At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which is translated, “My God, My God, why did You forsake Me” (Ps. 22:1).
This cry is the unveiling of the deepest mystery of the cross. From the lips of Christ the words of Psalm 22 are heard, and by this it becomes clear that the prophetic word about the suffering righteous one is being fulfilled in Him (Psalm 22:1). He, the beloved Son of the Father, now as the substitute for sinners bears the dreadful weight of God’s righteous judgment. This does not mean that there was a division within the Godhead or that the Father’s love toward the Son ceased, but that Christ, in His human soul, entered into that abandonment and the terror of judgment that sin deserved. His words “My God” are at the same time words of faith: even at the deepest moment of abandonment He turns to God as His God. He was forsaken so that those who believe in Him would never be forsaken forever.