Foretelling the Cross

March 10, 2024

Genesis 3
Psalm 22
Isaiah 53

Read Genesis 3
1. Talk about the way Adam and Eve act as a stand-in for all of humanity in this account.
2. “This passage introduces sin into a previously perfect creation, demonstrates the corrupting consequences of sin in all aspects of creation, and provides the first glimpse of the possibility of redemption.” Discuss together which verses/portions of the narrative accomplish each of these three things.
3. What part of this passage provides a prophetic understanding of what will be taking place when Jesus is on the cross?
4. Extra Credit: Read Romans 5 and then describe how Paul (who wrote Romans) understood what was taking place in Genesis 3.

Read Psalm 22
5. As a group, catalog as many specifics as possible in Psalm 22 that provide a prophetic picture of what Christ would experience in going to the cross.
6. Do you believe the writer of Psalm 22 knew they were writing prophetically about what the future Messiah would experience? Why? Why not?
7. Do you imagine the original readers/hearers of Psalm 22 understood this to be a Messianic prophecy? What does this suggest to you about the way prophecy in the Bible functions?

Read Isaiah 53
8. As with question 5 above, work together to catalog the specifics in this passage that provide a prophetic picture of Jesus.
9. What do you think of the idea that God accomplishes His redemptive work through suffering? And not the suffering of others, but the suffering of Himself in the person of Jesus?
10. Do you think it is possible that God can be doing redemptive things through your own suffering? How might that work? How might it take place?