Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Psalm 22:4-8 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!"
JESUS BECAME A WORM FOR US
What is the most powerful and respected animal in the jungle? The Lion perhaps? The Bear? Maybe the Elephant … or even the Gorilla? An argument could likely be made for any of these magnificent animals of God's creation. But let's flip the conversation and consider the least or lowest of creatures for a moment. Squirrels are pretty small and certainly not too impressive. A mouse even less so. But I would venture a guess that most of us, if we could do so without causing an accident, would apply the brakes and avoid hitting a squirrel or even a mouse with our car. But how about a worm? If you were to notice a worm on the road, would you swerve to miss it? Probably not.
In the prophetic words of the Psalmist we find our Savior willing to become that most despised and unheralded worm. Rather than demanding the respect that the King of kings and Lord of lords deserves, our Savior willingly submitted Himself to the disrespect and dishonor reserved for the worst of the worst as He died a criminal's death for sinners like us.
Jesus knew what was going to happen, yet not only did He go through with it, He also allowed it to happen. Jesus had all of the power in the world. He could have gotten down from that cross at any moment and crushed all of His arrogant oppressors for treating Him like a worm. And don't forget, they were jeering and taunting Him to do exactly that. But Jesus allowed these weaklings to taunt Him, crucify Him, to treat Him like less than a man, to treat Him like a worm.
Jesus became a lowly worm for us, so that we would be treated like royalty in Heaven with Him!
