Fellow Traveler,
Israel’s King David reigned one thousand years before Jesus was born. The Prophet Samuel penned his biography in First and Second Samuel. David’s songs are recorded in the Book of Psalms, and some of them contain prophetic passages about the Messiah who would come. Few passages are as striking as those in Psalm 22, which is labeled The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah.
The nation of the Jews to this day refuse to acknowledge Jesus as their Anointed One – Messiah, their King and Ruler. They gloss over Psalms like this one or the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, rejecting the notion that the Messiah would suffer, die, and be raised from the dead. Paul, in fact, writes about this in Romans 9-11. “For I do not desire that you should be ignorant of this mystery . . . that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25. For the past two thousand years, this blind rejection of Jesus of Nazareth has prevailed in Jewish homes throughout the world. Of course, there are those who hear the Gospel and believe, thankfully. Jews for Jesus and One for Israel are just two ministries led by those who have believed that Jesus is their true Messiah, and God is using them to spread the Gospel in Israel today. Here are the prophet David’s words that speak about a suffering Messiah:
Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:12-18.
All of these details were fulfilled at Jesus’ crucifixion. Only God Himself could have given these words to David. And only God Himself could so orchestrate future events in their fulfillment. We read about Roman crucifixion (unknown in David’s day) in the New Testament gospels. It was the most painful and shameful way to die at the time.
On this Resurrection Day, we celebrate the victory that was Christ’s, when three days after His death He was raised to life, never to die again. He had perfectly fulfilled the hundreds of prophesies written about Him, and is now seated in heaven, ruling with all authority and power. His resurrection promises OUR resurrection. It is a day to rejoice and be glad. It is a day of humble adoration, and we can say with Moses and Israel who had just crossed the sea on dry land after been given freedom from slavery in Egypt, “Who is like You, O LORD, among the mighty ones? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11. And we can proclaim with Paul, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.
Fellow believer, let us be in joyful awe today as we celebrate the greatest event in world history.
Old Davy
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