I've been reading, "The Forgotten Jesus," by Robby Gallaty. It is a very good book that explains the Jewish customs of Jesus' time. He explains why Jesus spoke in parables and what these parables would mean to first century Jews. His last chapter deals with the death of Jesus and the meaning of why he recited the first line of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This is what he writes:
"Jesus encourages his listeners to develop a deeper understanding of what is happening to him as he hangs dying on the cross. Although the passage begins with agony and despair, it ultimately ends with triumph and victory. Listen to the final verses:
'All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will bow down before you, for kingship belongs to the Lord; he rules over the nations. All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down; all those who go down to the dust will kneel before him - even the one who cannot preserve his life. Their descendants will serve him; the next generation will be told about the Lord. They will come and declare his righteousness to a people yet to be born. They will declare what he has done.'
With Psalm 22 in mind, Jesus is exclaiming from the cross, 'We will win in the end. I know it looks bleak now, but God is going to use this for victory.'"
The last verse of Psalm 22 says, in the Christian Standard Bible, "They will declare what he has done." In other translations this sentence could read, "He has done it!" "He has accomplished it!" "He has performed it!" and "He has finished it."
I was amazed to see this verse, as if it was for the first time, because I realized this was another thing Jesus said while on the cross, "It is finished."
Yes and Amen! It is finished. Our salvation is made sure. His great sacrifice was accepted! Hallelujah!
