Forsaken (Psalm 22)

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?

My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief…

I am a worm, hardly human, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me;

“You relied on the Lord — let him deliver you; if he loves you, let him rescue you.”

Yet you drew me forth from the womb, made me safe at my mother’s breast.

Upon you I was thrust from the womb; since birth you are my God.

Do not stay far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help…

Like water my life drains away; all my bones grow soft.

My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me.

As dry as a potsherd is my throat; my tongue sticks to my palate;

you lay me in the dust of death.

Many dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me.

So wasted are my hands and feet that I can count all my bones.

[There appears to be a verb missing in the original Hebrew; alternate translations are:

They bite like a lion my hands and my feet.

They dug my hands and feet.

They pierced my hands and feet.]

They stare at me and gloat;

they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots.

-- Psalm 22: v.1-19 (estimated as written 587 B.C.)

The gospel of Mark (70 A.D.) describes Jesus’ last hours as follows:

They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull). They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it.

Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left.

Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him. At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabchtham?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” *

Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah. One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

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* Most critical scholars agree the gospel of Mark was written around 70 A.D. and is the oldest text of the four gospels. Historians date the gospel of Matthew as written next, followed by the gospel of Luke, and the gospel of John is believed to have been written last.

In the four gospels the last words of Jesus on the cross are reported differently. The gospels of Mark and Matthew describe Jesus' last words as an expression of despair, whereas Jesus' last words in Luke seem to reflect greater trust and acceptance. Finally, Jesus' last words in the gospel of John seem to even suggest Jesus died with a sense of fulfilled purpose. Some explain this difference in the reports about Jesus's last words as an evolution in Christian belief about the meaning of Jesus' death on the cross.

“ ‘Eloi Eloi, lema sabachthani’ ” (Aramaic), which is translated ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ ” [Mark 15:34]

“ ‘Eli Eli (Hebrew), lema sabachthani (Aramaic)’ ”, which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Matthew 27:46]

“ ‘Father into your hands I commend my Spirit’ ” and when he had said this, he breathed his last.” [Luke 23:46]

“After this, aware that everything was now finished… he said ‘It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” [John 19:30]