Read Matt 27:33–56
Mat 27:39-46 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads (40) and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (41) So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, (42) “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. (43) He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” (44) And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. (45) Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
As these things are happening what David had prophesied in Psalm 22 were coming to pass. That those who were engaging in this behavior may know what they were doing and what God was doing Jesus prays out loud the beginning of Psalm 22– Psa 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Indeed Jesus the Son of God is forsaken by God. Jesus has become a curse for us, Gal 3:13-14 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us–for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”– (14) so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
David says, Psa 22:7-8 “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; (8) ‘He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!’” and Psa 22:16-18 “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet– (17) I can count all my bones– they stare and gloat over me; (18) they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” It is as if David is right there, perhaps in a prophetic state he is.
But there is good news in Psalm 22 also, that we must see to know what Jesus is accomplishing there on the cross. David writes, Psa 22:27-31 “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. (28) For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. (29) All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. (30) Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; (31) they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” Jesus shall rise from the dead and be seated at the right hand of God. His death brings people from every nation, language and tongue back to God that they may trust in him. He wins for himself an everlasting kingdom, you and I. We who trust in Jesus are his posterity. We are those who were a people yet unborn and we now sing his praise. Jesus’ curse and forsakenness brings us blessing and makes us unforsaken.
Lord Jesus Christ, by your agony and death you gained us to be your holy people. Grant us such faith in you that we too may endure all things that we may enter into your eternal kingdom when you return in glory. Amen.