Between Earth and Heaven

“I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.” Psalm 22:17

The once healthy JESUS now hangs limply on the cross.  His body fragilely hanging with His bones easily seen as He is stretched out before the world to see.  His bones seem to be coming out of His skin!

As JESUS looks at the crowd He sees those that are watching Him, some with tears but many more with a look of satisfaction.  How could it ever come to this?  Why did it have to be this way? 

This is why JESUS came!  It was of His choosing and nothing would get in the way or change His course!  How could He have loved the world so much? Even those that had such contempt for Him?  He is pure love hanging for us between earth and Heaven!

I see Him hanging between earth and Heaven.

Suffering so much, so that I might be forgiven.

I don’t understand His intense love for me.

Filthy and polluted, what good could He see?

I’m withered and broken as I see and stare.

Knowing it was my sin that put Him there!

But I thank you LORD for what you have done.

You did what I couldn’t, new life has begun!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

RABID DOGS

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” Psalm 22:16

There was no word more sufficient to use to describe the viciousness of the accusers and tormentors of CHRIST, “DOGS”!  Rabid dogs that foamed at the mouth!, ready to pounce at any moment on the LAMB of GOD!

There was the religious, “the assembly of the wicked” that were there in their furry and disdain for JESUS who declared He was GOD embodied in man!  These were those that CHRIST called, “fools and blind”, “whited sepulchers full of dead mens bones”!

These ‘rabid dogs’ and ‘the assembly of the wicked’ didn’t disappear after the resurrection but are as present today as they were then. They are still accusing CHRIST, denying His deity and false accusing those that are indwelled with the HOLY SPIRIT!  They despise the Word of GOD while they claim to be from His household.  

They came from everywhere,

To accuse the SON of GOD.

The phony and the religious

And the rabid dog.

Their mouths were foaming

With their wicked intent.

Throwing accusations

On the SAVIOR, GOD had sent!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

He Hath Done This!

“My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” Psalm 22:15

As I write my thoughts for each verse of the hundred and fifty Psalms I have found this twenty second Psalm the most difficult thus far.  It has helped me as never before to understand what JESUS went through for us, not only at the cross but during His thirty three years as man!

Each day I read of the horrific events He went through and I ask myself, will it ever end?  Of course I know it does, but this time I feel a little more of what JESUS must have felt.  Even tomorrow there will be more for me to encounter as the SAVIOR endures for all of us! 

I am amazed at the LORD’s timing!  I didn’t plan on this particular Psalm for this time of the year, but GOD arranged it during Easter!  Tomorrow I resume with thoughts of the rest of the Psalm but today I must jump to the last four words of it and be comforted with the resurrection and the destruction of death! “He hath done this!”

I feel you LORD while you’re on your way.

Toward a tortuous death, what can I say?

Description of what You have done for me.

Inexpressible thoughts from my heart for Thee!

O LORD You knew my sin and desperate state.

And yet my JESUS, You didn’t hesitate!

You continued on Your destructive, tortuous path

Not thinking of self but for my escape from wrath!

Thank You JESUS!!!

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” Acts 17:2-3

Totally Exhausted

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” Psalm 22:14

We must understand because of the humanity of CHRIST, He felt the same effects as any other man would from the cruelty He was given.  We make a mistake when we assume because He was both man and GOD that it was different for Him!  

JESUS willingly put on full humanity placing on Himself both the mental and physical characteristics we have.  This verse expresses the total exhaustion He took upon Himself for us!  

I don’t believe there has ever been a person born that has ever faced the same type of suffering JESUS did for us!  When you feel down because of your trials, look up and find your relief in JESUS who became totally exhausted for you!

I’m weak as water, My legs have no strength.

My pain just continues to such a great length!

This sorrow and heartache continues on and on.

With sweat drops of blood, My FATHER let it be gone!

Oh but I must to show My love for all souls

I must make Calvary, it’s the end of My goals!

”And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”  Luke 22:44

Times of Rejection

“They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” Psalm 22:13

The very people CHRIST came to heal could not accept the veracity of His words.  Their mouths were opened in dismay as He declared Himself Deity! They turned themselves on Him as if He was their prey, viciously coming with their attacks!

Do not expect the world to fall down in front of you when you declare the wonderful Gospel of the SAVIOR, but rather understand these times don’t come as often as we would like.  Times of rejection will come more often then the salvation of souls.  

Rejection should never deter the believer from presenting CHRIST as we are exhorted by Him to do.  You never fail when you witness!  On the other hand, you do fail when you aren’t a witness for Him!

O the rejection from the ones He loved!

How could this be given to the SAVIOR of love?

Hideous words that came from their lips 

Cursing His deity and striking with whips.

O but this didn’t stop the SAVIOR of grace.

He marched on to Calvary and took our place!

So now when you feel you aren’t doing so good

Tell the story of JESUS as you know you should!

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Raging Bulls

“Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.” Psalm 22:12

Out of Bashan, the land of the “Rephaim” where all things grew big came the raging bulls!   This a description of the enormous and hateful opposition JESUS faced when He became the GOD-Man for you and me!

These large bulls that foamed at the mouth, came as the high priest and the religious, condemning the very SON of GOD!  

As believers would be amiss to think these same types of opposition won't come our way!

They dig their feet into the ground

Their heads are lowered with snorts.

They foam at the mouth with anger sure.

Their words are full of distorts!

But through it all we will prevail,

As our SAVIOR did!

They don’t stand a chance against our GOD

Our destruction CHRIST will forbid!

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”  1 Peter 4:12-13

The One Called Along Side

“Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.” 

Psalm 22:11

JESUS was cast from the womb and thrown into a wicked world that the “prince of the power of the air”, Satan the devil had the influence over!  Yes He was GOD but also man and would have to face all that we do in our lives. He would have to have the victory over sin and in the end death!  

JESUS was aware of the enemy He was to face, He knew because of His manhood that He needed the presence of the FATHER.  “Be not far from me; for trouble is near.” CHRIST knew the need.  All would leave Him, some would deny him either in word or in action and Judas would betray Him.  Even at the end on the cross the FATHER would turn His back to Him!

When we have placed our trust in CHRIST and are “born-again” we too are thrust into a world full of wickedness.  We also must say, Be not far from me; for trouble is near”.  But never fear, you will never walk alone.  

Oh such weakness I have 

Without my GOD.

My enemies He will break 

With the power of His rod!

He watches over me

Like the hen to her chicks.

He’ll put me under His wing

I’ll feel none of their pricks!

When the trumpet sounds

We will meet in the sky.

We’ll glide up to Heaven

Where JESUS will reunify!

What a day that will be…

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” John 14:16

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b