Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
And at the ninth hour
The "ninth hour" refers to approximately 3 PM in Jewish timekeeping, which began at sunrise. This time is significant as it marks the moment of Jesus' deepest suffering on the cross. Historically, this hour was also the time of the evening sacrifice in the Temple, symbolizing Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Theologically, it represents the culmination of Jesus' earthly mission, fulfilling the prophecies and typologies of the Old Testament.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice
The Greek word for "cried out" is "ἀνεβόησεν" (aneboēsen), indicating a loud, intense cry. This expression of agony underscores the depth of Jesus' suffering and the weight of humanity's sin that He bore. The loud voice signifies the intensity of His spiritual and physical anguish, emphasizing His full humanity and the reality of His suffering.

'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?'
This Aramaic phrase, directly quoted by Jesus, is a profound expression of His experience of abandonment. "Eloi" is a form of "Elohim," meaning "God," and "lema sabachthani" translates to "why have You forsaken Me?" This cry is a direct quotation from Psalm 22:1, linking Jesus' suffering to the Messianic prophecy. It highlights the fulfillment of Scripture and the depth of Jesus' identification with human suffering and alienation from God due to sin.

which means, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'
This translation of Jesus' cry reveals the profound mystery of the Incarnation: the Son of God experiencing separation from the Father. Theologically, this moment represents the weight of sin that Jesus bore, causing a temporary rupture in the perfect communion within the Trinity. It underscores the gravity of sin and the cost of redemption. Historically, this cry has been interpreted as both a genuine expression of distress and a declaration of trust, as Psalm 22 ultimately ends in triumph and vindication. This duality offers believers hope, reminding them that even in moments of despair, God's purposes are redemptive and victorious.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure of Christianity, who is crucified and expresses a profound moment of anguish and fulfillment of prophecy.

2. Golgotha
The place of the skull, where Jesus was crucified, located outside the walls of Jerusalem.

3. Roman Soldiers
The executors of the crucifixion, who were present at the scene.

4. Jewish Bystanders
Those who witnessed the crucifixion, including some who misunderstood Jesus' cry.

5. God the Father
The one to whom Jesus directs His cry, highlighting the relational aspect of the Trinity even in moments of perceived abandonment.
Teaching Points
The Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus' cry on the cross fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 22, demonstrating the divine plan and foreknowledge of God.

The Depth of Jesus' Suffering
This moment reveals the extent of Jesus' suffering, not just physically but spiritually, as He bears the weight of sin.

The Reality of Separation
Jesus experiences a moment of separation from the Father, symbolizing the separation sin causes between humanity and God.

The Assurance of God's Presence
Despite feelings of abandonment, Jesus' cry is a prayer, showing that even in despair, we can turn to God.

The Hope of Redemption
Jesus' suffering leads to the ultimate redemption of humanity, reminding us that God can bring good from suffering.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' cry of abandonment on the cross fulfill the prophecy found in Psalm 22, and what does this teach us about the reliability of Scripture?

2. In what ways does Jesus' experience of separation from the Father on the cross help us understand the seriousness of sin and its consequences?

3. How can we find comfort in knowing that Jesus, who experienced profound suffering, is our High Priest who empathizes with our weaknesses?

4. What does Jesus' example of crying out to God in His moment of despair teach us about how we should respond in our own times of suffering?

5. How can the hope of redemption through Jesus' suffering and resurrection encourage us in our daily walk with God, especially during difficult times?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 22
Jesus' cry is a direct quotation from the opening verse of this Psalm, which prophetically describes the suffering of the Messiah and ends in triumph.

Isaiah 53
This passage describes the suffering servant, providing a prophetic backdrop to the events of the crucifixion.

Matthew 27:46
A parallel account of Jesus' cry on the cross, emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy.

Hebrews 4:15
Highlights Jesus as our High Priest who empathizes with our weaknesses, having experienced profound suffering.

2 Corinthians 5:21
Explains the theological significance of Jesus bearing the sins of the world, which may relate to His sense of abandonment.
Eclipse of the Face of GodJ. Black.Mark 15:34
Forsaken of GodHenry S. Miles, M. A.Mark 15:34
Jesus Implores ConsolationThomas Ward, M. A.Mark 15:34
The Cry of the ForsakenC. J. Proctor, B. A.Mark 15:34
The Dying Saviour Our ExampleFriedrich Schleiermacher Mark 15:34
The Presence of God the Support of the MartyrsJ. Black.Mark 15:34
The Closing SceneJ.J. Given Mark 15:16-41
Death of JesusE. Johnson Mark 15:33-39
The Crucifixions: the Divine WordsR. Green Mark 15:33-41
People
Alexander, Barabbas, Elias, Elijah, James, Jesus, Joseph, Joses, Mary, Pilate, Rufus, Salome, Simon
Places
Arimathea, Cyrene, Galilee, Golgotha, Jerusalem, Place of the Skull
Topics
Cried, Elohi, Eloi, E'lo-i, Eloieloi, Forsake, Forsaken, Hast, Hour, Interpreted, Lama, La'ma, Lamalama, Lamma, Loud, Ninth, O'clock, Sabachthani, Sabach-tha'ni, Sabachthanisabachthani, Sabacthani, Saying, Translated, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Mark 15:34

