Did God Really Forsake Jesus On the Cross?

Author’s Note: I want to preface today’s post by saying I am not a theologian. I have never received any form of religious schooling. With that in mind, the words written in this post are simply what was revealed to me through the power of the Holy Spirit, and should be taken back to the Holy Spirit for prayer and consideration.

FORSAKE: to be absent, hide or conceal. (Credit: Strong’s Concordance)

At a very young age I learned the story of Jesus’s crucifixion, and the glorious victory it granted those who believe in Him. Yet, even as a child there was one aspect of this story that I couldn’t quite piece together. I had been told time and time again that God promised to never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 3:18), but also that God, the Father, had forsaken (or abandoned) Jesus on the cross.

Over the years as my relationship with God deepened, and I grew to know more of the character of God, a question formed in my mind, “did God really forsake Jesus on the cross?” How could the God who promised to never leave us alone also be the God who would abandon His Child in the darkest, most harrowing moment of His existence? Further more, if Jesus is the fulfillment of the Word how could He have an experience that didn’t align with the Word God had spoken? I was hoping to understand how two seemingly opposing declarations could be true.

Then, on November 29th, 2022, something amazing happened.

While walking down the stairs in my home I randomly began to recite the scripture, “My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me?” Immediately I was struck by my words. It seemed like such an odd exclamation to make because I hadn’t studied or read this verse in recent times. I hadn’t even listened to a sermon that included it! I paused for a moment and asked the Lord, “ABBA, did You actually forsake Jesus?” I quickly rationalized an answer and continued down the stairs.

Seconds later, my Bible (which had been tucked snuggly under my arm) slipped from my grip, tumbled down the remaining steps and landed face down onto the wooden floor below me. I rushed to retrieve it, flipped it right side up, and there I was greeted with Psalms 22. It read, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?“

I was stunned. Prior to this moment, I had no recollection of ever reading this scripture and what I found there revealed so much. I was aware that David, (the writer of the Psalm) lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born, and yet, the words and experiences were so similar and in some places, identical to Jesus’ experience on the cross.

For instance,

The opening verse, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” echoes the exact words Jesus spoke on the cross. (Matthew 27:46)

David spoke of his clothing being casted into lots and divided among his onlookers (Psalms 22:18). This happened after Jesus was arrested to be crucified. (Matthew 27:35)
Another example, was the tauntings David received from his enemies (Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬).This mirrored the behavior of Jesus’ accusers who, during His trial and crucifixion blatantly told Him that if He was the son of God He should save Himself. (Matthew 27:30-31)

I continued to read, in awe of the revelation I was receiving, then came verse 24, “For God has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from Him but has listened to His cry for help” (NIV).

In this passage David clearly stated, that God did not turn away from the afflicted One. But who is the afflicted One?

I was then led by the Holy Spirit to look up verse 24 in the New King James Version, (a version closer to the original translation) and I was amazed to find that the H in him is capitalized, revealing that the author, David, was writing about God! This meant that he was also speaking about Jesus, who is God in human form.

Therefore, another way to read this verse would be, “For God has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one (Jesus); He has not hidden His face from Him (Jesus) but has listened to His (Jesus’) cry for help.” (NIV).

It became evident that in an instant God had answered my question, first by placing the scripture on my lips, the question in my heart, and then causing my Bible to land on the very page that would supply the answer. My final conclusion was that Holy Spirit had enabled David to write Psalms 22 as a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion.

So what happened on the cross? Did God actually abandon Jesus? The simple answer according to David is no. However, in order to fully grasp this truth there are some things you must know.

Jesus Is The Word Of God

Jesus is the Word of God wrapped in flesh (John 1). There is no part of God’s Word that cannot be seen in Him or does not apply to Him. For He, Himself is the Word, and all of the Word is fulfilled through Him. The Bible let’s us know that Jesus is also the fulfillment of the Prophets, and the mere fact that He echoed David’s words is proof of that. In other words, as Jesus cried out David’s words on the cross, the prophecy was being fulfilled.

