WHY?
Suggested Reading: Psalms 21-22
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Church of Annunciation in Nazareth is spectacular, and when the light enters through the stained glass, the beauty of of man's expression through sculpturing can me seen. Moses had the sculpture of a serpent placed on a pole foreshadowing the fact that Jesus took our sins and sicknesses upon Himself on the Cross (Numbers 21:7-9, also John 3:14,15). Today's reading, which clearly details the crucifixion of Jesus, was written hundreds of years before the Romans had even devised this specific means of excruciating death.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 22:16b-17
They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me…
In today’s reading, Psalm 21 communicates the joy we experience in the knowledge of God’s strength. When the Apostle Paul was struggling, God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect (complete) in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a). In Psalm 22 we learn that the Saviour took our weaknesses on Himself so that He may make us strong.
Jesus quoted from Psalm 22 as He suffered on the Cross. He cried out the words given to David as a prophecy of the suffering Messiah, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46 “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”). Jesus, in His humanity, asked, “Why?” We are learning the answer to His question as we read God’s Word daily. There are many other references in Psalm 22 to death by crucifixion. Crucifixion was unknown for hundreds of years after David’s time, yet he wrote, “They pierced My hands and feet” (Psalm 22:16b). We read in that Psalm at least eight statements which refer to the words and events spoken and experienced by Jesus on the Cross. A number of New Testament readings illustrate the truth of David’s prophecy. Here’s just one reading for us (John 19:20-24). Compare that with Psalm 22:18, “They divide My garments among them and for My clothing they cast lots.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You revealed the sufferings of the Messiah King to the shepherd king in advance. I pray that You will reveal to me in a new way the historical fact of the crucifixion of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I humbly bow at the foot of Jesus’ Cross. Lord Jesus, You did this because of Your love for me and for all people throughout all time. I give my life to You as the best way I can express my love to You. As David sang, “A posterity shall serve Him” (22:30), and his last words in Psalm 22, “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” Lord Jesus, here I am. Please help me to declare this fact to everyone who will read and listen. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m overwhelmed just now as I think of the dozens of places in the Hebrew Scriptures where the sufferings of Jesus are foretold. No one else who ever lived could step into the fulfilment of these prophecies. The first one was written by Moses in Genesis 3:15, where the “Seed of the woman” would be bruised. Throughout all of Holy Scripture, the seed was, without exception, from a man. Isaiah, of the tribe of Judah, wrote hundreds of years before Jesus was born of the virgin, “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” On page 113 of my book, “This Far By Faith,” just published in June, I tell a story that illustrates the power of the prophetic Scriptures. If any blog readers don’t have this book yet, just call Crossroads and ask for it. A donation to cover costs would be appreciated. Here’s how to get a book.
Yours for declaring that “He has done this!”
David
P.S. I came across a beautiful rendition of the hymn that begins, “Alas, and did my Saviour bleed and did my Sovereign die…” by Isaac Watts. We don’t know David’s melody for “The Deer of the Dawn” to which Psalm 22 was originally sung. Click here for the Sharon Singers and this unique rendition of “At The Cross” with a different melody. Be blessed; meditate on Jesus’ sufferings on our behalf, and share the blessings.
Jesus suffered and died on the cross that we might have fullness of life here and now; this death and subsequent resurrection has also procured a place for us with Him in heaven forevermore. Praise God for His goodness and faithfulness, His Word is truth and His promises are everlasting. All we need to do is to trust in Him, believe, and rest on those promises of truth.
There is no way to put into words the greatness of this psalm but to describe it. He said what He felt as he was dying not just as a man but as the man who took our sins upon Him. Then, He described His kingdom to come in the great congregation and He did all this before He was born in flesh. The High Priest of God and annointed Lord by God. The Son of God with so much humbleness and humanity (humaness) and yet the chosen One of God.
It is amazing how so many precise prophesies point to the death and resurrection of Christ our saviour. The formula you point out for students from your story on page 113 can form only one conclusion. It is interesting reading in Psalm 22, how all the pain and anguish written in the first half is answered in praise to our Father for all the world, in the later half. It is as though Christ knew the answer, in reciprocal, by pleading the question, “why has thou forsaken me?” Thank you again for the time and effort you make sharing your knowledge and spiritual insight with us! Have a great day, to all!