     1511   Trinity, relationships in
     2054   Christ, mind of
     2333   Christ, attitude to OT
     2360   Christ, prayers of
     2366   Christ, prophecies concerning
     2570   Christ, suffering
     5196   voice
     5374   languages
     5561   suffering, nature of
     5564   suffering, of Christ
     5770   abandonment
     5831   depression
     6109   alienation
     6233   rejection, experience
     8330   receptiveness
     8341   separation
     8615   prayer, doubts
     8763   forgetting

Mark 15:25-37

     1680   types

Mark 15:29-34

     2525   Christ, cross of
     5901   loneliness

Mark 15:29-37

     2412   cross, accounts of

Mark 15:33-34

     1653   numbers, 6-10
     4948   hour

Mark 15:33-36

     4514   stick

Mark 15:33-37

     5338   holiday

Library
Simon the Cyrenian
'And they compel one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His Cross.'--Mark xv. 21. How little these soldiers knew that they were making this man immortal! What a strange fate that is which has befallen chose persons in the Gospel narrative, who for an instant came into contact with Jesus Christ. Like ships passing athwart the white ghostlike splendour of moonlight on the sea, they gleam silvery pure for a moment as they cross its
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Christ and Pilate: the True King and his Counterfeit
'And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2. And Pilate asked Him, Art Thou the King of the Jews? And He answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. 3. And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing. 4. And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against Thee. 6. But Jesus yet
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Death which Gives Life
'And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross. 22. And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not. 24. And when they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26. And the superscription
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Dying Saviour Our Example.
(On Good Friday.) TEXT: MARK xv. 34-41. HEAVENLY Father! On all who are assembling to day to commemorate the death of the Holy One, in whom Thou wast well pleased, look graciously down! Let not one go away from the cross of Thy Well-beloved without exclaiming, with new, living faith, Truly this was the Son of God! Let not one wipe away his tears of emotion until the heartfelt desire has taken possession of him that his end may be like that of this righteous One! Let not the feeling of holy reverence
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

The Centurion at the Cross.
MATT. XXVII. 54. Comp. MARK XV. 39. "Now, when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying: Truly this was the [a] Son of God." LUKE XXIII. 47. "Now, when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying: Certainly this was a righteous man." Note.--The centurion here spoken of is the one who, according to Roman custom, presided over the execution (hence called by Seneca centurio supplicio præpositus;
Philip Schaff—The Person of Christ

Joseph of Arimathea
BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, D.D.. LL.B. "Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God."--MARK xv. 43. The crucifixion of our Lord produced strange and startling effects in moral experience, as well as in the physical world. The veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom as if a hand from heaven had torn it, in order to teach men that the ancient ritual was done with. Darkness covered the earth, suggesting to thoughtful minds the guilt of the world and
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

"Himself He could not Save. " --Mark xv. 31
"Himself He could not save."--Mark xv. 31. "He saved others," scorners cried, Beholding Jesus crucified; "Is this the Son of God with power? Lo, in His own afflictive hour, Himself he cannot save." He was the Son of God with power, He "came unto that very hour;" I'll joy in His reproach and shame, "He savest others;" I'll exclaim, "Himself He could not save." His agony and bloody sweat, His cross and passion paid my debt; He saved others when he fell, Yet,--who the mystery can tell? Himself, He
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Whether Christ was Buried in a Becoming Manner?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ was buried in an unbecoming manner. For His burial should be in keeping with His death. But Christ underwent a most shameful death, according to Wis. 2:20: "Let us condemn Him to a most shameful death." It seems therefore unbecoming for honorable burial to be accorded to Christ, inasmuch as He was buried by men of position---namely, by Joseph of Arimathea, who was "a noble counselor," to use Mark's expression (Mk. 15:43), and by Nicodemus, who was "a ruler of
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

H. The Crucifixion. Ch. 23:26-38
26 And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the
Charles R. Erdman—The Gospel of Luke, An Exposition

Pilate
"And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him up to Pilate." ". . . And they lead Him out to crucify Him." MARK 15:1-20 (R.V.) WITH morning came the formal assembly, which St. Mark dismisses in a single verse. It was indeed a disgraceful mockery. Before the trial began its members had prejudged the case, passed sentence by anticipation, and abandoned Jesus, as one
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

