The opening of Psalm 22 should sound familiar to you as Jesus uttered these words from the cross. Yet, David wrote these words 1000 years before the Word became flesh and could bear our sins on the tree. Not only are the details in this psalm so vivid that they place us there at Calvary, but Jesus quoting its opening question and God telling us directly in John 19:24 shows us that David indeed wrote about his descendant dying on the cross for us.
I. Psalm 22:3-11. The faithful of the past trusted in God and He rescued them. We are told to trust as well (John 14:1-3). Jesus trusted His Father even from childhood (Luke 2:40), even when enduring much on the cross so we could be rescued (Matthew 27:38-44).
II. Psalm 22:12-18. Though He had committed no sin, Jesus willingly died alone for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to die in our sins. He faced a roaring lion, so we wouldn’t have to (1 Peter 5:8, Isaiah 53:7). His hands and feet were pierced (Zechariah 12:10), and for his clothing the soldiers cast lots (John 19:23-25). Such details were written ten centuries before.
III. Psalm 22:19-28. David knew what it meant to trust God to rescue from savage animals (1 Samuel 17:37). Jesus knew that God hears (John 11:42), and that His flesh must be eaten to be satisfied (John 6:53-54). The result of His work was salvation for all, and Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:1-2).
So, because of what He endured, we are able to tell of His great salvation (Psalm 22:29-31) as His work was done. Because God so loved us that He gave His only Son (John 3:16), we are able to have eternal life in Him. Jesus was forsaken, so we would never be (Hebrews 13:5)