A Pastoral Letter to the Faithful Reflecting on Matthew 27:45-46
Matthew 27:45–46 tells us that from noon until three in the afternoon darkness covered the land. At about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
There are moments in Scripture that feel almost too holy to approach. The cry from the cross is one of those moments. It is not merely a sentence spoken in pain; it is the echo of the deepest mystery of salvation. In that cry we hear both the weight of human suffering and the unfolding purpose of God’s redeeming love.
The darkness that covered the land was not simply a natural phenomenon. It was a sign that something cosmic was happening. The world itself seemed to tremble as the Son of God hung upon the cross. At the very hour when the sun should have been brightest, darkness spread across the sky. Creation itself seemed to mourn. Yet within that darkness God was doing his greatest work.
Jesus’ cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is drawn from Psalm 22, a psalm that begins in anguish but ends in hope and victory. By speaking these words, Jesus entered fully into the depth of human abandonment and suffering. He did not stand at a distance from our pain; he stepped into it. The cross reveals a Savior who does not observe suffering from afar but bears it in his own body.
This moment teaches believers something profound about the love of God. The Son willingly endured the experience of forsakenness so that humanity would never have to face ultimate separation from God. The weight of sin, the brokenness of the world, and the judgment that sin deserves all converged upon Christ. He carried what humanity could not carry. He bore what humanity could not overcome.
Yet even in the cry of anguish, Jesus speaks with faith. He says, “My God.” The relationship is not erased. Even in the darkness, he addresses the Father with trust. This is important for every believer to remember. Faith does not mean the absence of struggle. Faith does not mean that questions never arise. Faith sometimes cries out in pain while still clinging to God.
There are seasons in life when believers walk through their own hours of darkness. There are times when prayers feel unanswered, when grief overwhelms the heart, or when suffering seems to obscure the presence of God. In those moments the cry of Jesus reminds the church that God is not indifferent to human anguish. The Son of God himself has walked through the deepest valley.
Because of this, believers can bring their honest cries before God. Scripture does not demand a false composure. It invites sincerity. The Psalms themselves are filled with voices that wrestle with sorrow, confusion, and longing. Jesus’ words from the cross show that lament can coexist with faith. Honest prayer is not a failure of belief but an expression of relationship with God.
The cross also reveals the seriousness of sin and the greatness of grace. Humanity’s rebellion against God is not a small matter. It distorts the goodness of creation, wounds relationships, and separates people from the life they were created to enjoy. The suffering of Christ reminds believers that redemption required a costly sacrifice. Forgiveness is free for those who receive it, but it was not cheap.
Yet the cross is not ultimately a symbol of despair. It is the doorway to resurrection. The darkness of Good Friday leads to the dawn of Easter morning. The cry of abandonment is followed by the triumph of life over death. What appeared to be defeat became the turning point of history.
This truth carries practical meaning for the daily lives of believers. The cross calls the church to humility. No one stands before God on the basis of personal righteousness or moral achievement. Every person stands on the same ground of grace. This awareness should soften hearts, deepen compassion, and remove pride from the community of faith.
The cross also calls believers to love others with sacrificial care. If Christ gave himself for the world, then those who follow him are called to reflect that same spirit. The suffering of Jesus invites the church to stand with those who suffer, to comfort the grieving, to advocate for the vulnerable, and to extend mercy where the world often withholds it.
Furthermore, the cry of Jesus invites believers to trust God even when understanding is incomplete. The disciples who watched the crucifixion did not yet see the full picture of what God was accomplishing. From their perspective everything seemed lost. Yet God was working through the very moment that appeared to contradict his promises. This pattern continues in the lives of believers. God often works in ways that are hidden before they are revealed.
The church therefore lives in hope. Darkness does not have the final word. Suffering does not erase God’s faithfulness. Even when circumstances appear confusing or painful, the cross assures believers that God is at work for redemption.
As believers reflect on the cry of Christ, they are invited to respond with gratitude and renewed devotion. The cross reminds the church that salvation rests entirely on the love and obedience of Jesus. This truth frees the heart from fear and inspires a life of faithful discipleship.
It also calls the church to remain near the cross. The Christian life does not move beyond the cross as though it were merely a starting point. The cross remains the center of faith. It continually reminds believers of who God is and what he has done. It shapes the way believers understand forgiveness, grace, humility, and hope.
In the cry of Jesus, the world hears both the depth of human sorrow and the immeasurable love of God. The darkness that fell upon the land was real, but it did not endure forever. In the same way, the darkness that believers sometimes experience is not the final chapter of the story.
The cross stands as a witness that God enters the darkest places to bring redemption. The cry of abandonment opens the way to everlasting communion with God. And the suffering of Christ assures believers that even in moments when God seems distant, his redeeming love is nearer than they could imagine.
May this truth strengthen hearts, renew faith, and draw believers ever closer to the One who carried the weight of the world so that all who trust in him might know the light of life.
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