PODCAST
It Is Finished
April 1st, 2023
Psalm 22:25-31
Psalm 22 affirms some of historic Judaism’s most important claims about the person and nature of God: God cares for the poor and marginalized (not just the wealthy and powerful); God’s transformative love is good news for all nations (not just Israel and/or Judah); and God’s beloved community, which will ultimately triumph, has already begun.
In gasping out the words of this well-known psalm during His own crucifixion, Christ remarkably avowed these sacred, vital truths. Perhaps the boldest claim of all is found in the final verse, which promises that God’s justice and faithfulness are eternal, extending even to unborn future generations. The parallels between the Hebrew text of Psalm 22:31 ( “[God] has done this”) and the Greek text of John 19:30 (“It is finished”) are as striking as they are intentional.
The agonized, crucified Christ insists that even in the midst of death, God’s purposes have been completed and new life can begin.
Author: Aaron Bolerjack
