The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Psalm 22: The Physical Suffering of Jesus

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Did you know that the physical suffering of Jesus was prophesied 1,000 years before endured it on the cross?

I was in Jerusalem Easter of 2008 on a video shoot with my old friend Evangelist Don McGee. Don is the founder and director of Crown & Sickle Ministries based in Amite, Louisiana. Don travels all over the Unites States preaching about the soon return of Jesus Christ and speaking at Bible prophecy conferences.

Don and I then got together on my television show “Christ in Prophecy” to discuss how Psalm 22 is one of the most prophetic chapters concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (watch!). We discussed how particularly remarkable it is that the descriptive prophecy concerning Jesus’ death was written more than one thousand years before Jesus was born, and more than 700 years before the Romans perfected crucifixion as a method of execution.

Don McGee

The Physical Suffering of Jesus

Don McGee: In Psalm 22:6, the psalmist shifts from the Messiah’s spiritual suffering to His physical and emotional distress. Verse 6 reads, “But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see me sneer at me; they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, ‘Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.'”

The Hebrew word translated “worm” in verse 6 is tola, it’s the word for crimson or scarlet. It is also a word for a certain type of worm. In this context it is most likely referring to the bloody red condition of the Messiah after His flogging, when He would have been so mutilated and swollen that He would no longer even resemble a man and would be an object of derision.

Dr. Reagan: So, this passage describes the intense physical suffering of the Messiah combined with the emotional suffering He would experience as onlookers sneered at Him and cried out caustic taunts.

We find the fulfillment of this prophecy in Matthew 27, “And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him (Jesus on the Cross) wagging their heads, and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him, and saying, ‘He saved others; but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe in Him.'”

Faith Under Trial

Don McGee: This brings us to verse 9 of Psalm 22. In this verse and the one following, the psalmist has the Messiah reaffirming His faith in the midst of His intense sufferings. Verse 9, “Yet, You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. Upon You I was cast from birth; You have been my God from my mother’s womb.”

This reaffirmation of faith is an incredible act of will, and it is an example for all of us. Our tendency is to wallow in self-pity when the going gets tough, but David refuses to do that. In fact, he takes the opportunity to reaffirm his faith and indicates prophetically that the Messiah will do the same in the midst of His passion.

Dr. Reagan: It reminds me of the tough faith of Paul. You know, when he was in prison in Rome, awaiting execution, Paul wrote in the Philippian letter, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice!” He proceeded to urge his fellow believers to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” He then revealed the secret of his positive attitude in the midst of suffering. He wrote, “I can do all things through Him [through Jesus] who strengthens me.”

Don McGee: In other words, Paul was saying that we should keep our eyes focused on the Lord rather than upon our troubles, and, as he put it, “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard our hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In the next part of this series on the Passion in Bible Prophecy, well see how many different kinds of sufferings combined to make the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the most brutal ever experienced.

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Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

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