One More Point of Proof!

A day of great variety, Father! Thank You for the opportunity to encourage a fellow believer in difficulty. I would pray that his faith would be strengthened as he carries on.

John 19:16-27 (<<click here to read the passage)

As I read through today’s passage, John referenced an Old Testament passage of Scripture that was fulfilled during Jesus’ crucifixion. In this text, the division of Jesus’ garments by the Roman soldiers was prophesied in one of King David’s psalms.

I wanted to read the alluded to verse in context, so I opened the entire chapter of Psalm 22. It shouldn’t be surprising that that single verse wasn’t the only point of prophecy to come to fruition in Christ’s suffering. There were several in this chapter alone!

Here are several verses from that psalm. Some references are very obvious and for clarity, I have tagged some with their corresponding New Testament passages. (If you click on the bolded New Testament text it will open the passage.) But before you read it, I want to point out that David lived 1000 years before Jesus. I find it amazing!

¹ My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 27:46)
….Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
² Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
….Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

^……..

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man.
….I am scorned and despised by all!
⁷ Everyone who sees me mocks me.
….They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
⁸ “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
….Then let the Lord save him!
….If the Lord loves him so much,
….let the Lord rescue him!” (Matthew 27:41-44)

⁹ Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
….and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
¹⁰ I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
….You have been my God from the moment I was born.

¹¹ Do not stay so far from me,
….for trouble is near,
….and no one else can help me.
^……..

¹⁴ My life is poured out like water,
….and all my bones are out of joint.
….My heart is like wax,
….melting within me.
¹⁵ My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
….My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. (John 19:28)
….You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
¹⁶ My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
….an evil gang closes in on me.
….They have pierced my hands and feet.
¹⁷ I can count all my bones.
….My enemies stare at me and gloat.
¹⁸ They divide my garments among themselves
….and throw dice for my clothing. (John 19:23-24) NLT

Lord Jesus, before the world even came into being You had already set into place how You would redeem us. You knew we would rebel, but You loved us so and made plans to reconcile us to Yourself. Throughout the Old Testament, You planted Your word in Your prophets as one more point of proof that You and You alone are God! All praise to You!

Nov 3^rd, 2021, Wed, 7:43 pm