Jesus Christ on Every Page

Psalm 69

In college, I once had the privelege of reading that great passage from Isaiah 53 as part of a "theater project." I tried to set some atmoshpere with some props and background music, but that really did not work out. I was a bit nervous about doing the scripture justice before a non-Christian audience. I sweated my way through the "performance," received some polite applause and sat down at my seat, relieved.

The next conversation I had still is a highlight in my college memories of the power of God's word, especially in the eyes of non-believer. I was not sure where my teacher was coming from, only I knew that it was not exactly from a Christian perspective. Right away she had a few questions in front of the rest of the class.

"I thought that Isaiah was in the Old Testament, right?"

"Yes" I replied.

"But that passage is about Jesus."

"Right" I said.

"That's wild" she said and then moved on to the next victim of dreaded theater project.

The whole Bible is the Word of God and therefor the whole Bible, Old and New Testaments, is really the story of Jesus Christ. My theater teacher, in this case, saw that truth. But sadly many Christians miss it. We think somehow that the Old Testament has not much to do with us or our relationship with Christ. We somehow think that all we need is the New Testament books. We are mistaken.

Isaiah 53 is perhaps the clearest passage we have of Christ's sufferings in the Old Testatment. I would say that this Psalm would come in second (tied with Psalm 22). Many of its verses or ideas are quoted or referenced in the New Testament. This Psalm beautifully describes the trials and sufferings of King David, who was an ancestor and a prototype of Jesus Christ

But even as great and beloved as David was, we see the superiority of Jesus in this Psalm. There are many similarities, but also some key differences:

- Both these men found themselves in a desparate situation [v. 1-2]

- Both felt for a time forsaken by God [v. 3, Mt. 27:46]

- Both had fierce enemies, despite being innocent [v.4, Lk. 23:41]

- Both endured scorn and shame for God's sake[v. 7, Lk. 22:63]

- Both felt alienated from their own family [v. 8, Jn. 7:5]

- Both were passionate for God & His holy name [v. 9, Jn. 2:16]

- Both were made fun of [v. 11, Mk. 5:40]

- Both were offered nasty drinks in the time of their pain [v. 20, Mk. 15:36]

But David was a sinner[v.5], and Jesus was without sin [Heb. 4:15]

- David was ultimately rescued[v. 18], but Jesus willingly gave up His life [Jn. 10:18]

- David prayed for vengence [vs. 22-23], Jesus prayed for forgiveness [Lk. 23:34]

- David asked for his enemies to be deserted [v. 25], Jesus himself was deserted [Mk. 14:50]

- David prayed for their damnation [v. 27], Jesus's death brings salvation [1 Co. 15:3]

- David requested that they be blotted out of the book of Life, Jesus Himself has written our names into the Book of Life [Rev. 21:27]

David was a great man of God, but he, like everyone else in history pales in comparison to the Son of God- Jesus Christ. Don't miss His story, on every page of Scripture!