Sermon – September 10, 2017
Psalm 22 – The Psalm of the Cross (mp3)
Introduction
It has been said that the best description in all of the Old Testament of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is found in Psalm 22. The Psalm is written by David centuries before the crucifixion took place. Any personal suffering, pain, abandonment, hopelessness or illness that David personally ever felt could not produce this Psalm. It is unmistakably the account of a crucifixion. Crucifixion was not practiced in David’s time and would not be for many centuries. Also, it was a Roman not Jewish form of punishment. David would have had no more knowledge of this form of death than if he would have tried to explain death by lethal injection.
The Suffering Savior. (22:1-21)
- Suffering of the afflicted One (vv. 1-2, 6-8 & 12-18)
- Calling out to God in Prayer (vv. 3-5, 9-11 & 19-21)
The Proclamation of the Gospel (22:22-31)
- Here we see to whom the atoning work of Christ will be spread.
- First to the Jews.
- The whole assembly including the Gentiles.
- Future generations.
- Then we see how the atoning work of Christ will be spread.
- It is fully completed; nothing need be added to the work of Christ.
Conclusion
We all may have benefitted by the Psalm of the Cross. Our understanding of God’s Word in Psalm 22 may have increased and secrets of His word revealed. But I believe that there are two groups here today. One group is those who understand that we are sinners who through the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross, who took on our sin to satisfy the wrath of a just God, now, stand before Him righteous – because of Jesus Christ’s atoning work.
Also, there may be those here today who have heard of Jesus Christ and His redeeming work and even agree that they are one for whom Christ paid the debt of sin by His death on the cross – but have not put their trust and faith in Jesus to be Lord and Savior of their life.
We pray you seek to know for sure you are redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Please feel free to talk to Pastor John or myself today.
