Here is love, vast as the ocean
Introduction
Please turn to Psalm 22
Functions on two levels:
A traumatic experience of David – A strategy that we can follow
It prophesies a more traumatic experience of Jesus at the cross
Many verses of Psalm 22 are fulfilled in Mark 15
Feeling forsaken by God (v1)
Mocked by the people around Him (v7)
Casting lots for the garments (v18)
Piercing the hands and feet (v16)
Jesus would have known Psalm 22 – it would have been a ministry to His soul
Four things we learn from the Lord Jesus Christ in this Psalm
The Scale of Christ’s Suffering
Example from The prophet Isaiah – Isaiah 53
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief / familiar with suffering
He suffered in His earthly ministry but most at Calvary
No one has suffered as Jesus did – Psalm 22
Three strands to His suffering:
Physically (v14,16)
Examples
Emotionally (v6-7)
Real human emotions
We feel the pain when people reject us and treat us shamefully
Jesus feels all alone (v11)
His friends forsook Him and His closest friend denied Him
Example in the Garden of Gethsemane
Are there times in your life when you have felt abandoned?
Spiritually
In His very soul
Christ feels forsaken (v1)
God turns His face a way – a mystery we will never understand
The Depth of Christ’s Love
The scale of Christ’s suffering is proof of the depth of Christ’s love
Why did Jesus put Himself through all the above?
For us
It was not forced on Him – He laid down His life
Jesus embraces His suffering at the cross
Jesus endured the cross
Why?
Love for you and me
We understand how deeply we are loved
God will never abandon us
Jesus gave His life for us
For love of sinners
The Breath of Christ’s Achievements (v22+)
A remarkable change in the Psalm after v22
The previous verses (1-21) are downbeat
Then a complete change – a note of joy and celebration
God has answered Christ’s cry
v1-21 are Jesus on the cross
v22+ – Jesus is in heaven
Jesus is praising God – v22, 25
Jesus is not alone – v22, 25
The brethren/great assembly – the people who have been saved through Jesus’ blood
Jesus has been triumphant
Not just numerous people
The poor (v26) and the prosperous (v29)
People of different nations (v23, 27)
Not just one generation, but even into the next (v30-31)
The Scope of Christ’s Sympathy
Christ suffered more than any man – physically, emotionally and spiritually
He can understand what we are going through
He can enter into our sufferings
He is filled with power and sympathy
Examples:
A body racked with pain
Lonely and isolated
Despised and ridiculed
Feeling that God has abandoned you
As High Priest – He sympathises with our weaknesses
Quote from Christmas Carol
He is not remote, unapproachable and unable to understand
He can minister to us in every situation
Come to Him
Let Him help you