They pierced my hands and my feet

Psalm 22:16

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

What a wondrous picture we have here of our precious Savior hanging on a cruel Roman cross, to atone for the sins of the world. David writes prophetically of the Messiah to come. Indeed, Psalm 22 is replete with prophecies and sayings concerning the Messiah. Some of the sayings were quoted by Christ Himself on the cross, and many of them speak of the events surrounding the crucifixion. It tells of Christ’s great call on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” It speaks of the derision and mockery He received by the by-standers, and speaks of the soldiers who casts lots on His pure and holy vesture. What a great treatise this is! A wonderful synopsis of the painful, ignoble, but glorious events of that day. Every one of the agonies that our Savior bore was for us, and was endured on our behalf. It was done with the end in mind—the glory of the Father’s right hand, and the saving of a sin cursed and eternally doomed world. What love was shown on that day! What tremendous show of sacrifice! What an incredible act of love! Let us never forget the unparalleled and matchless love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

David gives an explicitly clear prophecy of Christ’s death. His crucifixion is spelled out in great detail. He says, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” Is this not a perfect description of Christ’s sufferings? Did they not drive two nails into His hands, and one or two nails into His feet? Did they not thrust a spear into the Savior’s side, and forthwith came there out blood and water? Was not every ounce of His blood spilled out upon the ground for you and for me, so that water followed the blood? Was not the ground around Calvary saturated with the precious and sinless blood of our Lord? His hands, feet, and side were pierced by the sin of the world. And was not His heart broken for you? It was like wax, melted in the midst of His bowels. The greatest wound was the wound of the heart, for even His relationship with His Father was severed for a moment in the pinnacle of His suffering, when the Son became the sacrifice. When Jesus took our sin, and became sin. In that very instant, He was separated from His Father, and became the object of His Father’s wrath. Yes, this is an inscrutable fact, and we are unable to grasp the length, breadth, and height of it. But this was what our Savior endured for us. He was pierced on Calvary! Oh, may we never forget the sacrifice of Christ! May the piercings of His hands and feet imprint an eternal and indelible mark in our hearts from this day forward. May we bear the wounds of the Lord Jesus continuously in our hearts!

“Dear Savior, we thank Thee for Thy great love. It is by means of your piercings, and it is through your suffering that we have forgiveness, freedom, and new life. May we remember this each day, bearing in our hearts the constant reminder of your wounds that were born for us. For you were wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Our hearts forever praise Thee. In Jesus’ wonderful name we pray, Amen.”