Why grasp Jesus' abandonment in faith?
Why is understanding Jesus' sense of abandonment crucial for our faith journey?

The Scene on Golgotha

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”—“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34)


Why This Cry Matters

• A literal moment: the Son truly experiences the Father’s abandonment because the full penalty of sin is transferred to Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Fulfillment of prophecy: Psalm 22:1 foretold these very words, proving Scripture’s reliability.

• Clarity of substitution: by absorbing the separation we deserved, Jesus secures our reconciliation (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:10).


What His Abandonment Reveals

• The weight of sin—nothing less than divine forsakenness could pay its price.

• The depth of love—Romans 8:32 reminds us the Father “did not spare His own Son” for our sake.

• The completeness of atonement—“It is finished” (John 19:30) follows only after the forsakenness is borne.


How It Shapes Our Faith Journey

1. Assurance in suffering

– Because He entered the darkest loneliness, “we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

2. Confidence in forgiveness

– The debt is not partially covered; it is fully paid. We approach God “by a new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

3. Security of sonship

– Jesus was forsaken so we would never be. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) rests on His abandoned cry.

4. Motivation for holiness

– Knowing the cost of sin compels us to “live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Titus 2:12).

5. Fuel for worship

– The cross becomes the centerpiece of praise: “To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood… be glory” (Revelation 1:5-6).


Connecting Threads Across Scripture

Galatians 3:13—Christ became a curse for us.

1 Peter 2:24—He bore our sins in His body on the tree.

Colossians 1:20—Through the blood of His cross, He made peace.


Living in the Light of His Forsakenness

• When guilt whispers, remember the forsaken Savior declares you justified.

• When loneliness strikes, recall He endured ultimate isolation so you would enjoy eternal communion.

• When struggles linger, cling to the God who turned His face from the Son so He could forever turn it toward you.

How does Psalm 22:1 connect to Jesus' words in Mark 15:34?
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