R sbc
June 13th Sunday
Series: “Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Subject: “The Death of Christ Prophesied & Fulfilled”
Sermon # 5
Text: Psalm 22:1-18
Intro: In the word of God you will find if you search hard enough, the Christ of Bible. He is the sum and the substance of it. He can be found in the pages of Genesis from the fall of man to the prophecies that Jacob gave of his sons in the 49th chapter of Genesis. He can be found in the PASSOVER lamb as we seen last Sunday, he is the Levitical scapegoat and the one whom Arron is seen typfying on the day of the Atonement.
Likewise in the bible there are many things that point to the death of Christ elsewhere in the word of GOD. For one to read this Psalm and see not the agony and the suffering of Christ is to be blind and cannot see afar off. Many of the Psalms speak of Christ and his death and of his resurrection.
Herbert Locker said:
“The heart of Christianity is the Bible, God’s infallible word; the heart of the Bible is the cross of the redeemer, the heart of the cross is the very heart of God, making provision for the salvation of a lost world”.
A.T. Pierson expressed it, “ From the hour of Abel’s altar fire down to the last PASSOVER of the week before Christ death, pointed as with flaming finger to Calvary’s cross.” he went own to say, “ we see the emergence of a thousand line of prophecy and indirect forecasts as in one burning focal point of dazzling glory.”
When we look into the N.T. we see that gospel writers affirm the Old Testament Christology. Listen as I read what Matthew said: Matthew 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
You might think that in such a long period of time, that these prophecy of Christ would get lost, and they did in the minds of men, but not all men. Let me show what I mean. Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. What was that consolation and in whom would it be fulfilled? Let the next verse answer it: Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And when he saw him he knew it and proclaim it loud and clear: Luke 2:27-30 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
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Of all the prophets that preached about Christ and that was recorded, two stand out as the mountain peaks of the Old Testament, David & Isaiah. Not that what all the others had to say were not important but that these two describe in vivid detail the death of the saviour.
David in this Psalm that we have read gives us the agony of the Lord during his hour of death, Isaiah gives us the design of the death of Christ in it’s redemptive power. What pictures are laid out before the Jewish people and what a privilege it is to fall back and read these great truths and God gives us eyes to see with the wonder of them.
I read a prayer that goes like this: “ O help me understand it, Lord, Help me to take it in. What it meant for Thee, the Holy One to take away my sin.” My if we could see all that it meant for Christ to take away our sins, it would revolutionize our life to it’s fullest.
I... “ WE SEE AN ANGUISH OF THE SAVIOUR”... VS 1
This no doubt is the humanity of Christ crying out to the Father. This particular verse is quoted by the Lord Jesus Christ when he was dying on the cross that day of all days. Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
No doubt that David felt this anguish, as you and I have felt abandoned at times by the LORD. But none of us has felt the anguish that the saviour felt that day. This was a total forsaking by his Father, Christ literally felt this to it’s totality.
1st. This anguish is seen in his cry:
This word “cry” in the greek means to raise a cry out of. That is he pushed it out of his vocal cords. This was tormenting to the LORD. Other verse in the word of God seem to indicate that when Christ prayed this is the way he prayed.
Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
This could be seen in the prayer of Jerimiah in his lamatations: Lamentations 1:12 [Is it] nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.
2nd. This anguish is seen in the horrendous abandoment: which means the most dreaded thing that could happen.
This is why the LORD cried out in the garden seen, Oh my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me, neverltheless not my will but thine be done. What horrifying emotions Christ literally felt that day on calvary for us. Can you believe it, can you and I understand just what it mean for the LORD to die in our place what great benefit you and I are the reciptiants of because of JESUS CHRIST our LORD....
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II... “ THE HUMILIATION OF CHRIST SEEN IN THIS GREAT PROPHECTICAL UTTERANCES... verse 6
Let us take them one at a time...
1st. “ I am a worm”
The truth of this can be seen in what took place when a female worm gave birth to her little baby worms.. Listen as I read what literally takes place and then you will see why Christ said I am a worm.
When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted.
What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding His precious blood that He might "bring many sons unto glory" (Heb. 2:10) He died for us, that we might live through Him! Ps. 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of Christ.
The great Prophet Isaiah said: Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
2nd. “A reproach of men”
The word “ reproach” means that he was a shamefulness to men. When they would look at him they would literally be ashamed of him. Christ warned in his preaching about this. This too was the fulfillment of prophecy. David said: Psalm 69:7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
Again we hear from the word of God the same cry.. Through the prophet David: Psalm 69:19-20 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries [are] all before thee. 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] none; and for comforters, but I found none.
The great Lamatations of Jerimiah declares in his prophecies these words concerning the LORD JESUS CHRIST...Lamentations 3:30 He giveth [his] cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
3rd. “ Depised of men”
The word “depise” means to hold in contempt. This is what they did to Christ he was contemptable in their eyes. That is they held to be beneath them. They thought of him as less than they are. They were better than him
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This was something that they were accustom to doing. When their forefathers came out of Egypt God brought judgement on them because of this very thing:
Numbers 11:20 [But] even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which [is] among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? Again it is said: Proverbs 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
The great Prophet Isaiah said: “He is despised and rejected of men”.. The Lord Jesus Christ said
Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
They were very vocal with it: John 8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? The great question that must be asked and answered this morning... do you depise Jesus Christ? You say preacher how can I do that?
You despise him when you refuse to bow to him as Lord and Saviour: You may or may not intentionally do it, maybe you are like Felix the governor that Paul preached to and listen to his words: Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
III... “THE RIDCULE AND MOCKERY OF THE LORD”...VS 7-8
1ST. The insanity of it: vs 7
This ridicule was prior to the cross in his ministry: Matthew 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. When we come to the cross we see standing around him a group of unconverted men and listen to the very fulfillment of this utterance of David..
Matthew 27:29-30 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
2nd. The insensitivity of it: vs 8
These men were instruments in the hand of the LORD and believe they knew not what they were doing both from a human standpooint, nor from a divine side.. Matthew 27:42-43 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
They had their laugh but one day the Lord will have his.. Listen to what he said in that great Psalm two. Psalm 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
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Psalm 2:9-12 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.
IV.. “ THE HUMAN SUFFERING OF CHRIST VIVIDIDLY ACCLAIMED”..VS 13-18
I know that I recently used this as part of one of the sermon I think the first, but I said last Sunday and I say it today, I must repeat some things in this study... this makes us to be familiar intimately with Christ and his death.
1st. They gaped upon him...vs 13
Which means they lashed out at him with their mouths open so as to try to literally bite him this is the vicious hatred they had for him. Note that he compares as animals attaching it’s prey. Trying to tear the flesh loose from the bone.
The next word describes... ravening which means to tear and pull apart. They did this to the LORD JESUS CHRIST... they did this with their mouths wide open speaking to him with their hatred. Listen to how this literally fulfilled.
Matthew 26:59-61 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, [yet] found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This [fellow] said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
2nd. Poured out like water: vs 14-15
Dehydration..literally to loose all the water out of the body. The stress placed upon the body of Christ was so intensified that his water ran out of him. The clear results is seen in the verses. Bones out of joint, stength gone, tongue swallon and cleaving to the roof of his mouth. Death is lingering near the saviour now.
3rd. His few garments..vs 16-18
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Conclude this morning: Can you this morning see the suffering of the saviour and underdstand the great sacrifice he made for sinners? Paul this is a worthy saying and worthy of allacceptattion Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am cheif.