The Shame of Calvary

A lesson on the faithfulness of God to His promises, and our need to trust in Him. Resuming our study of John's gospel, we read of how the Roman soldiers, who were delivering Christ up to Calvary for the crucifixion at this point, mocked and vilified Him. We're told of how they divided up His garments, and cast lots for His tunic. At first glance this may appear to be a fleeting detail, but it is in fact of incredible prophetic significance. John points that out for us in the text, noting that it was to fulfill a specific prophecy given through David in Psalm 22.

The more we cross-reference the account of Jesus' crucifixion with Psalm 22, the more it becomes obvious it was on Jesus' mind during the crucifixion. Far beyond that though, the psalm found it's true and ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the surrounding event of the crucifixion itself. For the Son of David, the psalm foretold with flawless detail the shame and sufferings He would endure that day. Despising the shame set before Him, Christ pressed onward to complete His mission and accomplish the will of the Father; namely, to bear our sin, guilt, and shame on the cross, so that we would be made perfect, holy, and blameless in the sight of God.