“Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?”

“Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?” Meaning, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

This was shouted by Jesus from the cross, and was one of the last things He said before He died. Most believers recognize that Jesus was crying out in anguish, having His relationship with the Father shattered by the sin He was taking on in that moment. But there was another reason Jesus used this particular phrase...

Did you know that Jesus was referencing a psalm?

In Jesus' day, scriptures didn't have chapters or verses, but instead were just written in blocks of text that filled scrolls from top to bottom. There was no punctuation, paragraph breaks, or formatting of any kind. So, in order to find a particular section in scripture, teachers would call out key phrases that were instantly recognizable to knowledgeable listeners.

“Please turn to 'For God so loved the world.'” He might say.

“Oh! He's talking about John 3:16.” *pages frantically flipping*

In the Jewish mind, “Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?” is referring to Psalm 22, written over 1000 years before Jesus was born.

Why did Jesus reference that psalm, exactly?

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"

*** This is exactly what the crowds are saying to Jesus on the cross. ***

Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

*** His disciples deserted him. ***

Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water,

*** His blood is being poured out. ***

and all my bones are out of joint;

*** He's beaten and bruised beyond recognition. Crucifixion caused the body to be stretched, dislocating many joints in the body.***

my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

*** In spite of all His other injuries, scholars believe that what ultimately killed Jesus was a broken heart; it just burst within Him. This can happen in moments of extreme stress or emotional heartbreak. This argument seems valid, because when His side was pierced (John 19:34) blood and water came out. The pericardium, which is a membrane enclosing the heart, is filled with water (among other substances). It's among the only places in the human body where water accumulates like that. It's believed that this fluid is what rushed out of Jesus when the spear pierced Him. ***

my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws;

*** “I thirst!” He said.***

you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me;

*** In the Bible, dogs are a metaphor for gentiles (anyone who isn't jewish). Who's putting Jesus up on the cross? Roman soldiers...gentiles. ***

a company of evildoers encircles me;

*** Jesus was crucified between two robbers. ***

they have pierced my hands and feet—

*** The author is describing crucifixion 1000 years before it was even INVENTED. No other mainsteam means of execution has ever been like this. ***

I can count all my bones—

*** Not from starvation, but from the scourging. ***

they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots...

*** The Roman soldiers openly cast lots for Jesus' clothes. ***

~Psalm 22:1-18

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God is amazing! What Jesus essentially did by referencing Psalm 22 was show the surrounding people that a messianic prophecy was being fulfilled...right in front of them!

"It's talking about me! This day! THIS time! I am the Messiah, and this was planned."

If you read the gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:27-54; Mark 15:16-39; Luke 23:6-48; John 19:1-37), you'll see that psalm 22 and the events of that day are a perfect match.

Some claim that Jesus being crucified was an accident, that He had no idea that things would get so out of control. "Eli, eli, lama sabachthani" proves that the crucifixion was not only expected, but planned. In Revelation 13:8, the Bible calls Jesus "the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world." It wasn't "plan B" or a compromise in any way, but rather, necessary; the only way that humanity could be saved.

What's the takeaway here? Simply this: Jesus loves you. He loved you so much that he deliberately and willingly gave up his life to give you eternal life! Knowing how bad it would be, and knowing that the plan for salvation would be almost impossibly difficult, He still went to the cross so that you could live.

He's absolutely crazy about you!

-Daniel