directed it all on the man Jesus Christ who was punished by God so we don’t have to be. i would ask you to watch my video why did Jesus die? For an explanation and clarification on that point.

But i’m going to look now at what did Jesus mean by this statement. Did Jesus really believe that he was forsaken by God? Was Jesus actually alone on the cross. Let’s have a look at the dictionary definition of forsaken
The 1611 definition of forsaken is Deserted; left; abandoned
Today’s definition would include forlorn , to quit and leave entirely, to give up or renounce

Is this what God did to Jesus?

How can a preacher preach i can hold to God during my troubles if also preaching God abandons his only begotten son during his hour of trial? Did God really leave Jesus totally alone, completely abandon him at his greatest moment of need? What kind of message does this give ,what hope is gained from this teaching.If Jesus was abandoned and alone then what comfort can this offer us during our times of need,

The truth is God did not forsake Jesus, the whole teaching is based on a complete Misunderstanding of the intention of the declaration , God doesn’t leave us or forsake us


God is our comfort through times of trouble

psalm 119-50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

God is with us


Jesus couldn’t have been alone as he was about to face death as God is with us even through death.


To say that Jesus was alone, that God had forsaken him that God had turned his back to him is to deny the very promises the very hope that God’s own word gives.

So what did Jesus mean?

Did Jesus actually feel this way? 
Did Jesus really feel alone in that moment, the connection with his father severed even if for just a brief moment?

Jesus knew exactly who he was 


He knew his purpose 


He knew he was going to die


And Jesus knew that he would be resurrected to life again


When Jesus said My God my God why hast thou forsaken me he wasn’t asking a question he was answering one.

The pharisees had asked Jesus if he was the Christ


Jesus statement is the opening line to psalm 22


He was using the line to bring attention to the psalm itself

Like if i said The Lord is my shepherd , you probably would automatically be able to continue i shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Knowing that it is the opening to psalm 23

This is the intention of Jesus through this line he spoke. To bring to mind the psalm

The very psalm that prophesied the now very real and present event that was unfolding right in front of their very eyes.

The psalm states

Psalm 22-16 16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Here was Jesus hands and feet pierced

His garments had been divided out


As depicted in the psalm

Psalm 22- 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

They called out to him for God to save him


As again stated in the psalm


The psalm calls Jesus a worm despised of by the people

Psalm 22-6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

The word used for worm Psalm 22-6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
-to law 8438 means crimson

This is a reference to the worm which was used to dye material red or crimson. Jesus is being compared to the crushed worm which was used for the dye. Jesus being blooded was crimson like the crushed worm.

The psalm predicts that no bones would be broken 

Psalm 22-17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

Again this is held true

John 19- 34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.-36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Here was Jesus fulfilling the very scriptures that they themselves held to, highlighting it to them drawing their attention to their own blindness in their belief a point Jesus had previously brought to the fore

they were blind to the scriptures yet They claimed to be seeing. Jesus was telling them if you claim to be seeing then you are guilty of what you do.

He had already told the pharisees to search the scriptures as they spoke of him


Jesus was that very eternal life that they searched for Yet they could not see it. They didn’t understand or really believe the scriptures that they used.

Which Jesus had said to them 

Matthew 22-29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

His comment wasn’t a cry of abandonment it was a denunciation of the pharisees hypocrisy

Jesus was using psalm 22 to answer their question was he the Christ, that he had previously told them if he answered they would not believe. Here he was not simply declaring he was the Christ verbally he was physically demonstrating the fact and using the scriptures to validate his answer.

But his point was completely missed, Some of the people even believed he was calling Elias and waited for Elias to come and save him.


Just before Jesus dies he utters the words It is Finished

John 19-30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost., 

Here Jesus quotes the end of the psalm.22

Psalm 22 -31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

The hebrew word translated as he hath done is asah strongs 6213 and it means accomplish

The greek word translated as it is finished is in John is 
Tetelestai strongs 5055 it means I end, finish, (b) I fulfill, accomplish

Having quoted the start of the psalm and then actualized the verses contained within, Jesus having now proven himself the messiah through their own scriptures pronounces the conclusion of the scripture and his accomplishment of the prophecies in the scriptures about himself.

There was no separation between Jesus and God. No forsaking of Jesus by God. 
To say that Jesus was forsaken is to also misunderstand the meaning of the scriptures like the pharisees.

God is with us. Through the good times and through times of pain, sadness, suffering and times of trials. When we maybe feel alone in this world, feel abandoned and have no one to turn to. we are never left alone or abandoned by our heavenly father who is with us always we can always turn to him for comfort safe in the knowledge we are never forsaken.