Christ Crucified
"And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear His cross. And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they offered Him wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not. And they crucify Him, and part His garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the superscription of
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Death of Jesus
"And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, He calleth Elijah. And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take Him down. And Jesus
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

Part 1 Christ's Humiliation, Exaltation, and Triumph. Phil. 2:8,9; Mark 15:20,24,29; Col. 2:15
Christ's humiliation, exaltation, and triumph. Phil. 2:8,9; Mark 15:20,24,29; Col. 2:15. The mighty frame of glorious grace, That brightest monument of praise That e'er the God of love designed, Employs and fills my lab'ring mind. Begin, my soul, the heav'nly song, A burden for an angel's tongue: When Gabriel sounds these awful things, He tunes and summons all his stungs. Proclaim inimitable love: Jesus, the Lord of worlds above, Puts off the beams of bright array, And veils the God in mortal
Isaac Watts—The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts

The Fourth Word
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani."--ST. MATT. XXVII. 46; ST. MARK XV. 34. There are three peculiar and distinguishing features of this fourth word which our Saviour uttered from His Cross. 1. It is the only one of the Seven which finds a place in the earliest record of our Lord's life, contained in the matter common to St. Matthew and St. Mark. 2. It is the only one which has been preserved to us in the original Aramaic, in the very syllables which were formed by the lips of Christ. 3. It is the
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

The Shortest of the Seven Cries
As these seven sayings were so faithfully recorded, we do not wonder that they have frequently been the subject of devout meditation. Fathers and confessors, preachers and divines have delighted to dwell upon every syllable of these matchless cries. These solemn sentences have shone like the seven golden candlesticks or the seven stars of the Apocalypse, and have lighted multitudes of men to him who spake them. Thoughtful men have drawn a wealth of meaning from them, and in so doing have arranged
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 24: 1878

Third Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Formally Condemned by the Sanhedrin and Led to Pilate.
(Jerusalem. Friday After Dawn.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 1, 2; ^B Mark XV. 1; ^C Luke XXII. 66-23:1; ^D John XVIII. 28. ^a 1 Now when morning was come, ^c 66 And as soon as it was day, ^b straightway ^c the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, ^a all the chief priests and { ^b with} the elders ^a of the people ^b and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and ^a took counsel against Jesus to put
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

First Stage of the Roman Trial. Jesus Before Pilate for the First Time.
(Jerusalem. Early Friday Morning.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 11-14; ^B Mark XV. 2-5; ^C Luke XXIII. 2-5; ^D John XVIII. 28-38. ^d and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. [See p. 641.] 29 Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee. [The Jewish rulers first attempt to induce
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him to Crucifixion.
(Friday. Toward Sunrise.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 15-30; ^B Mark XV. 6-19; ^C Luke XXIII. 13-25; ^D John XVIII. 39-XIX 16. ^a 15 Now at the feast [the passover and unleavened bread] the governor was wont { ^b used to} release unto them ^a the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. { ^b whom they asked of him.} [No one knows when or by whom this custom was introduced, but similar customs were not unknown elsewhere, both the Greeks and Romans being wont to bestow special honor upon certain occasions by releasing
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Crucifixion.
Subdivision A. On the Way to the Cross. (Within and Without Jerusalem. Friday Morning.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 31-34; ^B Mark XV. 20-23; ^C Luke XXIII. 26-33; ^D John XIX. 17. ^a 31 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the ^b purple, ^a robe, and put on him his garments [This ended the mockery, which seems to have been begun in a state of levity, but which ended in gross indecency and violence. When we think of him who endured it all, we can not contemplate the scene without a shudder. Who
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Morning of Good Friday.
The pale grey light had passed into that of early morning, when the Sanhedrists once more assembled in the Palace of Caiaphas. [5969] A comparison with the terms in which they who had formed the gathering of the previous night are described will convey the impression, that the number of those present was now increased, and that they who now came belonged to the wisest and most influential of the Council. It is not unreasonable to suppose, that some who would not take part in deliberations which were
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Crucified, Dead, and Buried. '
It matters little as regards their guilt, whether, pressing the language of St. John, [6034] we are to understand that Pilate delivered Jesus to the Jews to be crucified, or, as we rather infer, to his own soldiers. This was the common practice, and it accords both with the Governor's former taunt to the Jews, [6035] and with the after-notice of the Synoptists. They, to whom He was delivered,' led Him away to be crucified:' and they who so led Him forth compelled' the Cyrenian Simon to bear the Cross.
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Death of Jesus.
Although the real motive for the death of Jesus was entirely religious, his enemies had succeeded, in the judgment-hall, in representing him as guilty of treason against the state; they could not have obtained from the sceptical Pilate a condemnation simply on the ground of heterodoxy. Consistently with this idea, the priests demanded, through the people, the crucifixion of Jesus. This punishment was not Jewish in its origin; if the condemnation of Jesus had been purely Mosaic, he would have been
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

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