Enriched by God’s Grace

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

The Holy Spirit inspired His servant David to pen the above words more than a thousand years before Jesus uttered them from the cross. Jesus, God’s Son, experienced separation, distance, from the Heavenly Father, not for sins He committed, but for ours.

“Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?” [1]

The Holy Spirit provides for us the inner witness of God with us. He speaks to us. While hanging on the cross, that inner witness was taken from Jesus. He knew God was far from Him.

“I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’ But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” [2]

A worm is unattractive and unadorned. It is low to the ground. To feel as a worm is to feel worthless. Yet, Jesus helped so many people! He opened blind eyes, made the lame to walk again, caused the mute to speak again, cleansed the lepers, rebuked evil spirits from harassing people, resurrected the dead and spoke the words of eternal life. Now, people are maliciously breaking His heart. Amidst this treatment. He reminds God that He is the One who brought Him forth from His mother’s womb. He moved His mother to hold and feed Him. He had served God. His felt the feelings that abused and abandoned people experience.

Jesus reminded the Father of His glory... His reputation as Deliverer of those who cry out to Him. The Deliverer of those who trust in Him!

“You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed.” [3]

He asks His Father to fulfill the promise of His presence. “Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help.” [4]

Jesus describes to His Father what He is going through, “Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [5]

Hateful people roar at Him like an angry lion. He feels the horns of many bulls ripping Him apart. Dogs want to lick up His blood. He is spent. Spikes make His hands and feet pulsate with pain. He is stripped of His clothes. His executioners are gambling over His clothing. Playing a game while He dies! Making a mockery of His love for unworthy sinners!

He asks God to be near Him. He wants a quick deliverance. He doesn’t want the bulls and lion to overcome Him. He wants to proclaim and praise God.

“O Lord do not be far from Me. O, My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your Name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly, I will praise You.” [6]

He urges His brothers to praise, glorify and revere God. By faith, He sees the people of the world remembering God, turning to God and worshiping God. He sees the kingdoms of the world becoming the kingdoms of the Lord. He sees Himself ruling over the nations.

“You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard. My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.” [7]

And this shall be as the Scripture says, “Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [8] Praise the Lord!

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” [9] Glory to God!

[1] Psalm 22:1
[2] Psalm 22:6-10
[3] Psalm 22:3-5
[4] Psalm 22:11
[5] Psalm 22:12-18
[6] Psalm 22:19-22
[7] Psalm 22:23-28
[8] Philippians 2:5-11
[9] 2 Corinthians 8:9