Loving as Jesus Loves

Psalm 22 – His sacrifice to remove our sins
Psalm 23 – His shepherding presence with us
Psalm 24 – His return in glory

Psalm 22 was likely written a thousand years before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. It contains words that Jesus spoke at the cross as well as descriptions of what happened that day.

Below are quotes from Psalm 22. I have placed New Testament cross references to these verses in the footnotes.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” [1]

“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!’” [2]

“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.” [3]

The description of soldiers piercing Jesus’ hands and feet during His crucifixion.

“They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [4]

In Psalm 22, the Lord prophesied that people from the families of nations will worship Him. This has come to pass. People from all over the world have heard the Gospel and worship Jesus Christ. His kingdom is present in us who believe in Him because His Spirit dwells within us.

“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.” [5]

Christians often request Psalm 23 to be read at the memorial service of a departed loved one. Psalm 23 is the story of someone who enjoyed the presence of Jesus with them during their life, in the hour of their death, and then, forevermore in God’s house. Everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior enjoys these blessings.

“As many as received Him [Jesus Christ], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” [6]

Psalm 24 speaks to us of the world belonging to the Lord, of His ascension to the holy hill, and of lifting up your heads to receive the coming King of Glory.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” [The answer is Christ and His redeemed ones.] “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” [7]

Jesus Christ receives the title deed to the earth in Revelation 5. He is envisioned there as the King of glory in heaven. He is worshipped by angels and every creature.

God’s Word and His Spirit urge us to believe in Christ alone for salvation. We are not to believe in another message or listen to another spirit.

“Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” [8]

Saving faith professes that Jesus Christ alone came to earth to redeem us unto God. He was God embodied in human flesh. Jesus revealed God’s love for us.

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [9]

The greatest miracle Jesus did was to become a sacrifice for our sins. When we ask God to apply the blood of His Son to our sins, to blot them out, He does, and He gives us His Holy Spirit of love for God and people. We fulfill God’s commandments as we love Him and people.

“This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” [10]

Thus, the Good Shepherd, the One who died on the cross for our sin, the One who gives us His Holy Spirit loves us and calls us to take up our crosses. To love others as He loves us! To focus more on spiritual blessings than earthly ones.

“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” [11]

A person does not need a university diploma or a religious title to love people. Only Jesus Christ purges the human heart of selfish desires for earthly riches and crowns (popularity and power). He replaces selfish desires with selfless desires. As we love Him, Jesus Christ fills us with His Spirit to love those around us.

[1] Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
[2] Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39, 43; Mark 15:29
[3] Psalm 22:16-17; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:23-24
[4] Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24
[5] Psalm 22:27-28
[6] John 1:12
[7] Psalm 24:1, 3, 7-8
[8] 1 John 4:1-3
[9] 1 John 4:9-10
[10] 1 John 4:21
[11] Proverbs 27:24