Scriptures: Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Hebrews 10:1-14, Ephesians 2:4-6
As the Son of David, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of David, including that of the suffering servant in Psalm 22. This psalm begins with the very words Jesus cried out on the cross at his crucifixion, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Was Jesus forsaken by God or was he quoting this psalm to indicate that he was prophetically fulfilling it? Verse 24 answers the question of verse 1, declaring that God “has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” So how did Jesus prophetically fulfill Psalm 22?
- As Jesus was nailed to the cross, he fulfilled verses 16-17, “They pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.”
- John 19:23-24 describes how the guards divided his clothes among them and cast lots to see who would get Jesus’ tunic in fulfillment of Psalm 22:18, “They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.” - Matthew 27:39 says, “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads,” in fulfillment of Psalm 22:7-8. “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the Lord,’ they say, ‘let the Lord rescue him.’” Those who passed by Jesus said, “Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God” (Matthew 27:40).
Jesus is clearly the suffering servant prophesied in Psalm 22, but why did he have to suffer? Isaiah 53 explains the purpose of Jesus’ suffering on the cross: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). God revealed his nature to Moses as the Lord who is a “compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6-7). God is both merciful and just. His justice demands that the guilty be punished, yet in compassion and love God provides the sacrifice so he can pay the penalty himself.
As a parent, I would give my life to save my children. Jesus came from the Father for this express purpose, as revealed in Hebrews 10 which quotes Psalm 40:6-8. “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, “I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God”’” (Hebrews 10:5-7). Jesus was given a body so he could pay the penalty for man’s sin in a body. He shed his blood because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). The life of God, which God first breathed into Adam, giving us a spirit, is in our blood. Jesus was able to offer his perfect life back to God through his perfect blood, in payment of our debt because God honors sacrifice. This was explained in Isaiah 53.
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:10-12). When we read passages like this, we must remember that Jesus and the Father are One. God isn’t picking on a selected human. God became that human so he could suffer.
Still, you may be wondering why God insists on Jesus’ suffering. Our transgressions against God and each other brought suffering into the world. When Adam and Eve resisted God’s rule, the consequence was that the earth we were given dominion over would resist our rule. God doesn’t delight in suffering, but it is the consequence of our fallen world. For Jesus to redeem us from the fall, mediating a new covenant to restore us to right relationship with God now and with creation when he returns, he had to become a perfect High Priest who understands suffering. Isaiah 53:12 tells us that Jesus bore the sins of many – all who would receive salvation through his blood – and made intercession for the transgressors. Jesus is in heaven where his blood continually intercedes for mercy. Whenever the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we simply apply the blood of Jesus, then ask for forgiveness and help to overcome.
We can have confidence in Jesus as our perfect High Priest because he suffered in every way we suffer. He has experienced the loss of his earthly father, rejection by the religious community where he should have been admired, betrayal by his friends, mocking by his brothers, homelessness, false accusation, and temptation to walk away from God’s purpose for his life. In Jesus, we find a compassionate High Priest who understands what it is like to suffer, and yet can help us triumph over the enemy in the midst of suffering. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
While Jesus came as the suffering servant, suffering is not the end! The end of Psalm 22 describes the glory of the resurrected servant who suffered. “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:27-28). Jesus suffered, died, was buried in the grave then resurrected, and ascended to heaven so he could be glorified. The end of his journey of suffering on earth was glory so that the end of your journey and my journey will be glory. Jesus ascended so that we could spiritually ascend. “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7).
When Jesus invites us to die to self in repentance, be buried with him through baptism, be born again by his Spirit and ascend by his Spirit in us so we are spiritually seated with him in heavenly places it is so we can share in his glory. Suffering ends in glory for all who remain in Christ. That’s what Jesus, the suffering servant, came to accomplish. Jesus’ suffering has mirrored ours so that his glory assures us of our future glory at the resurrection. Because Jesus gave his life for us, he is our Redeemer who turns every pain and sorrow into something beautiful and glorious. The more time we spend in prayer, remaining in his Word and love through obedience to him, the more we live in the “ascended’ place of glory where we begin to see our lives from heaven’s redemptive perspective. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God told him he would cause his goodness to pass by. God’s glory is his goodness. The more time we spend in his presence, the more his goodness – his glory – manifests in and through us on the earth.
Response:
Jesus, I worship you as the one who took all my sin and suffering upon yourself, redeeming every painful experience I’ve ever had. You identified with me in my lowest, loneliest moments. You understand my pain and continually intercede for me as a perfect High Priest. May your name be lifted high and glorified forever because you chose to give your life as a ransom for mine. You did not leave me sitting in shame and failure but have put to death my sinful nature and lifted me up so that I am spiritually seated with you, receiving your mind and perspective of my life by your Spirit in me. I praise you for the goodness and mercy that has followed me all the days of my life. Thank you for your sacrifice and perfect love for me.
