Easter Meditations: The Price That Was PaidSample

HOLY SATURDAY

Christ is the fulfillment of God's promise

When Jesus cried out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) he was pointing to Psalm 22 in order to help us understand what happened at the cross.

After you read through Psalm 22, consider all the prophetic parallels. Do portions of this Psalm point to anything else that happened through the Gospel?

Take a moment to reread the following portion of Psalm 22... What stands out to you?

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honour him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.

Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.

Psalm 22:22-31, NLT

How does this help to paint the picture of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection?

Ephesians 4:7-10 describes what Jesus did between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday by quoting Psalm 68:11-19.

When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.

Ephesians 4:8, NLT

Can you imagine what this day was like for Jesus? Write down some of the thoughts and feelings you think He would have been experiencing.

How can you respond in gratefulness to Jesus for His divine fulfillment of God's promise?

Let's pray:

Thank you Jesus, for bearing our burden and descending to the depths of hell to wipe away sin and death.

Help me to live each day as offering to you, giving gratitude for the sacrifice you made.

Amen.