The Crucifixion Story from
Psalm 22
Psalm 22 is describing a pre-view to an event that
would not happen for another 1000 years (this is called prophesy).
We see the fulfillment in the Gospels of the New
Testament:
Matthew 27, Mark 16, Luke 23, and John 18 and 19 …
A
preview to the Cross … Remember the Old Testament saints (Abram, Isaac, David
or even Salomon) didn’t understand the concept of the cross, they only
understood the concept of a needed sacrifice for sin such as the Goat, Ram, or
Sheep.
John the Baptist called him the Lamb
of God in John 1:29
1)We see his suffering
a.
It all began prior
to the Cross:
i. The scourging with the Cat of 9 tails
ii. The Crown of Thrones
iii. The Carrying of the Cross through the city of
Jerusalem …
1.
It is believed
that the weight of the cross that Jesus carried to his crucifixion was over 300
pounds. The horizontal bar known as the “patibulum” had a weight of between 75
and125 pounds.
The horrifying death of the Cross …
No other device has ever been developed to kill that is,
as humiliating, painful, and mentally destructive as the CROSS! The Geneva
Convention, the ACLU, and even you would never approve of this method of torture
and execution. However, the Romans used it on a daily bases around the world,
for criminals, terrorist, and those they deemed rebelling against the Roman
Empire.
What is interesting is that the Jew’s were appalled by
this method of death, and even argued not to have a Jew crucified on the Cross.
That was until they wanted Jesus gone, and 1000 years before they did, God
already described the events. We find the Jewish leadership and people crying “Crucify
HIM, Crucify HIM” in Luke 23:20
b.
His physical pain
i. The nails (both hands and feet)
ii. The lifting and sudden drop into the hole
iii. When on the cross
1.
When he dropped
down/sacked he would suffocate
2.
When he stood up
he would rip the hands and feet
c.
His psychological or emotional pain
i. Betrayal of Judas
ii. Rejection of the disciples
iii. The hatred of the soldiers
iv. The shame of hanging naked on the cross
v. The darkness and feeling totally alone
vi. The bearing of SIN, which he had never known before.
vii. The forsaking of his father (the Grief)
d.
His spiritual pain
i. The turmoil of God’s rejection of not being able look
at his own son due to our sin, he was carrying to the grave.
2)
We see the testimony of the saints (vs 25)
a.
People will praise
Christ for what he did @ Calvary.
b.
The thief believed
and testified of Christ as Lord, in Luke 23:41-42.
c.
Notice the
Centurion … in Matthew 27: 54 “This man really was the God’s son” (HCSB)
3)
We hear the repentance of the sinner (vs. 27-28)
a.
People of all
generations will trust Christ as Savior!
Question!
Have you thought about what Christ did for you at the
Cross?
Have you accepted his love and sacrifice that he
provided at the Cross?
Have you made your reservation for a home in Heaven
with HIM?
