“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34
The New Testament tells us about the death of Jesus in two important but different ways: God gives us both description and explanation. And it’s important to hold these two together.
The Gospels describe what actually happened. Mark gives us an eyewitness account. If you had been there, here is what you would have seen: The soldiers dividing Jesus’ clothing by lots (15:24), the written notice over Jesus’ head that said, “The King of the Jews” (15:26), and the two robbers crucified with Him—one on either side (15:27).
You would have heard people shouting insults at Jesus as they walked past the cross (15:29). You would have experienced the strange darkness that suddenly came over the whole land at midday (15:33). Three hours later, you would have heard Jesus cry out with a loud voice, “‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani,’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (15:34). Then, you would have heard another loud cry, as Jesus took His last breath and died (15:37).
That’s what happened. This is what the people who were there at the time heard and saw. But what does it mean? What does this have to do with us today?
Can you imagine the death of Jesus on the cross, based on the Bible’s description?