Knowing this, plays a vital role in understanding how David’s words in Psalms 22 was a revelation of Jesus. This passage of scripture, though written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth grants us insight on what truly transpired on the cross.

God Pursues The Sinner

Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there.
- Psalms 139: 8-9 AMPC

Over the years as I’ve listened to sermons on this topic, I’ve discovered that among preachers there is a common explanation for why God abandoned Jesus. That is, God was so repulsed by the sin that Jesus was carrying (the sin of the entire world) that He turned away from Him.

It is no secret that God hates sin. However, God’s hatred for sin is not because of how it affects Him (remember God cannot be tempted), but because of what sin does to our relationship with Him. Sin separates, divides, and it forges a wedge between us and God.

Let’s go back to the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve first sinned. After eating the fruit they were suddenly filled with shame, fear, and an overwhelming desire to hide, and they did. Who were they hiding from? God. Nevertheless, it was God who came in pursuit of them, two sinners, drenched in sin. He sought them out and covered them. Sound familiar?

This is the story of the Bible; this is the story of you and I, this is the story of a God who relentlessly pursues sinners.

Think about the Samaritan woman at the well, who according to Jewish customs, Jesus should not even have spoken to because she was a woman, a Samaritan, and promiscuous.

Yet, she was the very first person He revealed Himself to as the Messiah. Even in the story of the Prodigal Son, it was the father who came running towards his son, who was more than likely covered in mud, and pig feces. In other words, he was covered in sin.

The one thing that all of these people had in common was just like us, they were sinners. Through these stories we can see that although sin separates us from God, it is not because God cannot bear the sin we carry. Rather it is because sin causes us to reject, feel separated, or perhaps worse of all, abandoned by God.

Nevertheless, God is always in pursuit of the sinner. Therefore, even though He hates it, sin itself, would not cause God to turn away from, or abandon Jesus. Keep that in mind.

Jesus Is God.

“ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
- John 14:9

Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are One person existing in perfect unity. This is demonstrated in Jesus’s response to Philip, when Philip asked to see the Father. Here, Jesus revealed that He, Himself, was (still is) God, the Father, revealed.

In Matthew 12:25 Jesus states, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” This truth, places strain on the idea that God abandoned Jesus because it suggests that there would be disunity between Jesus, The Father and Holy Spirit in order for the Two to forsake, or be absent from Jesus.

It is also important to note that with His final breath Jesus committed His Spirit into His Father’s hands. This would not have been possible if God have forsaken Jesus.

Jesus Was Human.

Jesus wept.
- John 11:35

Fully human. As human as you and I are today. Yet somehow, in the majestic brilliance of God, He was also 100% God. One of the amazing aspects of His humanity was that He, like us, was fully able to experience human emotions. This is demonstrated in the story of Lazarus. Although Jesus tells the crowd that Lazarus’ illness would not result in death, he still cried! Based on Jesus’ words it could be inferred that He knew His assignment would be to raise Lazarus. So why did Jesus weep?

My belief is that Jesus wept because although he knew Lazarus would live again he was confronted with the sheer anguish and sorrow that accompanies death. In that moment, Jesus felt the same as we do when we lose a loved one.

Jesus’ humanity can also be seen in the Garden of Gethesemane where He wrestled with the hardship of His purpose. Or, on the cross where in a time of complete anguish and turmoil He cried out to His Heavenly Father, candidly expressing the excruciating pain of His circumstances and how it made Him feel; abandoned.

The God Who Stays

There have been many moments in my life where circumstances have made me feel as though God was not present. In these moments, although I knew logically God was with me, I still found myself asking questions like, “God, where are you?” These are moments where the pain of our reality causes us to confront God’s Word.

Yet the Word of God stands as Truth. We are not forsaken and neither was Jesus.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
-Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Verse 24 shows us that even as Jesus walked through the valley of the shadow of death God was with Him (Psalms23). God did not abandon Jesus. Rather, He kept His promise and by His Spirit, resurrected His Son back to life.

Beloved, allow me to introduce you to the God who stays. Be comforted and assured today that no matter what you are going through God is right there with you and He always will be.