As we contemplate the significance of Crucifixion Friday, I am reminded of many sermons of my youth basically taking that position that Jesus was rejected by the Father on the cross because he bore our sins. Yes, it is true that as the sacrificial lamb Jesus did bear our sins. However, the sacrifice of the Lamb was NOT rejected by God but was accepted by God and that is what the resurrection is all about.
I heard more than one sermon on how God looked away from Christ on the cross and that Jesus said “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?´ (Matt. 27:46). A study of the New Testament evidences that Jesus was a student of the Word of God. Even as a child he amazed the scholars with his knowledge of Scripture. Luke 2:46-47 says: “ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
Jesus understood his destiny as the sacrificial lamb and suffering servant and was intimately familiar with Scriptures dealing with the Messiah. When Jesus cleansed the Temple of Money Changers, Jesus said at Matthew 21:13” My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Jesus was obviously making reference to Jeremiah 7:11 which says: “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? “. There are numerous other instances where Jesus demonstrated an intimate familiarity with Scripture.
It is therefore not surprising that Christ at the time of his death would once again rely upon Scripture, especially those Scriptures which referred to his life, death, purpose and mission. One of the greatest chapters dealing with the death and resurrection of the Messiah is Psalm 22. That Psalm begins with “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psm. 22:1). Verses 1-3 of that Chapter deal with the feeling of abandonment in the face of intense suffering. There are other verses that tie this Psalm directly to the crucifixion. Verses 6-8 say:
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
“He trusts in the Lord, let him deliver him, for he delights in him!”
This ridicule expressed in Psalm 22 is fulfilled in Matt. 27:42-43 which reports the voices of the chief priests, scribes and elders mocked Jesus saying: “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, “I am the Son of God.”
So there is absolutely no mistake that Psalm 22 refers to Jesus it also says at verses 16-18:
…a company of evil doers encircles me;
They have pierced my hands and feet—
I can count all my bones—
They stare and gloat over me;
They divide my garments among them
And for my clothing they cast lots.
John in John 19:23-24 notes that this is exactly what happened to Jesus and even says in John 19:24: “This was to fulfill the Scriptures which says, “they divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.””
The Crucifixion prophecies of Psalm 22 were clearly recognized by Jesus on the cross and by the disciples including the Apostle John.
The prophecy of Psalm 22 is not just about crucifixion but it is also one of success, acceptance of the sacrifice of the Messiah and ultimate victory. Scripture makes clear that the prayers of Jesus and his sacrifice for us were accepted not rejected. Psalm 22;4 says: “For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted and he has not hidden his face from him but has heard when he cried to him.”
Promises were made to the suffering Messiah in Psalm 22: 27 where it says, “…and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For Kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations…”
Jesus quoted the word of God until his dying breath. In Luke 23:46, it says: “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice said, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit! And having said this he breathed his last.” With Jesus’s dying breath he is still quoting Scripture. Psalm 31:5 says : “Into your hand I commit my spirit, you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”
Jesus was completely aware of his mission and destiny and what the Scripture said about the Messiah. Jesus relied upon the Scripture. Today, we His church must do the same. The
Word of God plays a pivotal role in the destiny and cleansing of the end-time church. Paul said in Ephesians 5:26-27 that Jesus would sanctify and cleanse the church “with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and without blemish.” In Jesus’ prayer for his followers in John 17:17, he prays: “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” For the church to become clean again, it must immerse itself regularly in the word of God.
As we approach Easter, it is time for the Bride of Christ to separate herself from the dirt, soil and mud of this world. It is time for a cleansing to begin. That cleansing will be done only through the word of God and through the fire of the Holy Spirit.