10 The Neglected I AM
10
The Neglected I AM
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
Psalm 22:6
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Isaiah 53:2–3
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.
Isaiah 52:14
How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot—a human being, who is only a worm!
Job 25:4–6
He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:7–11
Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm that describes Jesus in His suffering (vv. 1–21) and His resurrection glory (vv. 22–31). It’s significant that this vivid description of crucifixion should be found in a Jewish psalm, because the Jews did not use this form of capital punishment, and it is unlikely David ever saw a crucifixion. Jesus quoted verse 1 (Matt. 27:46), and the light and darkness described in verse 2 connect with Luke 23:44–45. The soldiers who gambled at the foot of the cross (v. 18) are mentioned in Matthew 27:35.
Some scholars believe that after Jesus shouted the words in Psalm 22:1, He quoted the entire psalm during His last three hours on the cross, even though His voice was unheard by the spectators. If so, then it means He quoted verse 6! If you and I had been there and heard Him, what would be our responses to what He said?
Let me share my responses to this neglected I AM as I have meditated on it over the years.