The Cross Was Always the Plan—Psalm 22 Proves It

They stood around Him, laughing. Roman soldiers, spectators, priests—all oblivious to the weight of what was happening. Blood streaked His body.

His hands and feet were punctured by iron. His bones wrenched out of joint. His mouth, parched and cracked, formed the words: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

A thousand years before that moment, David wrote those very words in Psalm 22.

This psalm is more than poetry. It is a photograph taken centuries in advance, an x-ray of Calvary before crucifixion even existed as a form of execution. It is a prophecy so precise, so harrowing, that it shatters any doubt about the authority of Scripture.

The cross was not an accident. It was not a historical tragedy. It was planned, foretold, and executed according to the predetermined counsel of God.

The Horror of Abandonment

The psalm begins in agony:

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?” (Psalm 22:1)

Jesus screamed these words from the cross. They were not whispered, not muttered under His breath—He cried out. The silence of heaven was deafening.

The One who had lived in perfect fellowship with the Father was now utterly abandoned.

Why? Because in that moment, He bore the full weight of our sin. God did not simply turn His face away; He poured out His wrath. Justice demanded it. Holiness required it.

There was no other way.

The Torture of the Crucifixion

David continues:

“All my bones are out of joint” (Psalm 22:14)

When the cross was lifted and dropped into its socket, the impact would have dislocated the bones of the condemned. Shoulders, elbows, wrists—torn from their natural places. The pain would have been unbearable.

“They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16)

Crucifixion was unknown in David’s time. Yet here it is, described in chilling detail. Not all victims of crucifixion had their feet nailed, but Jesus did.

“My tongue clings to My jaws” (Psalm 22:15)

He was dehydrated, His body drained of strength. This is why He said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Every fiber of His being screamed for relief, and yet He endured.

“They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:18)

John 19:23-24 records the fulfillment of this verse word for word. The soldiers, indifferent to His suffering, gambled over His last possessions. He owned nothing but the wounds on His back and the crown of thorns pressed into His skull.

This is not coincidence. This is prophecy unfolding with terrifying precision.

The Sword of God and the Fury of Hell

David’s words take an even more dreadful turn:

“Deliver Me from the sword” (Psalm 22:20)

Whose sword? The sword of God’s justice. Isaiah 53:10 declares, “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.”

This was not simply the work of Roman soldiers or Jewish leaders—this was more. God thrust the sword into His Son because sin had to be punished.

But Christ’s enemies were not only human:

“Save Me from the lion’s mouth” (Psalm 22:21)

Satan was there, thinking he had won. The demonic hordes surrounded the cross like wild beasts, salivating over what they thought was their triumph.

Yet, during this unspeakable horror, the psalm takes an unexpected turn.

The Answer from Heaven

Just as quickly as darkness covered the land, light breaks through:

“You have answered Me.” (Psalm 22:21)

Between Jesus’ cry of abandonment and His final breath, something happened. Victory.

He lifted His voice one last time and declared, “It is finished.” (John 19:30). The debt was paid. The sacrifice was accepted.

The wrath of God was satisfied. And then, in peace, He surrendered: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46).

The suffering was over. But the story was not.

The Triumph of the Resurrection

The psalm shifts again:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You.” (Psalm 22:22)

Jesus did not stay in the grave. He rose. And when He rose, He gathered His disciples—His brethren.

Hebrews 2:11 confirms that Christ is not ashamed to call us brothers. The resurrected King now leads the great congregation in worship.

Psalm 22 predicted not only His suffering but also His resurrection. Every prediction of His agony is matched by a prophecy of His victory.

The Gathering of the Nations

The psalm does not stop at the empty tomb. It looks ahead to what Christ’s death and resurrection would accomplish:

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” (Psalm 22:27)

This is happening right now. The gospel has spread across continents, over centuries, to every tribe and tongue. A crucified Jewish carpenter, mocked and executed as a criminal, is now worshipped by billions across the globe.

The cross was not the end. It was the beginning of the greatest movement in history—the kingdom of Christ, advancing through the power of a resurrected Savior.

The Final Word

The psalm ends with a declaration:

“They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” (Psalm 22:31)

He has done this.

The work is complete. The battle is won. The King has spoken.

The question now is simple: Do you believe?

Psalm 22 is a call. A warning. A promise.

Look at the cross. Look at the empty tomb. And know this: Christ is risen. His kingdom is real. And one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Will you bow now in faith, or later in fear?

The choice is yours.

Recommended Resource:?If you’re studying the Psalms, you won’t want to miss my in-depth review of?The Treasury of David?by Charles Spurgeon. This timeless masterpiece unpacks the Psalms with rich theological insight, making it essential for devotion, sermon prep, or deep Bible study. Read the full review?here.

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