Today's Passage - Psalm 22:11-21

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 22:11-21      Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.  I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.    Psalm 22 foretells the suffering of Messiah. Through David's suffering on earth, God foretold the sufferings that Jesus Christ will endure for us on the cross. Psalm 22:1 says "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This is one of the seven sayings on the cross by Lord Jesus Christ. When He was on the cross, He bore all the sins of the world, and suffered separation from Father God. Verse eight says, "let the LORD rescue him.  Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." That's exactly what people said when they ridiculed Jesus beneath the cross. Jesus suffered enormous humiliation on the cross. Verse 16 says "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet." When Lord Jesus was on the cross, the soldiers poked His body with spears; not only that, verse 18 says "they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment." Soldiers under the cross did exactly that and fulfilled what Psalm 22 says.   I've noticed that we have a mistaken perception of the cross. When we think of the cross, we'd think about three empty crosses on top of a faraway hill, with a pink cloud in the back drop, feeling rather beautiful. Or, we think of the hymn, "In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever," and it sounds beautiful. The fact is that the cross is a sign of extreme humiliation. When Jesus was nailed on the cross, not only did three nails hang His body on the cross, He also suffered much humiliation. Jesus gave His life when we were still sinners, so that we may receive resurrected life and glorious hope. As Jesus Christ turned humiliation into glory, let us also once again give thanks to Jesus Christ for our salvation!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, I thank you by the humiliation and pain you suffered on the cross for us, we may receive new life. May the Lord help us to live for you daily, so that your life may be manifested through us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!