Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? / Why are you so far from helping me, / And from the words of my groaning?”

January 28th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This is a familiar passage to believers. It is 1 of 7 statements Jesus made from the cross on Golgotha. This psalm was a prophetic snapshot of the crucifixion of the Messiah, penned almost 1000 years before the event actually took place. It is a cry of abandonment as the sufferer becomes aware that he is, at that moment in time, forsaken. It is a recording of the great exchange of Jesus’ life for ours, as He took on Himself the punishment we deserved for our sins.

There is a story from American history that attempts to capture a little of this great truth. After the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, his body was brought from Washington to Illinois. When it passed through Albany, it was carried through the streets as crowds lined the entire route. It was reported that a young black woman stood upon the curb and lifted her small son as far as she could above the heads of the crowd. She was then heard to say to her son, “Take a long look, honey. He died for you.” These are words of truth we all need to heed. We too should often take a deliberate look at Calvary and remind ourselves: “He died for you.”

“LORD, we confess we can only look quickly at Your cross because our eyes are soon diverted downward in guilty shame. We ask again for Your mind and heart this day, in Jesus’ name.”