At the Cross, Jesus also quotes Psalm 22 when He says, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” (Matthew 27:46) Jesus’ choice of words, as He’s dying a tortuous death, should provide encouragement for all of us to look to the Word of God in time of need. In both of these cries Jesus is making a statement. On the one hand, He is pouring out His heart to God; on the other hand, in my humble opinion, He is inviting us and to look a little deeper at what He said.
Psalms 22 and 31 reflects the cry of the Psalmist for deliverance and help from God in time of great need. Jesus is facing the greatest trial and test of His life. He had made the decision to follow and obey God so all of humanity would be redeemed. It is possible He was meditating on these passages and drawing strength from them at this crucial time of need. He was placing His trust in God to bring about deliverance.
Psalm 31:5 says, “Into your hands I commit my Spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth. Verse 22 says, “In my alarm I said, I am cut off from your sight! Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” Jesus knew that no matter how bad things got, God had plans to bring a mighty deliverance and of course at the resurrection, we saw God rescue Jesus from even the grip of death itself.
Jesus was also using this passage to refer to His Messianic role; coming as the suffering servant. Psalm 31:12-13 says, “I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.” This refers to the Cross and conspiracy of the Pharisees and religious leaders to have Jesus crucified.
Psalm 22:6-9 states, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me, mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue Him.” This refers to the Cross and those who stood by hurled insults at Jesus. (Matthew 27:43)
Psalm 22:16 says, “Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men have encircled me, they have pierced my hands and feet.” This refers to Jesus’ method of execution and those who surrounded Him at the Cross. As Jesus quoted these passages He must have been thinking, “Someday people will refer back to these passages and see why I cried out “Into your hands I commit my spirit” or “My God, My God what have you forsaken me.”
I also believe Jesus was making it clear that there will be times when it is appropriate to pour out our hearts and anguish to God in prayer, during difficult times. He wasn’t on the Cross pretending it was easy for Him. No, this was a time of great anguish, trial and testing. It was a time where He was bearing the weight and sin of all humanity.
Jesus’ death and resurrection was an act of implicit and unreserved trust in God. When Jesus said, “Into your hands I commit my Spirit”, He was trusting God. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”
And God did judge justly; there was so much power released at the resurrection, it raised Jesus’ dead body to life and the Bible tells us, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.” (Matthew 27:51-52) What a mighty response to the obedience and trust of Jesus!
Jesus’ cry also emphasizes the importance, God places on the veracity and final authority of Scripture. There are those who feel that Christian spirituality finds it’s freedom of expression in detachment from the authority of Scripture. But Jesus here is showing us that there can be no separation with His act of salvation for all humanity and the Word of God. All Christian spiritual experience and relationship with God flows from this act of salvation.
What a statement and how incredibly appropriate to make your final statement on the earth (before the resurrection) a quotation from the Word of God! With just a few words Jesus is saying so much. I don’t know if it’s like this for you but for myself, I find that when I hear something from God… there is a myriad of depth to the meaning of every word. Some get caught up on one facet of meaning and many times God has so many things to say!
Maybe today you are experiencing some difficulty in your Christian walk, I want to encourage you, don’t move from the Word of God! Let it become part of your confession even in your darkest moment. Let the example of Jesus become your encouragement today.
If you are sick, let your confession be that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). If you are oppressed or in bondage, let the cry of your heart be, “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed” (John 8:36). If you are going through a tough time, let your prayer be, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Don’t allow anything to move you from the Word of God, and I’m telling you that in your stand, you will see the mountains move out of your way; you will see God’s resurrection power intervene in your dead situation and experience the mighty breakthroughs of God. Jesus trusted Himself to the one who judges justly. Today you can trust God will take care of you!
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