If I began to sing "Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound..." you'd know how to continue and finish the phrase. Or if I began "For God so loved the..." you could finish the verse. Much in the same way, Israelites in the 1st century could do it, only WAY better. In cultures that don't have access to tons of books, and computers, cell phones, billboards and printed advertisements at every turn, the ability to retain information through oral tradition is astounding. Israelite children would all memorize the Torah..the brightest continued on to memorize scriptures all the way through to Malachi.
In Matthew's and Mark's account of Jesus, while Jesus is on the cross, He begins the first line of Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Those listening would have been able to finish out Jesus' thought without Him actually saying all the words out loud...it was a really common thing for Rabbis to do. Notice the second half of the psalm, after David talks about experiencing feelings of depression, let down, fear, and self doubt.
18They divided my garments among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.
19 But You, Lord, don’t be far away.
My strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my only life from the power of these dogs.
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me
from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
I will praise You in the congregation.
23 You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
All you descendants of Israel, revere Him!
24 For He has not despised or detested
the torment of the afflicted.
He did not hide His face from him
but listened when he cried to Him for help.
25 I will give praise in the great congregation
because of You;
I will fulfill my vows
before those who fear You.
26 The humble will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise Him.
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember
and turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations
will bow down before You,
28 for kingship belongs to the Lord;
He rules over the nations.
29 All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down;
all those who go down to the dust
will kneel before Him—
even the one who cannot preserve his life.
30 Their descendants will serve Him;
the next generation will be told about the Lord.
31 They will come and tell a people yet to be born
about His righteousness—
what He has done.
For me this shows the connection between Matthew and Mark hearing Jesus say "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" and John remembering the last line of Psalm 22, Jesus saying "It is finished."
How do you think we can better understand Jesus' thoughts and feelings on the cross in light of this?
