Understanding Jesus’ Cry on the Cross: “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

As Jesus hung on the cross, he uttered one of the most haunting and misunderstood cries in all of Scripture:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

This moment is not just emotionally powerful—it’s theologically rich. These words, drawn directly from Psalm 22, invite us to look deeper. They are not a loss of faith. They are a full and embodied cry of anguish, saturated with scripture, fulfillment, and trust.

A Direct Echo of Psalm 22

Jesus’ cry is not spontaneous. It is intentional. The opening line of Psalm 22 is this:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1)

This psalm begins with abandonment, but it does not end there. As it unfolds, we find a trajectory: from isolation to deliverance, from lament to hope. By invoking this psalm, Jesus does what he so often does throughout his public ministry: he teaches through Scripture. Even from the cross, he is pointing to something larger than the moment of pain.

Entering the Full Depth of Human Suffering

At this moment, Christ is not simply reciting a prophecy—he is living it. He is the fulfillment of Psalm 22 in body and spirit. His words express real abandonment, real agony, and real separation. Not from the Father in essence—but from every felt assurance of consolation.

He feels what we feel when suffering consumes us:
Where is God now? Has He left me, too?

This is the mystery of the Incarnation taken to its most radical depth. Jesus is not performing suffering. He is fully entering it.

And that means when you cry out with confusion, when you feel forgotten, you are not alone. Jesus has gone before you.

Theological Mystery: The Sin-Bearer and the Abandoned

Many theologians reflect on this cry as a glimpse into the cost of sin. Christ, the spotless Lamb, is now bearing the full weight of humanity’s rebellion. In this bearing, he experiences the consequence of sin: distance from God.

“He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

That experience—of being cut off, of feeling forsaken—is not fake. It is a lived spiritual reality. Not because the Father rejected the Son, but because the Son entered into our estrangement so we could be restored.

As the Catechism reminds us:

"In the redeeming love that united him to the Father, Jesus knew that the Father had not abandoned him." (CCC 603)

Prophetic Fulfillment in Real Time

Psalm 22 doesn’t just begin with forsakenness—it details the crucifixion with uncanny accuracy:

• "All who see me mock me..." (v.7)

• "They have pierced my hands and feet." (v.16)

• "They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." (v.18)

Jesus is not only suffering, he is showing us that he is the suffering servant long foretold. By quoting Psalm 22, he aligns his agony with divine prophecy—not in resignation, but in revelation.

Even on the cross, he is revealing the Father.

Pope Benedict XVI: Crying Out in Trust

Pope Benedict XVI reflected deeply on this moment. He reminded us that this cry is both a lament and a prayer. It is not a break in the Trinity. It is the sound of ultimate vulnerability held within divine love.

“In that hour, Jesus takes on himself all the anguish of humanity and all the petitions of salvation history... His cry is not despair, but a profound expression of trust in the Father.”
(Benedict XVI, Homily for Good Friday, Vatican.va)

Even in pain, Jesus prays. Even in silence, he speaks to God.

This is not faithlessness. This is faith at its most honest.

What This Cry Means for Us

When we read this passage, we are invited to:

• Enter the mystery of Jesus’ suffering without rushing to solve it

• See our own abandonment mirrored in his

• Remember the arc of Psalm 22: despair does not get the final word

• Trust that Jesus is present not only in victory, but in devastation

Jesus doesn’t skip the pain. He names it. He enters it. He redeems it.

What This Cry Tells Us About God

One of the most radical truths of the Christian faith is this: God does not stay distant from suffering. He enters it. Not just as an observer, but as one who participates.

Jesus' cry on the cross isn't just a moment of pain—it's a revelation of God's nearness to every hurting soul. It shows us that God is not scandalized by our questions. He does not turn away when we feel lost, undone, or confused. Instead, He meets us in that space. Not always with immediate answers, but always with presence.

This cry also dismantles the false idea that faith requires constant strength. Jesus—fully divine, fully human—models a kind of faith that includes lament, doubt, and longing. If the Son of God can cry out, so can we.

In a world that glorifies resolution and quick comfort, Jesus teaches us to stay present in the mystery. To name the ache. To pray the psalms. To trust that God is still listening, even when it feels like He is silent.

Final Thought: When You Feel Forsaken

Jesus didn’t quote Psalm 22 because he doubted God.
He quoted it because he trusted God to meet him in the silence.

If you feel forsaken, forgotten, or unseen—you are not outside of God’s reach. You are, in fact, walking a path Jesus knows well.

And just like the psalm ends with rescue and praise, so does the story of the cross. Because the cry of abandonment is not the end. It is the turning point.

"He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him, but has listened to his cry for help." (Psalm 22:24)

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Want to go deeper? This and many other themes are beautifully explored in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The USCCB edition is especially readable, with footnotes and clarity for prayerful study.