Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sa- bachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” —Matthew 27:46
Some have suggested that Jesus wasn’t really forsaken by God on the cross—that He just felt forsaken. But Scripture indicates that Jesus was forsaken by His Father, that He had to be forsaken to redeem us from our sins.
We know that “he made him to be sin who knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV). When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” the Father was actively involved in imputing our sin to His Son.
And yet Jesus’ cry of distress wasn’t a cry of distrust. The Father’s face had been eclipsed, but Jesus knew He was still there, not only carrying Him through this torment but finding satisfaction in a job well done by His beloved Son.
You may be at a low point in your life. At times, you may feel abandoned by God or others. But if you’ve trusted Christ as your sin-bearer, you will never be truly forsaken—because your Savior was forsaken for you.
Make it Personal
Are you or someone you know dragging rock bottom today? Tell them (and remind yourself!) of your Savior who’s been there and back.