Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament - Psalm 22

As we look to the Easter story and Jesus’ moments on the cross, we often focus our attention on the Gospels – and rightfully so. However, did you know that before the birth of Jesus, His moments on the cross were written and prophesied about in the Old Testament?

Many are familiar with Psalm 23, but it is the Psalm that comes right before that stands out in our study of seeing Jesus in the Old Testament.

David, who is the author of this Psalm, relates to some of the words written; however, it is once we continue reading that we can see this Psalm isn’t just your ordinary sacred song or poem to God. It is a prophesy of the One to come, Jesus the Messiah.

It doesn’t take long to see Jesus in Psalm 22. Verse one of Psalm 22 opens with:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The exact words that Jesus spoke on the cross (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34).

On the cross, Jesus experienced separation from His Father as He took on the sin of the world. In this moment, the human Jesus cries out in anguish. As painful as it was, Jesus knew it was necessary for Him to go through that in order for us to be saved and because of Jesus, God will not leave or forsake us.

As we continue Psalm 22, verses six through ten let us see more of the raw feelings and emotions Jesus was experiencing on the cross. Remember, Jesus being fully God, set aside His divinity (Phil. 2) and He was experiencing real human feelings and emotions. That is why it says that Jesus can relate to us and what we go through (Heb. 4:15).

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the Lord,’ they say, ‘let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’ Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.’” (vv. 6-10)

Jesus was mocked and insulted. He had His identity constantly questioned. It must have been so hard for Him to resist the temptation of showing He was God in that moment. Instead, He went through the pain and suffering. He went through the ridicule and torment, only to prove to everyone that He was God when it mattered most – His resurrection.

Verses nine and ten show Jesus’ trust towards His Father. He knew His purpose from the beginning. He knew His identity. He knew His Father’s identity. And that was enough to help Him keep going.

As we jump a few more verses into Psalm 22, we can see more reality of what Jesus experienced on the cross - excruciating pain, complete exhaustion and extreme thirst. The pain and suffering He experienced must have been unbearable. It goes to show you how strong of a man Jesus was, both physically strong and strong in Spirit.

"I am poured out like water.” (v. 14)

During John’s account of this event, we learn that after Jesus had given Himself up on the cross, the soldiers pierced His side, causing blood and water to pour out (John 19:34).

Verses sixteen to eighteen continue to give us insight of what it would have been like to be Jesus on the cross:

“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”

Throughout His ministry, Jesus used the example of dogs as a representation of those who would reject, ridicule and blaspheme the Gospel once it was presented to them. We see the reference of dogs also being mentioned in Proverbs (26:11) and the book of Second Peter (2:22).

In this prophesy, Jesus is saying that people who reject and ridicule the Gospel surround Him. They surrounded Him and pierced His hands and feet as they nailed Him to the cross. They would stare at Him as they mocked Him, asking Him to save Himself if He truly was God.

“They divide my clothes and cast lots for my garment” (v. 18). We see in Matthew 27:35 that this took place in front of Jesus as He was nailed to the cross. While Jesus was suffering, many onlookers could care less. They were too busy trying to win His clothing for a reward.

The pain and anguish Jesus went through on the cross will never be fully comprehended. He experienced unbelievable physical pain and torment, emotional abuse, identity questioning, ridicule, rejection, abandonment and loneliness. But perhaps the worst pain of all was the separation He felt from His Father during those moments where He took on the sin of the world.

This Psalm is a sad one. A prophesy that turned into the reality of Jesus’ life as a fulfillment of being the Messiah. However, just like the life of Jesus has victory and celebration, so too does this Psalm as it concludes.

“All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him – those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!” (vv.29-31)

After all the ridicule, rejection and pain, it is Jesus who would die and rise again and be lifted up into glory. And His Name would be greater than any other name. It is at the Name of Jesus that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:9-11).

As Jesus was ready to breath His last breath on the cross and give up His Spirit, He spoke arguably the most important words in history:

 “It is finished” – John 19:30

 As we look at the last verse of Psalm 22, we see the same wonderful ending:

 “He has done it!” - Psalm 22:31

What a Saviour we have in Jesus. He went through all of this so we didn’t have to.

Thank you, Jesus! It is finished! He has done it! That, is cause for victory and celebration. Amen.

 

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