Today I was at a small dog park in Manhattan Beach and I met a nice older couple, Beth and Don. After chatting with them for a little bit about dogs, I asked them if I could ask them a question. They said sure, so I asked them if they were believers in Jesus Christ? Beth replied, "No, quite the opposite." I asked her what she meant by that and she said that they are Jewish. I then asked them if anyone had ever explained the Gospel to them, hoping that I would be able to, but they were not interested in hearing it. I asked if they are waiting for another Messiah and Beth's response was, "Not another Messiah, the Messiah." I then asked her if she had ever read Psalm 22. She said, "I don't really......," which to me implied that she doesn't really read, nor know the scriptures very well. I encouraged her to read Psalm 22.
The reason I encouraged her to read Psalm 22 is because it is in the Old Testament (the Jewish Bible), which Jews and Christians consider divinely inspired scripture. It also contains some of the most amazing prophecies concerning the Messiah. Verse 1 says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" These are the very same words Jesus uttered when He was nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:46). When Jesus cried out those words, the Jews that were there would have immediately known that He was quoting Psalm 22 because they knew the scriptures so well. They would have then recited the rest of the Psalm in their heads and must have been in awe when they arrived at verse 16, which says, "they have pierced my hands and feet," and verse 18, which says, "they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." The events prophesied in Psalm 22 were happening right before their very eyes. Jesus is the Messiah! Keep in mind that this Psalm was written by King David about 1,000 B.C. and at a time when crucifixion was not even practiced yet.
On my way home I began praying for Beth and Don that they would read Psalm 22 and realize that Jesus is the Messiah. Please join me in praying for their salvation.