Mark 15:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me’ (Psalm 21:15-18). The Divine Sufferer likely paused to reflect on this prophecy... His strength was ebbing away along with His life... His dimming eye still sought heaven, but darkness enveloped it—no glimmer of light, no comfort... It seemed as though the just Father had abandoned the Son, who was bearing the sins of humanity... This thought completed the already profound anguish of human existence... ‘Eloi, Eloi,’ the Divine Sufferer cried out, ‘lama savahfani!’ (My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?) There was silence... This silence stemmed from our sins: as noted by St. Cyprian, the Lord endured this to prompt us to question the Father, to reflect upon ourselves, and to confront our sins. ‘For,’ the holy martyr continues, ‘why was the Lord forsaken? So that we may not be forsaken by God; for the redemption of us from our sins and eternal death; to demonstrate the greatest love for humanity; to reveal the justice and mercy of God, to draw our hearts towards Him, and to serve as an example for all who suffer.’ This understanding of Jesus' lament is essential for His followers to grasp and remember. The complete significance of this prayer remains a mystery to us... Yet, there is no trace of doubt or despair within it. The very repetition of the words, ‘My God, My God, My God,’ conveys the contrary sentiment. Instead, it is a lament over the harshness of His afflictions, both outward and inward, particularly regarding the apparent rupture of His Divine unity with the Father, which had previously provided comfort and now, having been severed, marked the ultimate expression of internal suffering—the apex of His sacrifice; a feeling indelibly human unlike the impassivity of the divine. The Lord’s prayerful outcry became a new source of mockery for His adversaries. They feigned ignorance of His words and, based on a superficial similarity between ‘Eloah’ and ‘Elijah,’ misinterpreted His plea as a call to that prophet: ‘Look,’ one exclaimed to another, “He calls for Elijah’s help;” implying that even in death, He maintains the demeanor of the Messiah: for it was believed that Elijah, along with other prophets, would come before the Messiah’s arrival, serving as His forerunner and assisting those who called upon him.

The Jewish belief held that the great prophet Elijah would appear on earth before the Messiah, which was fulfilled in John the Baptist, as explained by the Savior (Matthew 11:14; Matthew 16:14; Matthew 17:10-11). However, the scribes and Pharisees failed to recognize both the Messiah and His Forerunner. Given that the notion of Elijah was widely accepted among the Jewish people, it follows that the Roman soldiers, in their interactions with them, would have been aware of it. Thus, when they remarked, ‘This Elijah speaks; let Him be, that we may see if Elijah will come to rescue Him,’ they demonstrated their ignorance by attempting to mock Jesus as a false Messiah. In their misguided amusement, they only revealed their own folly. Yet, among these soldiers, there was one who acted with compassion, hastening to alleviate the thirst of the one suffering at Golgotha. True, he also voiced, ‘Let us wait for Elijah to come and help Him,’ which indicated a concession to the boisterous mockery of his companions. In saying this, the soldier seemed to wait for Elijah while also wishing to provide support. Nevertheless, this act of cowardice did not negate his act of mercy. Both St. Mark and St. Matthew recount that after he filled a sponge with vinegar and placed it on a reed, he offered it to Jesus. According to St. John, the sponge was applied to a branch of hyssop, a bitter and hollow herb. The vinegar, when touching the hyssop, would absorb its bitterness. However, as presented in this manner, it served as a fortifying remedy for the Savior. The stalk of eastern hyssop can reach quite a height and could serve as the reed on which the sponge soaked in vinegar was mounted. The compassionate soldier intended to offer Jesus a drink, not flavorful, but beneficial to one who was parched at the point of death. This reflects how humanity responded to the Lord Jesus when He proclaimed, ‘I thirst’ (John 19:28). He was eager to accomplish the will of His heavenly Father, yearning in His agony to open the streams of Grace for lost humanity. Yet, how did humanity reciprocate? Is it right for a sinful person to feel offense at being unrecognizable to Him, often returning evil instead of goodness for His services? It is not our indignation that should surface over this reality. Rather, we ought to consider and lament what we offer the Lord in return for His blessings. What fills our hearts that ought to burn with love for His commands which bring us salvation? O Divine Love, forgive our insensitivity and blindness. With Thy thirst, we beseech Thee to quench in our hearts the longing for sinful pleasures, and stir within our wayward souls a fervent zeal for eternal salvation—a desire to fulfill the will of the heavenly Father that Thou yearnest to ignite within us. Without this life-giving passion and thirst for heavenly treasures, a wretched fate awaits us in eternity! Amen.

As a result, the question of whether Elijah would respond to Jesus' call was closely linked to the inquiry of whether the crucified man was indeed the Messiah. This line of thought led some to proclaim, “Elijah is being called.” However, it was evident that only a few, clearly not from the ruling authorities, held this belief.