“Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?”
After a sham trial, a death sentence, and multiple beatings and abuse, Jesus of Nazareth was executed by crucifixion by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish leadership. This was one of the last phrases uttered by Jesus before His death on the cross. It has been given the name,
“The Cry of Dereliction”
Why would Jesus utter such a phrase at a time like this?
Let us view this phrase in context. It is recorded twice in the Gospel accounts, in Matthew and Mark.
Matthew wrote,
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah!” (Matthew 27:45-47, HCSB).
Mark recorded,
“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Look, He’s calling for Elijah!” (Mark 15:33-35, HCSB).
The conventional interpretation suggests that this cry indicated a time when fellowship between God the Father and God the Son was broken. Jesus, who was sinless, became the sin and the sacrifice for us (2 Cor. 5:21). God the Father could not look on sin and therefore turned his back on Jesus. The Trinity was broken.
However, this interpretation reflects a faulty view of the Godhead, which is unified and unchangeable in essence and nature. The Godhead is indivisible.
Therefore, the Trinity could not be sundered, even temporarily.
Both Protestant and Catholic scholars suggest that the phrase “Eloi, Eloi…” should be interpreted within its Jewish context. Based on this assertion, another interpretation of this phrase of Jesus seems more plausible.
To some who were watching this event, this saying of Jesus seemed unintelligible. Some suggested that Jesus was calling for the Old Testament prophet Elijah. This suggestion seems impossible because Jesus had already said His cousin John the Baptist had fulfilled that role (Mark 9:13).
But, Jesus Christ was giving a quote from the cross. He was quoting the first line of Psalm 22. Instead of calling for Elijah, Jesus was calling on one of the great songs of the Jewish faith. New Testament and language scholar Dr. James White said, “…When you start off with the first words of a famous hymn of your people, you’re expecting your people to finish it out…” If Jesus is quoting the first line of Psalm 22, then it is reasonable to assert that He was claiming that Psalm for Himself. New Testament scholar Dr. Brant Pitre, writes in his book The Case for Jesus, “Psalm 22 shows that Jesus sees his suffering and death as a fulfillment of Scripture.”
Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm 22 to teach those who heard Him about Himself and God the Father who had sent Him.
Instead of a “cry of dereliction,” Jesus was voicing a note of triumph.
Mark Riser - Apologist 