Amen Scott
Lianne Hogg
Thank you for the link to the Sharon Singers, it just topped off today’s reading. Wonderful heartfelt Psalm that cuts deep to the soul and the foretelling of Our Saviour’s suffering on our behalf, that we have the assurance of our home He has gone to prepare for us.
Thank you once again Pastor David for your faithfulness in getting our blog out to us every morning and the pictures that Reynold takes…they are superb. Blessings fellow bloggers.
Thank you Lord Jesus for dying in such a terrible way on the cross but without your shed blood there would be no redemption of our sins so we thank you in Jesus name Amen
In the beginning of my faith walk many years ago, I had a hard time Jesus went through so much just for me. I could understand Him doing it, but I thought He was doing it for the Mother Theresa’s or the David Mainse’s of the world, not me, I just got lumped into the group because I became a believer.
When I shared this a Holy Spirit friend in Christ he said something, although not proven in Scripture made sense — he said he imagine in heaven, before descending to earth to become one of us, The Father listed everyone human being by name, revealed all they did or were going to do and asked the Son if he would be willing to die for this person- if this was the one and only person who could be save. And if the Son had said No to say even Adolf Hilter then the plan of salvation would be scrapped and everyone who would have been considered good by human standards would have perish along with everyone the world considered bad.
This made His death and suffering on the cross, personal to me, as He was doing it for me and not for all the good people out there.
There is no pride in it, because if He wasn’t willing to die for the sins of the people we consider evil, I would be rotting in Hell too. But because His willingness to die and suffer for us was never based in our goodness or worthiness, but His love for every person, whether they return His love or not, whether they would accept His Lordship or not, it was about Him.
That is now I weep at His suffering, not because of sorrow for what my sins had caused Him to bear, but the absolute beauty of such perfect Love giving Himself over for His beloved– His creation, all of us, even knowing many will not accept the Gift.
* first line should read I had a hard time believing Jesus…
Words cannot express the love that the Saviour has for us, I am overwhelmed.
Yes, thank you Lord for suffering and dying for me and how so many details of Your death had been prophesied hundreds of years before. That causes us to behold You in holy awe. Remember the song, “I Will Glory in the Cross.” It is a powerful song and if anyone can post it here for us to enjoy, I would appreciate it, and can you outline here how to post a song. Thanks. Blessings!
And Lord Jesus we are reminded that you suffered for our healing too, so Lord please touch our leader, David Mainse, fellow bloggers and readers who are suffering in any way. In Your Name Jesus. Amen!
Thank you Jesus You died for me !!! I’m so grateful ,Words can not explain my
Thankfulness .Amen ,Amen…R…
I am learning so much and wish to learn more…….Thank you David and the Lords blessings be opon always and forever!!!!!!
Thank you again David. Your efforts are not in vain. I think of you as a mentor, as Paul has been to so many. He said, “Follow me as I follow Christ…” And all of this from Jesus, who told us He would build His church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. All glory to God!
What a moving and beautiful hymn. Thank you for sharing it with us.
THANK YOU JESUS, YOU DID IT ALL BECAUSE OF LOVE!!!!!
I recently had a fall that has caused a severe concussion. Thankfully, I have a young friend who comes over daily to read me these devotions. I was especially thankful to hear this devotion today. Thank you for waiting on the Lord, trusting in Him and His voice and for this reminder today.
I feel week and faint when ever I think about the suffering Jesus enduerd or picture Jesus on the cross.
Then after word I turn my attention to the wonderful reserection and Joy of
life eternal in Heaven. It was difficult …..but it was worth it.
Staying true to our lord and saviour Jesus will soon become more and more difficult in these end days , BUT it will be worth it.
We must love and support one another and stay strong in our faith and endure
Until death or rapture. Amen!
Thank you Jesus!
Praise the Lord ….It will be so worth it. 🙂
M.
That’s weak 🙂
Sorry to hear that Frances. May Gods love and healing powers surround you,
and all of those who saddly are not well. In Jesus Name!
M.