Jesus according to John, the negation of "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?"

In the Gospel of Mark and Matthew contained the words of Jesus when crucified derived from Psalm 22:1 which reads: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from Helping me, from the words of my groaning ? ". In John's gospel that words are not included, even the Gospel of John mentions the other words in John 19:28, "..., He said (in order to fulfill the Scripture)," I'm Thirsty. " (fact: there is no single Bible verse that is exactly the same as the words of Jesus which John mentioned it. It is true that there are two quotations implied in Psalm 22:14-15 and Psalm 69:21 which is very likely to be a reference John but not exactly the same as written and intended by John).

Back to Psalm 22:1, quoted by Mark and Matthew, if we read carefully the whole of Psalm 22 we can see that the psalm contains a complaint or lamentation. Psalm 22 begins with a complaint of suffering experienced by the psalmist be accompanied call for help to God (cf. verses 1-21), then ended with a compliment of gratitude for the help given by God (cf. verses 22-31). Suffering experienced by the psalmist is so heavy and furious, as if on the verge of death, and suffering in addition to severe by the feeling that as if God had abandoned him, away from her and not listen to him, had lunch and dinner when he asks for help to God. (Cf. verses 1-2). The psalmist also can not understand why God, which he surrendered to Him since he was in his mother's womb, has the heart to leave him, stay away and not listen to his call for help.

Complaint and lamentation of Psalm 22, quoted by Mark and Matthew, clearly does not fit the description of John about Jesus, which was so powerful, strong and powerful even "judging" Pontius Pilate, who did not need the help of a Simon of Cyrene to be shouldered his cross toward Golgotha . For John, how could Jesus the mighty, can complain and wail at the time of approaching death? It is the consistency of John about the figure of Jesus, who in John 16:32 says, "... And yet I am not alone, Because the Father is with Me." Jesus, who always believed that his Father accompanies each of his steps according to John , is unlikely to complain like that.

Mark mentions the anxiety of Jesus in Mark 14:36, "He kept repeating," Abba! Father! "All Things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want." In the verse, it appears that Jesus is fully surrendered to God the Father, but is still hoping that he can be spared, from what he have to face. According to Mark, Jesus was troubled, anxious, sad, like going to die (Mark 14:33-34). Jesus was a brave man by John just said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour.” (John 12:27) Jesus according to John it is fully alert and do not ask for what to avoid facing him and even go ahead. In John 18:11 Jesus gives the initiative more clearly, “ ..., shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?”

The conclusion that can be drawn is that John seems to be entering quotations in Psalm 22, as was done by Mark and Matthew. But if Mark (and Matthew) took as a quotation of Psalm 22:1 ("My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?". John even quotes Psalm 22:14-15, although not directly, John does not quote Psalm 22:1, because the verse does not match the version of John's Christology.

READING LIST
- Claus Westermann, The Psalms: Structure, Content, and Message, Minneapolis: Augsburg Pub. House, 1980.
- J.B. Green, The Death of Jesus: Tradition and Interpretation in the Passion Narratives, Tübingen, 1988.
- T.A. Mohr, Markus und Johannes passion, Zurich, 1987.