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5-2-2021 Weekly Message

Meditation of the week: Psalm 91:1-16

Text: Psalm 22:1-31

Title: Jesus looking forward grace with joy in the midst of extreme suffering and shame forsaken by the Father

           God allowed extreme suffering for David so that he might speak according to the utterance given by the Holy Ghost of the grace and love for the Jews and the Gentiles through being forsaken himself for a while by the Father on the cross for the sin of the world. 

         Among David’s prayers shown in the text, David was praying for himself, but the Holy Ghost used David’s mouth so that his prayer may be of coming Jesus Christ crying out on the cross in the future.

          Jesus suffered severely on the cross alone for six hours, and he cried out as if he had been forsaken by the Father. Matthew and Mark, who saw this scene with their own eyes, testified:

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?‘” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).

           The Holy Ghost spoke through David’s mouth about what Jesus would say on the cross about himself as a worm because of his head-to-toe wounds so that he would be reproached  by the people:

“They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” (Psalm 22:5-8)

           Matthew testified of what  he heard ridicule words unto Jesus under the cross:

”  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.‘” (Matthew 27:42-43)

        Jesus spoke unto the Father that those who mocked and cried toward him as if roaring like bulls or lions:

“Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” (Psalm 22:12-13).

          Finally, after pouring out all the water and blood, Jesus told the Father how severe his suffering was:

” I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death..” (Psalm 22:14-15)

          On the cross, when he was exhausted because there was no more drop of water in his body, John, when he heard of Jesus crying, testified of what he had heard:

“  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” (John 19:28)

          In David’s prayer, proving words that he was not praying for himself but of Jesus:

“I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. ” (Psalm 22: 17-18)

        As the body of Jesus was hung up on the cross, he heard the sound of all his bones sitting down, and  the disciples testified of Jesus’  garments:

” And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. .” (Matthew 27:35)

          In the midst of such extreme pain and shame, Jesus spoke as he was looking forward the wonderful things that God would accomplish through his suffering and death. The writer of Hebrews testified that He endured his sufferings and despised the shame:

” Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: :2)

          Jesus did not care of himself amid so severe suffering and shame, and when he was seated on the right side of the throne of God the Father after his death and resurrection, he spoke of what kind of  joy he was looking forward:

” I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” (Psalm 22:22-23)

          When Jesus sent the Holy Ghost after his resurrection, Jesus overcame all suffering and shame when he saw that he would be so happy to see his brothers  in the Spirit without discrimination between Jews and Gentiles who believe in him  when he sends the Holy Ghost after  resurrection,. In his words, when he met Mary after resurrection, he said that his disciples, who believed in him as his brothers:

” Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.“( John 20:17)

         The writer of Hebrews testified of the fact that Jesus became the brother of Christians:

” For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.‘” (Hebrews 2:11-13)

        Also, Jesus proclaimed in his joy that he foresaw the glory he would receive when he established his kingdom in the earth:

” The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.

29All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.. “(Psalm 22:26-29)

         Finally, Jesus said that the people to be born as the children of God in the Age of Grace, who are the Christians to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit  to become the  rulers in his kingdom are called as “one seed“:

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.

29All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.” (Psalm 22:30-31).

          Apostle Paul testified of those as joint heirs with Christ:

” The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:16-18)   Amen! Hallelujah!