Question 16: Why Was Jesus Calling to God on the Cross If He Wanted to Die?

The Question

Question 16: Why does the Bible say that Jesus wanted to die on the cross, when the one on the cross was shouting, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” according to Matthew 27:45 and Mark 15:33?

The Short Answer

To say that Jesus wanted to die is not accurate according to Scripture. Jesus did not want to die; rather, He was willing to die in complete obedience to the Father’s will. Dying on the cross was an agonizing experience that He endured for our redemption, and He cried out because He truly felt the weight of bearing the curse of sin and the momentary separation from His Father.

The Cry of Anguish on the Cross

The scripture passages surrounding the crucifixion show the depth of pain and emotional weight Jesus experienced in His final hours:

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” (Matthew 27:46; see also Mark 15:34)

To understand why Jesus spoke these words, we must look at the complete picture of His life, His prayers, and His submission to the Father.

Jesus Did Not Desire or Enjoy Death

Scripture nowhere teaches that Jesus desired or enjoyed the prospect of dying. In fact, as the hour of His sacrifice approached, Jesus experienced overwhelming distress and sorrow:

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” (John 12:27)

In the Garden of Gethsemane, His agony reached such an intensity that He prayed repeatedly for another way if it were possible:

“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'” (Matthew 26:39; see also Matthew 26:42, 44)

“saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:42–44)

These texts show that if it were possible, Jesus would have preferred a way that did not involve death. Dying was not something He enjoyed; the Bible explicitly states that He endured the cross, despising its shame (Hebrews 12:2).

Willing Obedience vs. Human Desire

While Jesus did not want to die, He was completely willing to submit to the Father’s sovereign plan. He knew:

• That He would be killed and spoke frequently about His coming death.
• That His death would be painful, but necessary to make salvation available to humanity.
• That no one could take His life without His permission (Matthew 26:52–54).
• That He would be resurrected on the third day and not stay dead.

His willingness was a profound act of submission and obedience to the Father, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled (Philippians 2:8).

Why Did the Father Look Away?

Just in case you’re wondering why the Father had to look away from Him, it was because He became a curse. Yes, Jesus had always been with the Father and performed everything in unbroken communion with Him. However, on the cross, Jesus became a curse for us:

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’),” (Galatians 3:13)

According to Scripture, anyone hung on a tree becomes an accursed thing. On the cross, Jesus took our place and became a curse. Because He became an accursed thing, the Father had to look away from the injustice done to Him so that the grand purpose of saving mankind could be accomplished. In that hour, Jesus felt genuinely abandoned, all alone, and forsaken.

The Misunderstanding

Many Muslims and skeptics argue that if Jesus’s mission was to die for mankind, He should have welcomed death with enthusiasm, and that His cry of being forsaken demonstrates either failure or reluctance. But the truth is Jesus’ willingness to obey the Father’s command out of love does not mean He would enjoy the torture and agony of the cross. Secondly, we shouldn’t forget that He was a complete human being.

Conclusion

To say that Jesus wanted to die is not true, and the Bible does not teach that. What is true is that although Jesus did not want to die, He was willing to die out of complete submission to the Father. The Father turned away because Jesus became a curse for us, but all of this was ordained to bring about eternal redemption and salvation for humanity that is available today.

Next, I’ll be answering the question: If God had wanted to save us, couldn’t He have done that without sacrificing Jesus?

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