Context – This is the same psalm of David from Day 20 that foretold of torture by crucifixion and lots cast for the Messiah’s clothes:

Psalm 22:1,7-8 – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?… 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Context – Jesus is on the cross to satisfy God’s wrath and atone for humanity’s sin:

Matthew 27:39-42,46,50 – Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him… 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)… 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Context – In light of Jesus’ sacrifice, Paul calls believers to share their faith and joyfully endure the same mistreatment as their Savior:

2 Corinthians 5:14-15,20-21,6:4b-10 – For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again… 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God… 6:4b As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

• Why was Jesus forsaken?
• How does Christ’s atoning death change the way believers live?
• How can believers find joy in difficult circumstances?