Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Jesus


Psalms is one of my favorite prophecy books. Jesus's whole beginning and crucifixion can be found in this book if you have the eyes and ears to envision what is really being depicted. Picture this as a scene; a life played out, unfolding before your eyes. I often have a hard time feeling God out as flesh and bone. He is so majestic and awesome I forget the human side of him. The side that came and lived in a body much like my own. The side that lived, felt, endured and yet conquered our sins in a human, frail, emotional state. As I read this passage of scripture I saw his life lived not in the majesty of God in flesh. But rather God as flesh and bone, with yes, weaknesses, (not sin) but fragile and a voice crying out for help. Read this and see Jesus, See these words as his lived out.


Psalm 22


1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? ( Jesus spoke these very words )
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.

3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

6 But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”

9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth. ( do you see the star, the shepherds, the magi, Simeon the priest and Anna praising God saying they have seen the Lord their savior. )
You have been my God from the moment I was born.

11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey. ( can you see the whips lashing )
14 My life is poured out like water, ( see his blood spilled for us )
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice[a] for my clothing.

19 O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword; ( he was pierced for our transgressions)
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.

(Hear the victory dance in these words of hope and fulfillment!)

22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.[b]
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.

29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.


Jesus thank you for living and dying. God thank you for enduring till the end and setting our sins ablaze, setting us free! God Thank you for my eyes that have seen you and your sacrifice more clearly today. Help me to remember how touchable, how real, how very much you do understand all l I am going through and do care for me and all those I know. Thank you God, My Lord, my Majesty, my Big Daddy J.C. but also my dear friend.


John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.