Mark 15:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Every individual knows the inevitability of death, and most strive to postpone it, even those who believe they will find greater joy in the afterlife. Such is the profound bond between body and soul (cf. Eph. 5:29).

In His boundless mercy toward humanity and by taking on the likeness of a servant, the man Christ, who is also God, teaches us to discern what is lacking in this life and what we can earnestly hope for in the life to come. Even amid His suffering, when His adversaries appeared to prevail, He took upon Himself the voice of our frailty (cf. Rom. 6:6), wherein our old selves were crucified and the body of sin annihilated, uttering the words: My God, why hast Thou forsaken me...? (Psalm 21:2; Matt. 27:46) Thus, begins the twenty-first Psalm, recounting His suffering and the revelation of the grace bestowed for the resurrection and liberation of the faithful.

It is evident that Psalm 21 is, in truth, the prayer of the Sufferer directed towards the Messiah. We observe that verses 8, 9, 17-19, and 23 were literally fulfilled in the narrative of our crucified Lord. Up to this moment, the prophecy was brought to fruition by the very enemies who crucified Jesus, even without their realization. Now, however, the Crucified One Himself, in alignment with the Father’s plan, fulfills what was foretold within the Psalm, echoing the prayer of the Sufferer depicted therein. Jesus thus proclaims to heaven and earth that His sufferings are indeed the sufferings of the Messiah. Regardless of whether the Jewish people grasp the truth or not, the voice of truth addresses their blasphemies boldly, stating, "If God loves Him, let Him deliver Him." What significance do the psalm's words, recited by Christ Jesus, hold concerning Himself? It is inconceivable to assume that Jesus Christ, while quoting the psalm for His own sake, is speaking of another. It cannot be so, for all that pertains to the Messiah was to be realized in Jesus’ life with utmost precision and completeness. Moreover, is it not clear that Christ Jesus is never more untruthful in word than any other human being? "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" These words, uttered by the suffering Christ Jesus, convey two notions: the thought of being abandoned by God, and the profound feeling stirred by that abandonment; they encapsulate the severity of His sufferings and His prayer for fulfillment of His mission. In the psalm, which portrays the suffering Messiah, the Sufferer states: "I am poured out like water; all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; My tongue sticks to the roof of My mouth, and You lay Me in the dust of death" (Psalm 21:15-16). This reflects the utmost anguish of bodily torment. The depth of suffering endured by the Sufferer is so intense that His very bodily frame seems to disintegrate. Undoubtedly, this illustrates the profound, redemptive sufferings of the God-Man—Christ Jesus. Yet, this pain is also of the physical form. What turmoil was experienced by the soul of the Sufferer Jesus? It was His anguish that elevated the bodily suffering to unspeakable depths. There are moments, even for the saints of God, when the will of the Provider seems to withdraw, leaving them to confront their tribulations relying solely on their own strength. This can strip the righteous of everything dear to them. The one who suffers, detached from earthly ties, may feel utterly alone, powerless, and void of human consolation in a barren place. Having lost all earthly attachments, He plunges into the depths of His spirit seeking solace, yet finds only darkness and emptiness. There isn’t a single ray of light, a drop of refreshing dew, or a sign of life. He turns to prayer, but prayer does not illuminate; instead, it stirs His soul to love and faith, yet provides no solace. He senses He has been forsaken by the One on whom all His hopes rested, the One whom He sought to love entirely with His being. "Save me, O Lord," He pleads. "I am sinking deep in mire, and have nothing of solace; I am weary of my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while waiting for my God" (Psalm 68:2-4). This temporary abandonment of the righteous soul by God is permitted because even the purest of men carry human frailty; it is allowed so that, through the recognition of their own weakness and sinfulness, they might yield themselves to God the Savior with greater totality. Thus, though this trial may be excruciating for human frailty, its foundation lies in the awareness of inherent sinfulness in humanity. However, the Sufferer at Calvary was without sin. No righteous individual can endure as profound a forsaking by God as He did. He was abandoned by all who were closest to His heart. The love of the Father in heaven had once delighted in Him as He fulfilled His will, and that love rested upon His spirit (John 16:32). Now, however, He feels devoid of that loving gaze; He remains without comfort, both earthly and heavenly. