As a young girl I grew up in church singing all the old hymns. The praise worship songs we sing in church today had not been written yet. Many of the old hymns from the hymn book had titles which were the first lines to the hymns.
Even today, all these many years later, if I were to hear someone say the phrase: “What a friend we have in Jesus” … I would immediately know they were referring to a hymn. And immediately the words to the hymn would start going through my head:
“What a friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer. … “
Or … if someone were to say: “Blessed Assurance” … I would immediately know they were referring to a hymn. And in my mind I would start “singing” …
“Blessed assurance Jesus is mine.
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation. Purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit. Washed in His blood. …“
The book of Psalms in our Bible was the hymn book for the people of Israel many years ago. And just like the hymns in our hymn book today have titles which are the first lines of the hymn, so also the people of Israel would have immediately known a song from their hymn book by the first lines of the psalm.
When we read about Jesus’s crucifixion on the cross, we see in Matthew 27:45-46 – “From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ – which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”
We see this again in Mark 15:33-34 – “At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ – which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”
In both accounts of Matthew and Mark it makes a point of mentioning that some of those who were standing around thought that Jesus was calling out for Elijah to come save him. These people did not know their hymn book very well.
The ones who were standing there who did know their hymn book, would have immediately recognized that Jesus was calling out the title to a very familiar hymn: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Or … in our Bible we know this hymn as Psalm 22.
Just like whenever I hear the title of an old hymn mentioned and the words immediately start going through my head … so also, those who heard this hymn title called out would have immediately started hearing the words to the hymn going through their heads:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
…
“All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
‘He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’”
As those standing near Jesus (as he was on the cross) would have heard the words to this hymn in their minds they would have had the startling realization that this right here is what is happening right here … right now! (see Matthew 27:39-44; and also Mark 15:29-32)
By Jesus calling out the title to this hymn, he was letting them know – I am the fulfillment of this prophecy. I am right here, right now fulfilling this prophecy!
The hymn continues:
“I am poured out like water,
all of my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.
“My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
“Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.”
The people who were standing there as Jesus was crucified were being told by Jesus: This is me! I am the fulfillment of this hymn! This is not an accident. This very thing was prophesied hundreds of years ago, that this would happen to me.
The hymn continues:
“I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.”
Those who were hearing this hymn going through their minds had literally just witnessed Jesus’s clothing being divided. (see Matthew 27:35; and also John 19:23-24)
Who was standing there at the cross when Jesus called out this hymn title? Who had Jesus called out the hymn title for?
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved [John] standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple [John], ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” – John 19:25-27
Jesus called out the hymn title to comfort those who were there who loved him, and who he loved. Even in his suffering, Jesus was comforting others!
The hymn continues:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.”
Through the hymn, Jesus was telling those who were there at the cross – There is hope! There is reason to praise! God will deliver me! There is hope!
“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
“All who go down to the dust will kneel before him – those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the LORD.
They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn –
for he had done it.”
Through the hymn, Jesus was telling those who were at the cross – I am conquering! I am overcoming! All dominion is mine! I rule over all nations! Everyone will kneel to me!
Through the hymn, Jesus was telling them – What I am doing here will be told to generations yet to be born. I have accomplished what I came to earth to do! I have done it!
“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” – Matthew 27:50
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.” – Mark 15:37
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” – Luke 23:46
“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” – John 19:30
Jesus accomplished what he came to earth to do. He completed the task.
And today, 2,000 years later, ‘generations yet to be born’ have been told about Jesus’s payment on their behalf to take their sin away. And generations still yet to be born will continue to be told about Jesus’s payment on their behalf to take away their sin.
Jesus conquered! Jesus is King! All dominion and power are his! And every knee will bow before Jesus Christ!
