Many churches observe a three-hour-long service on Good Friday, from noon until three in the afternoon, as a way of marking these “dark hours” of Jesus’ dying on the cross. The church, historically, has often marked these times (noon and 3 pm) as times of daily prayer. Consider this as a Holy Week devotion.
Jesus’ words from the cross in v46, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” are best understood in their fullness as a voicing of the whole 22nd Psalm, from which they are drawn. Read the 22nd Psalm to enter into the fullness of Jesus’ cry.
Notice that this is the second time on the cross that Jesus is offered sour wine to drink.
The Old Testament figure of Elijah is again evoked. In previous questions about the return of Elijah, Jesus identifies him as John the Baptist. Something greater than even the Great Elijah is here!