Les Feldick teaches that this cry was God speaking to God, as the Creator God bore the full punishment for all human sin.
According to Les, the cry came after three hours of darkness and silence, during which Christ, in His deity, suffered the penalty due for every human being. This was not a separation of the Trinity but the Creator Himself experiencing the wrath of God for sin, fulfilling the typology of the scapegoat.
Matthew 27:46 — This is the verse where Jesus cries out the words, directly prompting the question.
Matthew 27:45-46 records that from the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3 PM) there was darkness over all the land, and at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' which is interpreted, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (KJV). The Bible also shows that Jesus was the Creator (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16), and that on the cross He bore our sins (1 Peter 2:24). The cry itself is a quotation from Psalm 22:1.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the cry was God crying out to God, as Jesus is the Creator and a member of the Godhead. He connects the three hours of darkness and silence to the Day of Atonement scapegoat, suggesting that Christ stepped out of time in soul and spirit to suffer the punishment for all mankind's sin. This does not diminish Christ's deity but rather highlights the depth of His work. The cry was the climax of that suffering, not a sign of separation from the Father.
Les points out that between noon and 3 PM there was darkness and total silence, with no word from the cross (Matthew 27:45). He ties this to the Day of Atonement scapegoat, which was left alive and sent into the wilderness. He suggests that during those hours, while the body hung on the cross, Jesus stepped out of time in soul and spirit into eternity to suffer the punishment for all of mankind's sin.
Les reminds us that Jesus Christ is the Creator God, as seen in Genesis 1 and the New Testament. He stresses that those who crucified Him were the created beings crucifying their Creator. This understanding is crucial because if He were anything less than the Creator, His death would be for nothing. As the Creator, He could suffer the full penalty for every human being.
Les teaches that the cry was God crying out to God. He references Martin Luther's struggle with Psalm 110:1, realizing that it was God speaking to God. This indicates that the cry was not a separation within the Godhead but rather the Creator Himself experiencing the reality of bearing sin. Les emphasizes that Jesus was both total God and total man, and the suffering was part of His deity side, not His human side.
What Jesus Said From the Cross — 7 Statements Explained
19. John's Gospel chapter 19, and I'm going to have you drop down to verse 26. John's Gospel chapter 19, and let's start with verse 25. Now they are stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Verse 26.
The Three Hours of Darkness
Les highlights the three-hour period of darkness and silence before the cry, connecting it to the Day of Atonement and the scapegoat.
Christ as Creator
Les emphasizes that Jesus as the Creator God could suffer the penalty for every human being, making His death effectual and explaining the significance of the cry.
God Crying to God
Les uses the account of Martin Luther to illustrate that Christ's cry was God speaking to God, affirming the deity of Christ.
Created Beings Crucifying Creator
Les points out that the crucifixion was the Creator being killed by His creatures, underscoring the profound nature of the event.
The God-Man
Les clarifies that Jesus was both total God and total man, and that the suffering was part of His deity side, not just His human experience.
The Scapegoat Typology
Les explains that during those three hours, Jesus as the scapegoat stepped out of time to suffer the punishment for all sin, which is directly related to why He cried out.
God Poured Out Wrath
Les stresses that on the cross God poured out all His wrath for sin, reinforcing the reason for the cry of dereliction.
Matthew 27:46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
This is the verse in question, recording Jesus' cry from the cross.
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
This verse is used by Les to show that Christ is the Creator God.
Psalm 22:1: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
This is the Old Testament prophecy quoted by Jesus on the cross.
Psalm 110:1: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Used by Les to illustrate the concept of God speaking to God.
John 1:3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This confirms Jesus as the Creator, supporting Les's teaching.
Les Feldick teaches that the cry was God crying out to God, not a separation within the Godhead. It was the Creator experiencing the full weight of punishment for sin, but not a breakdown in the Trinity.
Les suggests that during the darkness, Jesus stepped out of time in soul and spirit to suffer the punishment for all sin, fulfilling the typology of the scapegoat sent into the wilderness.
Because if Jesus were anything less than the Creator, His death would be insufficient to cover the sins of all humanity. As the Creator, He could bear the full penalty for every human being.
Watch the Teaching: What Jesus Said From the Cross — 7 Statements Explained