The Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko, wrote a poem titled, “It Makes No Difference To Me” that describes a Ukrainian man’s feelings toward the neighboring nation of Russia. That poem described what was happening in 2022, 2023, and 2024 as the Ukrainian people—according to Shevchenko—fight off those “evil folk” and “wicked men” that “attack our Ukraine.”
And while that poem described what was felt among a lot of Ukrainians in 2022 and 2023, it was not written in 2022, 2023 or 2024. That poem was composed by Taras Shevchenko in 1861 describing his feelings about the Russians and their attacks on his home country of Ukraine.[1] While Taras Shevchenko wrote a poem that described his experience in 1861 that also described the experience of Ukrainians in 2022 and 2023 and 2024, a guy named David that lived 1000 years before Jesus Christ wrote about his own experience of suffering, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, David also described the future sufferings of our Savior Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 22 David describes the pain he feels from suffering. He summarizes his pain in Psalm 22:11, “Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.”[2] This is how suffering feels at times. David is all alone. Difficult times hurt often because we are alone in them.
In Psalm 22 David also describes pain from his enemies. He compares his enemies to wicked and cruel beasts. “Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion” (Psalm 22:12-13). The “Bulls of Bashan” (v. 12) were well fed cattle. Bashan was a fertile area east of the Sea of Galilee now known as the Golan Heights. It had lush oak forests and good pastures for cattle. The “Lion” is understood to be power and force that a lion has over us.
David says he cannot continue on because his energy is zapped. “I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death” (Psalm 22:14-15). This is a picture of Jesus’ body on the cross hung by nails through His hands, His body weight suspended from His hands, and His back that was tweaked with His joints slipping out of place. As His body was stretched and His joints dislodged, His heart must have struggled to pump blood throughout His body. Like David his “heart is like wax; It is melted within me” (v. 14). He’s at the end of his life. He’s got nothing left. He was at the brink of death.
In Psalm 22 David says he is in such pain he’s about to die. David describes his enemies, “For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16). When he says “dogs” (v. 16) we must remember that dogs in the culture of the Bible were not cute pets that lived in people’s houses. They hunted the streets as scavengers or traveled around in the wilderness in packs. This is a future picture of Jesus’ enemies. These bulls, lions, and dogs describe the Roman workers that executed Jesus and the Jewish leaders that lied in order to convict Jesus. Those enemies of Jesus were bigger, more powerful, and used their authority to attack Jesus and kill Him. Just as David would have been no match against bulls, lions, and dogs, Jesus was no match for the Jewish leaders that accused Him of a crime and the Roman officials that executed Him.
This is also a future picture of Jesus’s wounds. In this line, “They pierced my hands and my feet” (v. 16b). David is describing what would figuratively happen if a bull, lion, and dog attacked him. But in the New Testament the gospel writer, John, tells us that this literally happened to Jesus (John 20:20).
David also describes his agony. “I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:17-18). Here we see the people around Jesus that divided His clothing among them. This was a sign that they knew He would die. And for His clothing they “cast lots.” The New Living Translation says, “throw dice.” All four gospel writers record this detail in their telling of the crucifixion.
As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday we should remember that Jesus was not surprised by what awaited Him. David had described it in Psalm 22 and Jesus was prepared for it. Jesus was ready for the suffering that was prepared for Him because He knew it was necessary for the salvation of people. And He knew that He would conquer death by coming back to life again Sunday morning.
[1] Taras Shevchenko, “It Makes No Difference To Me.” Translated by Clarence A. Manning. https://taras-shevchenko.storinka.org/taras-shevchenko’s-poem-it-makes-no-difference-to-me-tr-by-clarence-a-manning.html Accessed March 22, 2023
[2] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.