Jesus and Psalms
I have interpreted the Psalms through a ‘Jesus lens’, assuming: a) that Psalms include prophecy about Christ, b) that Jesus re-interpreted Psalms and challenged earlier understandings about God, and c) that through his Spirit all of scripture breathes the living Word of Christ. |
Note on reading Psalms with Jesus in mind
I sigh when people say they believe the Bible, as though it was a train timetable. If it is a train timetable it’s like the London Underground: multi-layered, complex and interconnecting. The Psalms are literally in the middle of it, and they connect in gazillion ways with the rest of the Bible. The Psalms don’t fully make sense without Jesus. After he rose from death his followers experienced the Holy Spirit and this opened up everything to them in a whole new way. They discovered in the Psalms a wealth of insight about Jesus, especially on the critical question of why he had to die. So in my work on Psalms I have looked for the points of connection between the Psalm and Jesus, both in what he said and did and also in making sense of Easter. I believe that Psalms are a key to God’s map for the universe, which links up everything in our own lives with everything in the Bible. Jesus is the heart of this. |
The Road to Emmaus is vital to our understanding of the Bible in general, and Psalms in particular. As they walked, Jesus talked, and explained the scriptures, and their hearts burned within them.
Psalm 116: Death could not hold me down
(Luke 24)
When Jesus walked the road to Emmaus
with Cleopas and his friend
on the day he rose from the dead
he opened the scriptures to them
and told them why he had to die.
Maybe he read from Psalm 116:
“Death wrapped itself around me
Terrible pain pulled me down.
I cried to the Father “SAVE ME!!”
and he did!
No way could death hold onto me!
I walk in the land of the living!”
And then Jesus broke bread with Cleopas and his friend
gave thanks to God
lifted up the cup of salvation
and they knew who he was.
Halleluia! He is risen!
Psalm 116: Death could not hold me down
(Luke 24)
When Jesus walked the road to Emmaus
with Cleopas and his friend
on the day he rose from the dead
he opened the scriptures to them
and told them why he had to die.
Maybe he read from Psalm 116:
“Death wrapped itself around me
Terrible pain pulled me down.
I cried to the Father “SAVE ME!!”
and he did!
No way could death hold onto me!
I walk in the land of the living!”
And then Jesus broke bread with Cleopas and his friend
gave thanks to God
lifted up the cup of salvation
and they knew who he was.
Halleluia! He is risen!