End with the Beginning in Mind

The reason we looked at Psalm 22 yesterday was that Greg pointed to it as being one of the possible reasons why Jesus called out, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”  Greg suggested Jesus was quoting from that Psalm rather than simply uttering an emotional cry for help. What do you think? Observe.

Even from the cross, Jesus was still “on mission.” While hanging there He made arrangements for His mother Mary to be looked after by John, fulfilling God’s desire to look out for orphans and widows. While hanging there He accepted the faith of a criminal and promised him eternal life. So it makes sense that while hanging there that He would continue, until His final breath, to preach the Gospel (the good news). If you read or listened to that Psalm yesterday you might wonder how such dark words could be considered “good news.” But that might be because you aren’t a first century Jew.

School children in the Palestine of Jesus’ time had the first five books of the Scriptures, along with the Psalms, memorized by the time they were finished what we would consider elementary school. One of the ways that the teachers (the rabbis) helped their students memorize Scripture was to “play” with it. They would recite a passage of Scripture and the students would have to recite what comes next. This made their memorization of Scripture dynamic and not simply by rote. Boys advancing further, eventually entering rabbinical training, would engage in much greater dynamic exchanges with each other (we see these a few times as Jesus sparred Scriptures with the Pharisees).

What’s the point? When Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” the Jewish people, especially the religious leaders, would instantly recognize those words as the start of Psalm 22. Was Jesus hoping that their training would kick in and they would continue reciting the Psalm in their minds, and then come to the horrifying realization that what had been unfolding before them was that ancient prophecy? They were killing their Messiah! Absolutely!

I wonder if there was one more side to this. To keep Himself inspired and focused on fulfilling His mission, was Jesus perhaps also reciting these words to soothe Himself so that He could see that what He was enduring was 100% in the will of God? I believe this also.

In a best-selling book, Stephen Covey taught that effective people always “begin with the end in mind.” There’s no question that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit began with the end in mind, laying out the plan of salvation before the world was even created. In Jesus’ quoting from Psalm 22 on the cross, I also see Him ending with the beginning in mind. He defeated temptations in the wilderness at the start of His ministry by quoting Scripture. He now defeats temptations on the cross as He ends His ministry the way it began … by quoting Scripture. As you read Jesus’ words “It is finished,” look at the final verse of Psalm 22.

Please join me in prayer: Heavenly Father, when Greg spoke about the lives that changed miraculously on that day, I’m reminded about my own transformation when I first encountered Jesus. I’m reminded how impacted I was that You, the Creator of the Universe, wanted a relationship with me so much that You sent Your Son to die for me. I know I can’t repay You because Jesus paid it all. So now help me to live a life worthy of the love that You show me. I ask this in the power of Jesus’ incomparable Name. Amen!