Crucifixion was invented in the ancient near East and one of the earliest accounts of mass execution through the cross was Darius I’s crucifixion of three thousand political dissidents in Babylon. Thousands have suffered the inexplicable horror of crucifixion but Christ’s crucifixion remains unique. He was the sinless Savior who bore the cumulative sufferings of all mankind. On the cross, Christ cried out the words uttered by David a millennium earlier: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” – which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Though there are few today who doubt the execution of Christ on the cross, there has been vehement opposition for the very psalm to which Jesus drew attention with his dying words – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken men?” (Psalm 22:1). Was David “merely” referring to his own suffering or did it foreshadow Christ’s crucifixion? Likewise, does the suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 point to the nation of Israel or to the Messiah? Though there are scores of messianic prophecies, the upcoming blogs will look at Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 in its entirety to show that Jesus Christ is the suffering Servant.
Though there are few today who doubt the execution of Christ on the cross, there has been vehement opposition for the very psalm to which Jesus drew attention with his dying words – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken men?” (Psalm 22:1). Was David “merely” referring to his own suffering or did it foreshadow Christ’s crucifixion? Likewise, does the suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 point to the nation of Israel or to the Messiah? Though there are scores of messianic prophecies, the upcoming blogs will look at Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 in its entirety to show that Jesus Christ is the suffering Servant.
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