When I have been
asked the question, “What has Jesus ever done for me?” I have always been
reminded of Psalms 22 more than almost any other passage in the Bible. I have
stood in awe and wept over this passage as well as Isaiah 53 when I think about
what He has done for us. Let me share with you some of the things that still
stand out to me when I read this passage.
Psalms 22:1 ( ESV )
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from
saving me, from the words of my groaning?
· I think it was Luther who first said, “God
forsaken of God. What an incredible thought.” The most perfect of all
relationships for a set time was cut off. The agony that our Jesus must have
gone through as He had our sin placed upon Him. I look at these words and the
following verses and sense the utter loneliness that our Savior must have gone
through. It is especially telling when we read verse 4-5 and see how that
sinful man who trusted in God would be heard and rescued, and not put to shame.
Yet, our Savior now felt forsaken by the Father.
Psalms 22:6-8 ( ESV )
·
Not only did our Savior sense the loss of
fellowship with His Father. He now would sense the scorn of His creation as
they would treat Him like a common worm. He would be mocked by the guards, the religious
leaders of the day and even those who would mock Him as He writhed in agony
upon the cross.
·
As they mocked Him and scorned Him about being
delivered from the cross. Little did they know that He would be delivered in a
way that would change the world. The work would be finished and the Father
truly would delight in the completed work and He would rise again.
Psalms 22:12-13 ( ESV )
·
The imagery in these 2 verses is incredible as
our Lord’s enemies are compared to that of wild animals who are seeking to
devour Him. I am reminded of Peter’s warning when he tells us how that our
adversary the Devil seeks us like a roaring lion who wants to devour us. These
men wanted to devour him as well.
Psalms 22:14-15 ( ESV )
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my
heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to
my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
·
One of the cruelest things that can happen to a
man is to see them denied water. Our Lord was ripped wide open to such a point
that the Bible tells us you could not even tell that He was a man. The heat and
pain that must have poured through His body as nerves were exposed and laid
bare was more intense than we could ever imagine. He the Living water of the
world would cry out, “I thirst.”
·
He is exhausted as He has been up all night
through the trials and the beatings. His strength is gone dried up like a
potsherd.
Psalms 22:16-18 ( ESV )
16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they
have pierced my hands and feet£—
·
Once again His enemies are compared to wild
animals. Here in this verse they surround Him like a pack of wild dogs. They
have circled about Him. When I think of this passage I am reminded of C.S.
Lewis masterpiece, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” As Aslan is laid
upon the stone table and all of the White Witch’s evil followers dance about
Him, mocking the king who with just one breath could have destroyed them all.
Our savior could see the crowd stare and gloat over Him. He could have called
ten thousand angels but instead He bled and died for us.
·
To be stripped of our clothing before all men
and to have to stand in front of them all was truly a humbling thing. Then if
that insult was not enough, they would cast lots beneath his gaze over His very
garments that He had worn.
Psalms 22:27-28 ( ESV )
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the
nations shall worship before you.
·
As great as His suffering was I love how the
Psalmist ends this Psalm. If you get the chance please read verses 22-31 and
you will see the end of the story. Our Savior is ALIVE!!! We can tell of His
name to our brothers and praise Him for what He has done. (22) We can stand in
Awe of His wonderful salvation. (23) Because our Savior is alive He will not
hide His face from us when we are afflicted. (24)
· Two thousand years have come and gone and yet
the earth still remembers what He has done and one day soon He will be exalted
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Ruler of all nations.
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