What hits me right between the eyes as I read this psalm is that in this we have been given the chance to "get into Jesus' head." We have the chance to feel what he felt, think what he thought as he was being rejected, tortured, killed by the very people that he loved so much! Sometimes I have wondered what it was like for Jesus through those terrible events. Did the fact that he was God-man make it so that he didn't actually suffer or feel the pain like you or I would? What exactly did Jesus go through to become our sacrifice for sins? What did it feel like as a human being to become the greatest GIFT the world will ever know? What is amazing is that the answers to these questions are found right here in this psalm.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (v. 1)
Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 contain these exact words as Jesus hung on the cross dying for the sins of the entire world! As I read verses 1-5 my eyes fill with tears. Jesus was "dying of loneliness." Sometimes we think we feel alone but we have never had anything like what Jesus went through in our lives! For the first time in all Eternity, Jesus felt that God the Father had left him alone! Right at the time when his soul and body were in torment, just when Jesus needed the Father the most -- that was the time he was left alone. The anguish of his soul was excruciating as he experienced the "aloneness"! Although Jesus being God surely "knew" the answer before the foundations of the world, during this horrible experience his soul shouted out the same question that we so often ask: "WHY?" That gives me great comfort because now I realize that he really does know what we feel when we are asking the same hopeless question: "Why?"
"But I am . . .scorned by men and despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads;
'He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.' (vv. 6-8)
Talk about betrayal and heart pain at rejection -- Jesus experienced it to the fullest degree! Have you ever felt betrayed by someone you trusted, someone you have done a lot to help? Have you ever been "kicked in the teeth" by someone or a group of people who you counted as your friends? Jesus suffered it ALL. His face was wet with tears as he cried looking out over the city of Jerusalem who refused to listen to him and come to him as his own nationa and people. Sometimes my heart is broken and I cry too when someone I love dearly refuses advice and goes in a destructive path of life. Jesus understands, he knows how it feels when they turn and "slap you in the face" after all you have done to try and help them. The thing is that Jesus had it a LOT worse than you or I will ever have it! His pain at the rejection is very real. He suffered.
In the following verses the physical anguish of Jesus is described in detail. As his life ebbed away and his body was closing down, Jesus felt it all. He says that his strength "dried up" and his tongue "sticks to the roof of my mouth" (v. 15). Yes, Jesus felt the pains of dying just like any other human being dying. Death is not a pretty sight ever! The death Jesus suffered was among the worst possible, and our Lord felt it all as a human being, and without his Father beside him. Jesus died ALONE. That was the worst part of it all!
Another well-known prophecy is found in verse 18, "They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." These events took place hundreds of years later and are described in detail in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John This truly was historical event.
"You who fear the Lord, praise him! . . .For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one, he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." (v.24)
What? After all that has happened to him, Jesus still praises His Father! It is also very interesting to me to notice that the answers Jesus asked for came after he died! First he had to go through the fire, the pain, the rejection, the torture, the hateful words and actions of those around him, the physical pain, the horror of death closing in around him -- and THEN the blessings came! Jesus was raised from the dead and glorified beyond the heavens! He sits at the right hand of God and rules the nations!
Jesus bought us with his precious blood and suffering and now WE ARE HIS! We are washed in his blood when we are baptized and our spirit wears bright, white clothes! Now we can overcome and be with him after this life is over. He blesses us in this life with his Holy Spirit to comfort us so we are never ALONE as he was as he went through the crucifixion. We always have the Spirit to strengthen and carry us when we are too weak to go it alone. Praise the Lord, oh my soul!!! I have Jesus, the Light of the world beside me in the darkness!
K.B.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this amazing prophetic psalm! Jesus did go through so much suffering, and he did it voluntarily! He did it out of love for each of us! That is something that can come out of our own suffering--it can help us to identify more with him in his. We can feel a oneness with the one who suffered for us.
ReplyDeleteWe feel alone when we suffer. David, who first voiced these words of anguish about himself, felt alone. Jesus, who ultimately fulfilled this prophecy, felt alone. The reality, however, is that we're never truly alone or abandoned. The bond between the Father and Jesus was never broken. The Father's love for his Son could never be cut off. David wasn't truly alone either, and he came to realize that (v. 24). I need to remind myself of that--no matter how alone or abandoned I may feel when life (and seemingly God) has turned against me, the voice of truth says, "No, he loves you still. And he will never leave you alone."
Great job! That was just what I needed to hear.
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