Thursday, February 25, 2010
Psalm 22:12-13 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.
JESUS WAS SURROUNDED FOR US
Most have never been surrounded by a pack or herd of angry and powerful animals ready to do us harm. I do remember an evening in my youth when our high school basketball team won a close game in overtime. The opposing team's students were rather angry. While the varsity players showered and changed, the JV players were told to go straight to the bus and wait. It didn't take long before the bus was surrounded by angry students taking great pleasure in hurling insults and threats in our direction. I got the feeling that those kids wouldn't have needed much of an excuse to pummel any one of us who took a step off that bus. It was a relief when the coach and other players finally made their way through the crowd to join us on the bus.
To be surrounded by those who wish to do you harm is not a pleasant experience and not one to which we would willingly submit. And yet, the blameless Son of God left His throne on high--where He was surrounded by adoring angels--to be surrounded by those who deserve only to be surrounded by the flames of hell. Rather than submit His enemies to the punishment deserved, He allowed Himself to be surrounded and taken prisoner.
It happened first at the Garden of Gethsemane as He was seemingly surrounded by His friends as He prayed. But even they weren't really there for Him as they slept. It was there in the Garden of Gethsemane that Judas came and betrayed Him, and soon our Savior was surrounded by the soldiers sent to take Him away. Can you image the situation? Guards and soldiers on every side, swords at the ready, scowls on their faces. Yet Jesus did not run and He did not fear. Having prayed that His Father's will be done, He submitted to the loving and merciful plan that was prophesied in Psalm 22--that would have Him surrounded by His enemies. Out of love for us He allowed Himself to be taken by those who would do Him harm.
Jesus was surrounded for us so that one day we will be surrounded by the angels with Him in Heaven!
