Luke 24:44-45 “Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”
God’s complete plan for the salvation of man through the blood of Jesus Christ is written down and given to us piece by piece throughout Scripture until it was revealed in the New Testament through the birth of Jesus the Messiah.
Psalms speaks of Jesus life and death and gives us a picture of the crucifixion and resurrection. The following is one such Psalm. I have highlighted key phrases from Psalm 22 to focus your thoughts on the day Jesus was crucified. Listen carefully to these prophetic words written by David born hundreds of years before Jesus was born. In fact, crucifixion had not been practiced or perhaps even imagined when David wrote this Psalm.
Psalms 22:1-18 “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? 2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent…6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”…12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots…”
References to the Crucifixion:
Words spoken by Jesus: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Spoken by others at the cross: “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
Actions by others at the cross: All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head; They gape at Me with their mouths; For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me; They look and stare at Me; They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots
Happening to Jesus: I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me; My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones.
There are many Psalms that predict the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Far too many to list here. However, If you would like to see a summary of these Psalms Go to: http://www.lwbc.co.uk/messianic_psalms.htm
God’s plan shows up in the Psalms. And it would happen exactly as He had planned.