Category: Newsletter

Introduction

The suffering of Christ is known by everyone who understands and believes in His salvific work. Suffering could not be divorced from His mission in the world. The prophecy of the Psalmist about the suffering of Christ and Christ´s perceived rejection by God is discussed.

The pleading cry of the Messiah

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Psa 22:1-2).

Jesus, in His human nature, felt the pain of suffering and humiliation in His soul and felt that He had been rejected by the very God who sent Him into the world. Jesus´ cry of loneliness and abandonment, though not recorded in all the Gospels, it is recorded in Matthew. This was done so that everything that was written about the Messiah in the Holy Scriptures would be fulfilled.

The above scripture in Psalms was fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ. Matthew records that:

“Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mat 27:45-46).

The cry of the Messiah tells of His humanness as the Son of Man. Jesus could have easily fainted in His mind and abandoned his mission, or He could have yielded to the dictates and pleasures of this World, but He remained focused on the reason for His existence. He pleaded with God, His father, to strengthen Him as He prayed: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou” (Mat 26:29, 42, Mar 14:36, Luk 22:40, 42).

Jesus did not succeed because He was God while on earth. Paul writes that Jesus endured the cross and the contradictions against Him by despising the shame (Heb 12:2-3). It was His endurance and obedience to the one who called Him that made Him successful in His divine mandate.

Identifying with his suffering

As Christians, the only way to be like Christ is to identify with Him. We should not be scared of dying as we follow Christ and His steps. We must be willing and ready to die with Him for us to be raised and lived with Him (2Ti 2:11-12). It must be understood that our Savior also suffered even more than we do suffer today, so do not give up. He feels for us as we go through suffering. Paul wants believers to understand that we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities since Christ Himself was in all points tempted like us, yet He did not sin (Heb 4:15).

Conclusion

The Psalms, like the Prophets and the books of Moses, testifies about Jesus Christ. It was prophesied in Psalms many years before the incarnation of Christ, that Christ would feel lonely and forsaken, and that was fulfilled in the fullness of time.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to understand Scriptures black and white as they are written for our comprehension. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen!

Introduction

This piece of writing discusses the Psalmist´s conception of man´s relationship with God and the creation as pertains to his position and authority. The Psalmist´s question of “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” is discussed with reference to scriptures.

What is Man?

Man (i.e. both male and female) was created by God to take care of their ambiance or environment. This environment consists of all things- both living and non-living that exist. In the creation account, Moses writes that:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen 1:26).

It is true that David has the above scripture in mind when he wrote that:

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas” (Psa 8:4-8).

The authority and the power conferred on man is so great to the extent that the whole universe is under him. However, man, in his insignificance and smallness, a greater glory has been bestowed on him, and he is endowed with the highest dignity.

A Little Lower than Angels

Paul applies the scripture in Psalms chapter 8 to Christ Jesus. He writes that:

“Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:7-9).

It is here understood that the language Paul used finds its fulfillment only in the final exaltation of Christ’s human nature. Jesus was made a little lower than Angels because He was given a restricting tabernacle, that is His body that was given Him at His incarnation. This body is subject to pain, suffering, and death, but Angels are more glorious by virtue of their being immaterial and powerful. However, when Jesus resurrected, He was given back His glory (Joh 17:5) because He could no longer be restrained by His human body (Joh 20:19).

There is no limit to the “all things” mentioned, for God has put all things under Christ. Peter indicates that all things, including principalities and powers, have been put under the feet of Christ Jesus. They have been made subject to the Lord of Lords (1Pe 3:22).

In order of dignity and honor, man was placed next to the angels, and a little lower than them. This was accomplished in the life of Christ Jesus because He was made a little lower than the angels by the suffering he endured. Man, in the Garden of Eden, had the full command of all creatures (Psalms commentary: The treasury of David).

Jesus Christ, who, being in the form of God, and equal with God, in a moment, emptied Himself and made Himself of no reputation. It was by reason of this that He has been highly exalted, and given a name that is above all names (Php 2:6-9).

Conclusion

Jesus, having been born of a woman, was made a little lower than Angels in power and glory. But when He laid down His body down and took on a new and a glorifying body at His resurrection, He received back the glory that he had before His incarnation.

Prayer: May the Lord God enlighten us to comprehend our new position in Him so that we would be able to take authority over those things which entangle us. In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord. AMEN!