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" In the Garden of Gethsemane, the sorrow of the Son of Man weighed heavily upon Him. He prayed, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me," and in that moment, He called upon God as His Father, the embodiment of goodness and love. Now, before Him stands a stern Judge, one who has surrendered Him for the sins of the entire world—not only to cruel adversaries but to the relentless anguish of mental torment. In Gethsemane, the impending cup of death had filled His holy soul with terror; now, He is already immersed in that dreadful cup. Over Him looms the judgment for the sins of all nations and ages. He has borne the sins of humanity, and the Truth of God has distanced Him from the divine countenance as if He were guilty. The weight of that separation burdens Him immeasurably. What is sin but a separation from God? What is sin but an object of God’s disgust and wrath? Sinners! In eternity, you will know what it is to be distanced from God because of your sins. The light of God's truth will unveil your dreadful state. Now, with hearts clouded and dulled to the spiritual, you cannot begin to fathom that horrific reality. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," says the Apostle (Hebrews 10:31). If it is daunting when God's righteous wrath is directed upon a sinner for their sins, what can be said of Him on whom that wrath was unleashed for the iniquities of all? He alone is inundated with the wrath of divine justice, and He finds no companion in His suffering (Isaiah 63:1-3). Oh, sinners, how often do you trivialize sin! How frequently do you view it as insignificant! Look upon the Sufferer of Golgotha; witness how grievously He suffers for your iniquities! Observe how formidable the judgment of God's righteousness is against sin! "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" The sorrows of the praying Sufferer are profound. Yet His voice does not carry the tones of impatience or lament. Human frailty, burdened by suffering, may groan; however, the humanity of Christ Jesus remains pure and holy in all respects; in His agony, it faithfully clings to God, compelling Him to cry out to the Father. When the Sufferer prays and exclaims, "My God, my God," it is clear that His soul is deeply connected to God, turning toward Him with all His hopes. But who is this suffering soul that prays? It is more profound than merely a righteous man; it is the Mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who willingly submits Himself for the sake of all (1 Tim. 2:5, 6). Thus, the lament of the Intercessor of God for humanity emerges. "O righteous God!" He implores. "Thy fearsome wrath is unleashed upon Me; by eternal decree and through My own will, I have become the target of the arrows of Thy righteousness, and all this is due to the transgressions of mankind. May my sufferings become an acceptable sacrifice in Thy sight; may they reconcile Thy righteousness with guilty humanity!" Therefore, the cry of the Sufferer, burdened by a sense of alienation from God, conveys not only the fervent yearning of a pure soul for God but also the prayer of the Redeemer of the world, seeking a favorable conclusion to His mission. Is this prayer heard? The Apostle of God enlightens us concerning the mystery of Christ's suffering, stating, "You who once were alienated and enemies, He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through His death" (Colossians 1:22, 23). Christ loved us and offered Himself as a fragrant sacrifice unto God (Eph. 5:2). This aligns with His role as our high priest, set apart from sinners, who has no need to offer daily sacrifices for His own sins and then for those of the people; rather, He singularly offered Himself (Heb. 7:26, 27). Beloved, conduct your lives with the understanding of the precious nature of your souls, knowing that you have been redeemed, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish (1 Pet. 1:17-19). O just and loving God, the sufferings of Your Son are our shield; for His sake, forgive our shortcomings and grant us the strength to fulfill Your holy will. Amen.

This explains the heartfelt lament that emerged from His being: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” The Evangelists recorded this plea in the very language used by Jesus, Aramaic, to clarify why those Jews present mistook His words as a call for Elijah: “Eloi! Eloi! lamma savahfani?”