Question
Why Have You Forsaken Me
Matthew 27:32-56
Key verse 27:46
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Read verses 32-38. What punishment did Jesus receive? What do you know about crucifixion (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; John 20:25)? What was the written charge against Jesus? Whom was he crucified with? Was Jesus’ punished fairly? Why or why not?
Read verses 39-44. How was Jesus insulted by those who passed by? How did the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders mock him? Who else insulted Jesus? Why didn’t Jesus come down from the cross? Why didn’t God save him?
Read verses 45-49. What did Jesus cry out from the cross? Why was Jesus forsaken by God? How do you think Jesus felt (Isaiah 53:3)? What can we learn about why he had to die on the cross? Did those standing there understand Jesus’ suffering?
Read verses 50-56. How did Jesus die? What three amazing events happened at that moment? What do these events reveal about Jesus’ death? What was the centurion’s testimony? Who else was there watching?