Why Did Jesus Reference Psalm 22? Unpacking the Cry from the Cross

One of the most profound and, for many, perplexing moments in the Gospels is Jesus' cry from the cross, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). This utterance is a direct quote from the opening verse of Psalm 22. But why would Jesus, in his final moments, choose to voice these specific words? The answer is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, prophecy, and Jesus' understanding of his own mission. It's not merely a cry of despair, but a rich tapestry of meaning that speaks volumes about his identity, suffering, and ultimate victory.

Understanding Psalm 22

To grasp the significance of Jesus referencing Psalm 22, we must first understand the psalm itself. Psalm 22 is a lament, a deeply personal prayer of a psalmist in extreme distress. It begins with a cry of abandonment and moves through vivid descriptions of suffering, persecution, and even physical torment. However, and crucially, the psalm does not end in despair. It transitions from personal suffering to a hopeful vision of deliverance and praise.

Let's break down some of the key themes and imagery in Psalm 22:

Abandonment and Suffering: The psalm opens with the cry of being forsaken by God, a feeling of profound isolation. The psalmist describes being in deep trouble, with cries going unanswered.
Physical Torment: The text vividly portrays physical agony. Verses 14-17 speak of bones being out of joint, a heart melting, a mouth being dry, and the psalmist's enemies surrounding him, looking upon him with malice.
Persecution and Mockery: The psalmist recounts being mocked and scorned by those around him. People shake their heads, sneer, and offer cruel taunts (verses 6-8).
A Plea for Help: Throughout the psalm, there is a desperate plea for God to act, to not be distant, and to save him from his predicament (verses 11, 19-21).
Hope and Deliverance: The psalm takes a significant turn. It moves from the depths of despair to a confident declaration of God's deliverance and a promise to praise God in the assembly of believers. The psalmist speaks of God hearing his plea and delivering him from death (verses 21-24).
Universal Impact: The psalm concludes with a vision of God's deliverance extending to all nations, where people will remember the Lord and turn to him (verses 27-31).

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Psalm 22

The New Testament writers, particularly the Gospel authors, repeatedly point to Jesus as the one who perfectly embodies and fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament. Psalm 22 is no exception. When Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" he is not simply expressing his own personal agony; he is consciously identifying his suffering with the prophetic words of David, the author of Psalm 22.

Here's why this reference is so significant:

Prophetic Fulfillment: The Gospels present Jesus' crucifixion as the culmination of God's plan of salvation, a plan foreshadowed in the Old Testament scriptures. By quoting Psalm 22, Jesus is explicitly linking his suffering to these ancient prophecies, demonstrating that his death was not a tragic accident but a divinely ordained event.
Deeper Meaning of Suffering: While the words "why have you forsaken me?" sound like ultimate despair, in the context of Psalm 22, they are the beginning of a journey towards deliverance. Jesus, knowing the entirety of the psalm, understood that this cry was a preface to God's ultimate action. He was entering into the deepest suffering, but with the assurance that God's plan would ultimately triumph.
Identifying with Humanity's Pain: Jesus' cry echoes the pain and anguish of all those who have ever felt abandoned, forgotten, and overwhelmed by suffering. By quoting the psalm, he is not distancing himself from our human experience of pain, but embracing it in its most profound form.
Foreshadowing Victory: The latter part of Psalm 22 speaks of God hearing the plea and delivering the psalmist. Jesus, by quoting this psalm, implicitly points to his own resurrection and the ultimate victory over sin and death. He is not just dying; he is moving towards a glorious triumph that the psalm foreshadows.
Interpreting His Own Suffering: Jesus was a master of the scriptures. He understood the Old Testament prophecies thoroughly. His quote from Psalm 22 served as a way to interpret his own experience of suffering for those who were present and for his followers who would later read the Gospels. It was a theological statement about the meaning of his death.

Specific Connections to the Crucifixion

Beyond the opening line, the imagery in Psalm 22 remarkably mirrors the events of Jesus' crucifixion:

"They pierce my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16): This is a striking parallel to the crucifixion, where nails were driven through Jesus' hands and feet. While this verse was often debated by scholars regarding its literal interpretation in David's time, for Christians, it's seen as a clear prophetic depiction of the crucifixion.
"They look and stare at me" (Psalm 22:17): This reflects the crowds who gathered at the foot of the cross, watching Jesus' ordeal.
"All my bones are out of joint" (Psalm 22:14): This verse can be interpreted in light of the immense physical stress and unnatural positioning of the body on the cross.
"They divide my garments among them, and for my cloak they cast lots" (Psalm 22:18): The Gospels explicitly record this event happening at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:35; John 19:23-24). This is one of the most undeniable prophetic fulfillments in Psalm 22.

Theologian John Calvin stated that Psalm 22 is a "prophecy of the Passion of Christ." This sentiment is shared by many who see the psalm as a detailed, albeit poetic, account of the suffering and death of the Messiah.

Theological Implications

Jesus' reference to Psalm 22 is not just an academic or historical curiosity; it has profound theological implications:

For Christians, this connection is central to understanding the nature of God's love and the sacrifice of Jesus. It highlights that Jesus entered into the very depths of human suffering, experiencing abandonment and pain, yet with the ultimate assurance of God's presence and redemptive power.

It demonstrates that God's plan of salvation was not a hasty reaction to a crisis, but a meticulously orchestrated event from the beginning of time, foreshadowed in the very scriptures that Jesus cherished.

In essence, Jesus' cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" is a powerful declaration that he is the suffering servant prophesied in the Old Testament, fulfilling the psalm's trajectory from anguish to ultimate deliverance and universal praise. It is a testament to his divine mission and the redemptive power of his sacrifice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Jesus know Psalm 22 so well?

Jesus, as a devout Jew, would have been deeply familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament, from a very young age. Jewish boys were taught the scriptures extensively. He often quoted and referenced them in his teachings, demonstrating a profound knowledge of their content and theological significance. It's believed he had memorized large portions of the Torah and the Prophets.

Was Jesus actually feeling forsaken by God when he cried out?

This is a complex theological question with various interpretations. Many scholars and theologians believe that Jesus, in his human nature, was experiencing the full weight of human suffering and the darkness of sin, which can feel like abandonment. However, they also emphasize that in his divine nature, he was never truly separated from God the Father. The quote from Psalm 22 suggests he was articulating his suffering within the framework of prophetic scripture, knowing the psalm's eventual turn towards deliverance.

Why didn't Jesus just say something else on the cross?

Jesus' choice of words was deliberate and significant. By quoting the opening of Psalm 22, he was intentionally directing the attention of those present and future readers to the rich theological meaning of his suffering as a fulfillment of prophecy. It was a theological statement, not just an expression of pain, and it connected his death to God's overarching plan for redemption as outlined in the Old Testament.

Are there other examples in the Bible where Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies?

Absolutely. The New Testament is replete with examples of Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. This is a central theme in the Gospels. For instance, prophecies about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), and being pierced (Zechariah 12:10) are all presented as being fulfilled in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.