The Last Song Jesus Sang

Psalm 118 is one of the most quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament and one of the most sung songs in history. Matthew 26:30 says Jesus sang a hymn on His way to the Mount of Olives. We know it was one of His last songs because it’s the final song in a series called The Egyptian Hallel, traditionally sung at the end of Passover.

This psalm holds profound practical value. It’s quoted in Hebrews to encourage believers who truly understand its message: “Whom shall I fear?” We all face fear, anxiety, and worry, but Psalm 118 remedies our fears.

What is the Old Testament context? It begins with a call to praise God! Let the nation, all her people, and even the surrounding nations proclaim that His steadfast love endures forever. His love never fails. The word steadfast comes from the Hebrew word hesed—a covenant-keeping, loyal love that binds itself officially and remains faithful no matter what comes. In verses 5-7, we’re given the reasons to praise God.

When we cry out for help, God answers and sets us free. He is still on our side, so no matter what comes against us, we don’t have to be afraid. What can people really do to us? It’s better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. The psalmist faced opposition on every side, but in the name of the Lord, he cut them off. He was pushed hard, but the Lord helped him. God comes through because His love never fails.

But was this just a one-time event? The answer given in verse 14 is an exact quotation from the song of victory at the Red Sea in Exodus. When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea out of slavery in Egypt, they realized they couldn’t save themselves—God alone was their salvation. God is worthy of praise because He brings salvation. Though the Lord won the battle single-handedly, all share the victory.

In verse 18, now that the writer is past the pain, he gains perspective. God often allows us to remain in uncomfortable situations longer than we want, but it is discipline, not destruction. All of this leads to celebration. This psalm is a triumph song! In ancient times, a triumph was when a king entered through the city gates in a parade, with those he had rescued following behind. They would go straight to the temple, where it was recognized that God had given them salvation and victory.

The psalm then takes a turn when the writer says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” The cornerstone is the central stone on which everything else is built. He uses this image to describe himself: He was rejected, but God allowed it, and called it marvelous. What was once humiliating becomes honored. His steadfast love leads to salvation and celebration.

How does this relate to Jesus? John 12:12–15 tells us that people heard Jesus was coming to Jerusalem for Passover. They ran out to greet Him with palm branches, historically representing how God provided for them in the wilderness. It was a sign of national pride, and they expected Him to be the one to save them. Hosanna means “Save us, please,” and in the very next verse, they cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”—a direct quote from Psalm 118:26. It’s significant that they chant this as Jesus enters the city. In the New Testament, Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19:38, and John 12:14-15 all reference this moment. Jesus, who usually walked everywhere, rides in on a donkey to fulfill the prophecy from Zechariah.

Psalm 118 appears again when children sing it after Jesus heals many people in Matthew 21. The spiritual leaders didn’t like this or understand it. So Jesus told them the parable of the vineyard and the owner’s son, which condemned them. These were the very people who were supposed to lead the nation spiritually and recognize the true King. But just like in the parable, they would be the ones to kill the owner’s son. They rejected the cornerstone. Jesus is salvation and the cause for celebration, and He made it very clear.

During the Passover meal, Jesus redefined what was traditionally said over the bread and wine. He revealed that they pointed to His sacrifice—His body broken for us and His blood poured out for us. The Passover was a shadow; Jesus is the substance. Like the innocent lamb, his blood covered our sins and established a new covenant with God. One of the last things Jesus sang before being arrested and bound was: “Bind the sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar.” He was singing about Himself.

How does God’s love endure? When we needed Him most, He sacrificed Himself for us and set us free. In Acts 4, Peter preaches to the very people who killed Jesus and boldly declares that Jesus is the stone they rejected—the builders. And yet, there is salvation in no one else. Our lives are built on the salvation that the Lord has provided. Money, relationships, and everything else will fail us. But Jesus never will.