And some of those standing nearby, when they heard it, were saying, “Look, He is calling Elijah.”
Those standing nearby misunderstood or mockingly interpreted Christ’s cry. They connected the sound “Eli” with the name Elijah. This shows that even near the cross people do not understand the depth of His word. They hear the outward sound, but they do not grasp the mystery of the fulfillment of Scripture. A person can stand near the cross and still not see its saving meaning, if the heart is not open before the light of God. Christ’s cry was a prayer and the fulfillment of prophecy, but they turned it into an occasion for misunderstanding or mockery.