How does Psalm 22:31 connect to Jesus' declaration on the cross in John 19:30? Setting the Scene Psalm 22 opens with the haunting cry, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”—words Jesus Himself speaks from the cross (Matthew 27:46). By the closing verse, the psalmist shifts from agony to triumph. “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people yet unborn—for He has done it.” “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.” Psalm 22:31 – A Preview of Completion • “They will come and declare” – future generations proclaim what God accomplished. • “His righteousness” – the focus is God’s saving work, not human effort. • “To a people yet unborn” – the message is intended for all who would follow, including us. • “For He has done it” – the Hebrew verb carries the sense of a deed fully completed. John 19:30 – The Cry of Fulfillment • “It is finished” translates tetelestai, meaning “paid in full,” “completed,” “brought to its intended end.” • Jesus’ declaration mirrors the psalm’s climactic statement: the work of redemption is done. • By yielding His spirit, He seals the sacrifice foretold in Isaiah 53:5–6. Key Connections 1. Same verdict of completion – Psalm 22:31: “He has done it.” – John 19:30: “It is finished.” 2. Same audience in mind – Psalm: “people yet unborn.” – John: “that all may believe” (John 20:31). 3. Same righteous purpose – Psalm: “declare His righteousness.” – Romans 3:25–26: God displayed Christ “to demonstrate His righteousness.” 4. Same redemptive thread – Psalm 22’s pierced hands and divided garments (vv.16–18) find literal fulfillment at Calvary (John 19:23–24, 37). 5. Same divine initiative – Genesis 2:2 shows God finishing creation; John 19:30 shows God finishing new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Why This Matters for Us • Assurance: Salvation rests on a work already accomplished. • Proclamation: Like the psalm’s future generation, we announce, “He has done it!” (Acts 4:12). • Worship: Completed redemption invites wholehearted praise (Revelation 5:9). • Confidence: What God finishes cannot be undone (Philippians 1:6). The final verse of Psalm 22 and Jesus’ last words from the cross harmonize in one triumphant chorus: the redemption story is not a cliffhanger—it is a completed masterpiece. |
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