above words. Why did He do so? To prompt the Scribes and Pharisees
before him into a certain realization. The Scribes and Pharisees generally
knew the Scriptures by heart. Simply by hearing the first line of a psalm
their memories should have been triggered, and recalled the whole psalm.
Jesus wanted the Jews to recall the whole of Psalm 22 (21) and realize that
they were fulfilling it step by step while watching and mocking Him on the
Cross. However, the Jews failed to pick up the hint and thought that Jesus
was just calling upon Elias.
Christians see in hindsight that Psalm 22 (21) foretold that the Messiah
would be crucified and that Jesus’ crucifixion fulfiled the following verses:
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from
helping me, from the words of my groaning?” (v. 1).
“But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the
people” (v. 6).
“All who see me mock at me, they make mouths at me, they wag their
heads” (v. 7).
“He committed his cause to the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue
him, for he delights in him!” (v. 8).
“They open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion” (v.
13).
“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is
like wax, it is melted within my breast” (v. 14).
“My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my
jaws; thou dost lay me in the dust of death” (v. 15).
“Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they
have pierced my hands and feet” (v. 16).
“I can count all my bones––they stare and gloat over me” (v. 17).
“They divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots”
(v. 18).
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