1.0 Statement

Jesus’ Fourth Statement of Jesus on the Cross: “My God, My God, why have You Forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1) – The first three Statements that Jesus spoke while hanging on the Cross were:

• First, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus Pleaded for forgiveness to those who went against Him. Jesus came to bring God’s forgiveness; so, it is consistent with His (Christ’s) Nature and Teaching.
• Second, He Assured the Repentant Thief: “Today, shalt thou be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus provides the Way of Salvation, and Reconciliation back to God the Father.
• Third, Jesus Committed Mary, His mother to John, His Disciples: ““Woman, behold thy Son! Then saith He to the Disciple, Behold your mother! And from that hour that Disciples took her unto his own home.” John 19:26-27). The Fifth Commandment of The Law stated that we should honour our father and mother; and Jesus, fulfilled the Law, commended His mother, Mary to His Disciple, John.

But the Fourth Statement of Jesus on the Cross is the Cry of Jesus: “My God, My God, why have You Forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1), was prophesied in Psalm 22:1, given about 1,030 years, earlier, by King David, under the Anointing of God’s Spirit. Some of the People that stood there, when they heard that Jesus, called out “Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46), thought that Jesus cried out for Elijah; and straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Jesus to drink. The remaining of the People said, “Let be, let us see whether Elisha will come and save Him” (Matthew 27:45-49); failing to understand the cry of Jesus was in fulfilment of the Prophecy of Psalm 22:1.

1.1 The Mystery

The Three Great Mystery of God is wrapped up in Jesus’ Cry on the Cross – Matthew 27:45-49 “Now from the sixth hour (Noon – 12pm) there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour (3pm). And about the ninth hour (3pm), Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ That is to say, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This Man called for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him (Jesus) to drink. The rest said, let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save Him.”   

1.1.1 The Mystery of Fulfilment

“The Three Hours of Darkness Across the Earth, from 12pm {Noon} to 3pm”(Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33) – This was a Supernatural Darkness – this was not an eclipse. This Darkness was not something that people imagined. It was a Supernatural Darkness sent by God the Father.

• Prophesied – The “Three Hours of Darkness Across the Earth,” was prophesied in Amos 8:9 (NKJV) “And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord God, ‘That I will make the sun go down at noon (12pm), and I will darken the earth in broad daylight.
• Mourning – The Day of Israel’s Mourning of Crucifixion of God’s Only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ – Amos 8:10 (NKJV) “I will turn your Feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist, and baldness on every head; I will make it like mourning for an Only Son, and its end like a bitter day.”  
• Solemnity – The “Three-Hours of Darkness Across the Earth,” was associated with the Sacrificial Death of God’s Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ – Amos 8:10 (NKJV) “I will turn your Feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist, and baldness on every head; I will make it like mourning for an Only Son, and its end like a bitter day.”   
• Secrecy – The “Three-Hours of Darkness Across the Earth,” was the “Darkness-of-Secrecy,” – in those “Three Hours of Darkness,” Jesus Christ was accomplishing a Great Work that He alone could accomplish. Jesus was carrying on an Eternal Transaction with His Father – When God the Father placed “the Sins of the Whole Human-Race,” upon Jesus, the Father has to turned His Face away from Jesus, and there was a temporary broken relationship between Him (Jesus) and the Father, that is why He (Christ) cried out: “My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1).

1.1.2 The Mystery of Loneliness

The “Mystery of Loneliness” on the Cross, because His (Christ’s) Father, turned His Face from Him (Christ), when He (God the Father) placed the “Sin of the Whole Huma-Race,” upon His Son; there was a temporary broken relationship between Christ and His Father; and He, Jesus, felt forsaken by His Father – “My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1).

1.1.3 The Mystery of Blindness

The “Mystery of People’s Blindness,” – There were many People – the Soldiers and others – before the Cross. They heard Jesus’ Cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46: Psalm 22:1).

• People’s Blindness – The People were blinded, not knowing that the Scripture of Psalm 22:1, was being fulfilled; they said, “He is calling for Elijah” (Matthew 27:47).
• People’s Sneer – Someone said, “Let’s wait to see if Elijah comes” (Matthew 27:49). Jesus was not calling for Elijah, but was speaking forth the Prophecy of Psalm 22:1-2 “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?….I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.”
• People’s Attitude – The People have experienced, “the three hours of Darkness Across the Earth,” in fulfilment of the Prophecy of Amos 8:9, but yet their attitudes were described in the Prophecy given by King David 1,030 years ago in Psalm 22:7-8 “All they that see Me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.” This was fulfilled in Matthew 27:39-43, 49).
• People’s Action – Psalm 22:18 says: “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture,” was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified – Luke 23:34b “And they divided His garments and cast lots.”

1.2 Summary

The people were blinded to the Fulfilment of the Scripture, blind to the Saving Work of Jesus on the Cross; they said: “Let’s see whether Elijah will come and save Him” (Matthew 27:49). At that hour, the Lord Jesus Christ was made sin for us (2Corinthians 5:21), and when He was made sin, he was forsaken by God the Father (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1). Thus, we have the threefold Mystery of the Cross:

• The Mystery of the “Three Hours of Darkness Across the Earth” (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45); the mourning of God’s Only Begotten Son (Amos 8:10; John 1:29, 36).
• The “Mystery of Loneliness,” when “the Sin of the Whole-Human-Race,” was placed upon the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1; 2Corinthians 5:21).
• The “Mystery of Ignorance of the People,” (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43, 49); the Soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garment (Psalm 22:18; Luke 23:34b).  

I trust that you are not blinded today, but that, by faith, received the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36), as your Personal Lord and Saviour and be “Born-Again,” by His Word and Spirit (John 3:3-8; 1Peter 1:23; Titus 3:5); be assured that the assurance that Jesus gave to the Repentant Thief on the Cross: “Today, you shall be with Me in Paradise!” (Luke 23:43), is also our assurance from Him (Christ)!