Tue.’s Devo - The Sufferings of Jesus

Read: Ps. 65-67, Ps. 69-70
Psalm 65-67 are songs of praise and prayers of blessings on God’s people. I want to concentrate on Psalm 69 because it is such a Messianic Psalm. We can feel what Jesus went through for us as he felt overwhelmed in pain and sorrow. I sometimes forget that Jesus felt the sting of rejection and felt overwhelmed. Verse four is quoted in John 15:25. Jesus knows that his time is running out on earth and he has one last meal with his disciples. He is giving the the plan for the next few days and trying to prepare them for the rest of their lives. Jesus explains to his disciples that he did wonderful signs and wonders and they still hated him. He tries to get them to see that they will be hated to because they are his disciples. Jesus did bear reproach and shame like verse seven says. He became a stranger to his brethren, the Jew and his own family. Mark 3:21 says that his family tried to take him from the crowd saying that Jesus was out of his mind. John 7:15 says that his family didn’t believe him. How painful!
It was the zeal of the house of God that consumed him (John 2:17). Jesus cried and fasted and chose to become poor. Everyone joked about him and judged him in their heart.
Jesus turned to God for comfort for he was the only one who truly knew who he was. Everyone else abandoned him. Mark 14:50 says that all his disciples abandoned him when he challenged the authorities.
When Jesus knew his mission was finished on the cross, they offered him gall and vinegar and he took it to fulfill this Psalm. As soon as he tasted it he cried, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
The eyes of his murderers were darkened as the sky and they could not see. The earth shook and they refused to understand. So their names were blotted out of the book of the living and were not written with the righteous. Those who humble themselves will be exalted. They will see Jesus again and say, Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matt. 23:39
Lord, we thank you for enduring the cross for us. We are so grateful. Help us to proclaim Your praises and Your name today.