Jesus in the Psalms: Powerful Prophecies About Christ Hidden in Plain Sight
Jesus in the Psalms: Powerful Prophecies About Christ Hidden in Plain Sight
Have you ever read the Psalms and suddenly realized that some of the words sound remarkably familiar?
A suffering servant.
A rejected stone.
A king who will reign forever.
A righteous one whose hands and feet are pierced.
A Son who is called God's Anointed.
The Psalms are filled with prayers, songs, worship, and declarations of faith—but they also point us toward Jesus Christ.
Long before Jesus walked the earth, the Psalms gave prophetic glimpses of His suffering, rejection, resurrection, kingship, and eternal reign.
Jesus Himself pointed His followers back to the Scriptures after His resurrection, showing that the things written about Him had to be fulfilled.
“These are the words which I spake unto you... that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
— Luke 24:44 (KJV)
So let's look at some of the powerful places where we can see Jesus in the Psalms.
1. Psalm 2 — The Anointed King
Psalm 2 begins with nations raging against God's purposes and ends with God's chosen King reigning over them.
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed...”
— Psalm 2:2
The Hebrew word translated as “anointed” is connected to the idea of the Messiah.
The Psalm goes on to speak of God's Son:
“Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
— Psalm 2:7
The New Testament repeatedly connects Psalm 2 with Jesus.
Jesus is not merely presented as a teacher or prophet. He is presented as God's chosen King and Son.
What does this mean for us?
Jesus is King even when the world feels chaotic.
When everything around you seems uncertain, your King has not lost His throne.
Jesus still reigns.
2. Psalm 16 — The Resurrection
Psalm 16 contains one of the most remarkable prophetic statements:
“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
— Psalm 16:10
The apostles understood this Psalm as pointing toward the resurrection of Jesus.
Peter quoted Psalm 16 in his message in Acts 2, explaining that David was ultimately pointing beyond himself toward Christ.
Jesus died.
Jesus was buried.
But death did not have the final word.
Jesus rose again.
Psalm 16 reminds us that God's Holy One would not remain in the grave.
And because Jesus lives, we have hope beyond death.
3. Psalm 22 — The Suffering of the Messiah
Psalm 22 is one of the most striking Psalms when we look at it through the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
It begins:
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
— Psalm 22:1
These are also among the words Jesus spoke from the cross.
The Psalm continues with descriptions of suffering, mockery, and enemies surrounding the righteous sufferer.
Psalm 22:16 says:
“They pierced my hands and my feet.”
The Psalm also describes people casting lots for the sufferer's clothing:
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
— Psalm 22:18
The Gospel accounts describe soldiers doing exactly this at the crucifixion of Jesus.
Psalm 22 gives us a powerful picture of the suffering Messiah—and it ultimately moves from suffering to victory and praise.
The cross was not the end.
Resurrection was coming.
4. Psalm 34 — Not One of His Bones Broken
Psalm 34 contains another remarkable statement:
“He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.”
— Psalm 34:20
John's Gospel connects this with Jesus' crucifixion.
The soldiers broke the legs of the other men being crucified, but when they came to Jesus, they found that He was already dead.
His bones were not broken.
John specifically connects this event with Scripture.
Even in the details surrounding Jesus' death, we see the Scriptures pointing toward Him.
5. Psalm 41 — Betrayed by a Close Friend
Psalm 41 speaks about betrayal:
“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted... hath lifted up his heel against me.”
— Psalm 41:9
Jesus later applied this passage to His own betrayal.
One of the most painful experiences Jesus faced wasn't simply physical suffering.
It was betrayal by someone who had walked closely with Him.
Judas shared meals with Jesus.
He traveled with Jesus.
He witnessed His miracles.
Yet Judas ultimately betrayed Him.
Psalm 41 reminds us that Scripture had already pointed toward this heartbreaking part of Christ's story.
6. Psalm 69 — Rejection and Suffering
Psalm 69 is another Psalm filled with imagery of suffering and rejection.
It speaks about being hated without cause:
“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head.”
— Psalm 69:4
The New Testament connects this passage with Jesus.
Psalm 69 also says:
“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
— Psalm 69:21
The Gospel accounts describe Jesus being offered vinegar during His crucifixion.
Again, we see the Psalms pointing toward the suffering of Christ.
7. Psalm 110 — Jesus, the Eternal King and Priest
Psalm 110 begins with one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament:
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
— Psalm 110:1
Jesus Himself used this Psalm to challenge the religious leaders' understanding of the Messiah.
The Psalm presents someone who is both King and Priest.
“Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
— Psalm 110:4
Jesus is not merely a temporary king.
His kingdom is eternal.
And His priesthood points toward His unique role as the One who brings us to God.
8. Psalm 118 — The Rejected Stone
Psalm 118 contains another powerful prophecy:
“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
— Psalm 118:22
Jesus applied this Scripture to Himself.
The very One rejected by people would become the cornerstone of God's redemptive work.
Jesus was rejected.
Mocked.
Crucified.
But God raised Him from the dead.
The rejected stone became the cornerstone.
What looked like defeat became victory.
Why Does This Matter to Us Today?
You might wonder:
Why should we care about these ancient prophecies?
Because they remind us that Jesus was not an accident in history.
His life, suffering, death, and resurrection were part of God's redemptive plan revealed throughout Scripture.
The Psalms were written centuries before Jesus' earthly ministry, yet again and again we see passages that the New Testament connects with Christ.
That should cause us to pause.
The Bible isn't simply a collection of disconnected stories.
It tells one great story of God's plan to redeem humanity through Jesus.
And the more we read Scripture, the more clearly we can see Him.
Look for Jesus When You Read the Psalms
The next time you open the book of Psalms, don't only look for encouragement.
Look for Jesus.
When you read about the suffering righteous one, remember Christ.
When you read about the coming King, remember Christ.
When you read about God's Anointed, remember Christ.
When you read about victory over death, remember Christ.
And when you read about God's faithfulness, remember that God's greatest demonstration of His love was sending His Son for us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...”
— John 3:16
The Psalms don't merely teach us how to pray.
They help us see the heart of God—and point us toward Jesus.
A Prayer
Jesus,
Open my eyes when I read Your Word.
Help me see You more clearly—not only in the Gospels, but throughout Scripture.
When I read about the suffering righteous one, remind me of the cross.
When I read about the victorious King, remind me that You reign.
When I read about hope beyond death, remind me that You are risen.
Give me a deeper hunger for Your Word and a deeper love for You.
Help me trust You, worship You, and follow You every day.
You are the rejected stone who became the cornerstone.
You are the suffering Savior.
You are the risen King.
You are the Messiah.
Amen.
Final Thought
The Psalms were written as songs and prayers—but many of them also point beyond their immediate circumstances toward something greater.
They point us to Jesus.
So the next time you read Psalm 2, Psalm 16, Psalm 22, Psalm 34, Psalm 41, Psalm 69, Psalm 110, or Psalm 118, slow down.
Ask yourself:
“What does this reveal about Jesus?”
You may discover that you've been reading about Him all along.
❤️ Keep reading. Keep seeking. Keep discovering Jesus in God's Word.
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