Psalm 22 Continued…
Psalms 22:7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
The Jews used the gesture of shaking (or “wagging”) their heads as they poked fun at Jesus on the cross— “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads” (Matthew 27:39). Instead of pitying and helping him, they insulted and laughed at Him.
Psalms 22:8 “He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
Some criminals have been so detested that they have been taken from jail and lynched by a mob. But while the criminal was being executed, the mob would disperse. Tempers were cooled, and emotions were eased. But not this crowd! I think the lowest thing that has ever been said about religion was said by these Pharisees when the Lord Jesus Christ was dying: “And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.” (Matthew 27:36).
You have to be low to do that. In fact, you cannot get lower than that! The venom and vileness of the human heart were being poured out like an open sewer as they remained there and ridiculed Him as he died. After a snake has put its deadly venom in its victim and emitted its poison, it will slither away in the grass. But not this crowd—not the human heart in rebellion against God.
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”” (Luke 23:34). If He had not said that, this crowd would have committed the unpardonable sin. But they did not—He asked forgiveness for their sin. We know that the centurion in charge of the execution was saved; and a whole company of Pharisees, including Saul of Tarsus, who probably were in this crowd, were saved.
“DEAR WOMAN HERE IS YOUR SON”
Now as he looks over the crowd He sees not only eyes of hate and antagonism, but He sees eyes of love. He sees his mother with John down there at the foot of the cross.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25). As Jesus looks at His mother, do you want to know what went on in His heart? He went back to Bethlehem at the time He was born, and He says to the Father:
Psalms 22:9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast.
The thought of dependence upon One who delighted in him reminds David of the time when, as a baby, he was dependent upon his mother. But the very fact of his birth is evidence of divine intervention in human life, and a habit of reliance upon God was implanted within him with his own life and his mother’s milk. David had learned to trust in the Lord from infancy, and he was not going to relent now.
Psalms 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
“. . . “Dear woman, here is your son,”” (John 19:26). There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, she had asked Him to do something to show that He was the Messiah, that she was right when she said He was virgin born. She wanted Him to reveal Himself at this wedding. His answer to her at that time was, “. . . Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” (John 2:4). But there hanging on the cross: “. . .Dear woman here is your Son” His hour has come! The reason for His coming into the world is now being accomplished. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!
PRAY
Father, thank you that through Jesus’ death on the cross, our debt was paid. Thank you for giving us His righteousness. Thank you for removing the weight of my own sin!