Knowing the Whole Thing: On Psalm 22

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!? (Psalm 22:1)

Mark writes (13:34) that Jesus “cried out” these words in a “loud voice” while suffocating, flesh ripped open by the executioner’s nails, hanging on a cross.

Enough said.

However, not. The Psalmist ends that prayer declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness. Astonishingly, dereliction and demonstrations of praise live together in one holy habitation of justice for the sake of those least, last, lost, little and dead.

It did not go well for Jesus. He was not reprieved or relieved after this cry. There was no silver lining after this despair. But I do wonder this. I wonder if he finished the entire prayer, that Psalm 22, even if silently. Just think of it: “Praise the Lord, you that fear him,” and, “the poor shall eat and be satisfied,” and, “for Kingship belongs to the Lord.” As I see Jesus spending his earlier days making sure those hungry are fed (see Mark 6, passim) in the face of Rome’s domination and exploitation of Galilee’s goods and services I can actually see him spitingly finishing this entire Psalm 22 from the cross – a defiance of Caesar, a claiming of Yahweh’s rule and reign over against Tiberius even and within the godforsakenness of this what has happened to him, Jesus, as a result of his dutiful discipleship to Yahweh.

Jesus was sharp, and no fool. He knew the entire Psalm.

Do we?