Imagine young Jesus learning Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) and memorizing large portions of the Hebrew scriptures, including Psalm 22.1, 14, 16b-18: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Jesus must have known this entire psalm by heart and probably called upon it in His time of most dire need… while suffering on the cross. If it were not for the direct encounter with His Father maintained by Jesus through the repetition and meditation of God’s word, perhaps He could not have “endured the cross, disregarding its shame,” (Hebrews 12.2. )
The Hebrew Scriptures were indispensable in the success of Christ’s mission to save the world.
