Connect Psalm 22:15 with New Testament references to Jesus' crucifixion. Setting the Scene in Psalm 22 • Psalm 22 opens with “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (v. 1), the very words Jesus will cry from the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). • Verse 15 focuses on the Messiah’s physical agony: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; You lay me in the dust of death.” • David, inspired by the Spirit, paints a picture that goes far beyond his own experience—prophetic words pointing straight to Calvary. Key Elements in Psalm 22:15 • “My strength is dried up like a potsherd” – utter exhaustion, lifeblood drained. • “My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth” – intense, consuming thirst. • “You lay me in the dust of death” – the speaker is on the brink of dying, helpless before God. New Testament Fulfillment at the Cross 1. Physical Thirst – John 19:28–29: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had now been accomplished, and to fulfill Scripture, said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of sour wine was sitting there…” – The wording “to fulfill Scripture” explicitly ties Jesus’ thirst back to prophetic lines like Psalm 22:15. 2. Drained Strength – Luke 23:26 signals Jesus’ physical weakness when Simon of Cyrene carries the cross for Him. – Mark 15:37 describes His final loud cry and immediate death, showing life ebbing away just as the psalm depicts. 3. Nearness to Death – John 19:30: “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” – The psalm’s clause “You lay me in the dust of death” finds literal expression as Jesus yields His spirit on the cross. Layered Prophecies Working Together • Psalm 22 is saturated with details also mirrored in Jesus’ crucifixion: – Pierced hands and feet (v. 16 → John 20:25–27). – Casting lots for garments (v. 18 → John 19:23–24). – Mocking by onlookers (vv. 7–8 → Matthew 27:39–43). • Verse 15 fits into this tapestry, confirming that not one aspect of the Messiah’s suffering was random; each moment fulfilled Scripture with precision. Why the Dryness Matters • Crucifixion caused severe blood loss and dehydration; Psalm 22:15 anticipates this medical reality centuries in advance. • Jesus’ statement “I am thirsty” isn’t merely a request for relief—it’s a deliberate signal that every prophetic line, even down to parched lips, is being completed. Takeaway for Today • Psalm 22:15 assures us that God’s plan of redemption was set in detail long before the cross took place. • The same Lord who controlled each prophecy keeps His promises to us (2 Corinthians 1:20). • As we see Scripture’s accuracy on display, our confidence in the finished work of Jesus deepens, and we can rest in the certainty that the One who thirsted on the cross now offers “the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17). |
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