In Remembrance
Last night, our church had its annual sacrificial meal, commemorating the Last Supper. Communion is always special, but it seems even more so on this day. A little more special for us, as our church is unable to use its kitchen (structural damage has prevented us from having full access to our church since December 1999). We have our sacrificial meal in a meeting room of another organization down the street from us. Maybe the disciples' last supper with Jesus was also in a strange room.
Good Friday
A while back, and I cannot find his original post in the short time I have, Jeffrey Collins Joyful Christian said that he thought Psalm 22 was an expression of Christ's thoughts on the cross.
Psalm 22
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
They cried to You, and were delivered;
They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.But I am a worm, and no man;
A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
"He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him! "But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts.
I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother's womb
You have been My God.
Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.Many bulls have surrounded Me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
They gape at Me with their mouths,
Like a raging and roaring lion.I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within Me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;
I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
Save Me from the lion's mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
Psalm 22: 1-21 NKJV
The Psalm doesn't end there, however. There is a good ending, as we will soon see.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at April 18, 2003 10:32 AM