Authentic Christmas

Introduction

Good morning, please open in your Bibles to Psalm 22. That is Psalm 22 which is on page 457 if you are using one of the Bibles scattered throughout the chairs this morning. This is Psalm 22 on page 457, please join me there this morning. This is not a Christmas passage, and this may not be a typical Christmas sermon. But I believe it is a necessary topic to discuss this time of year. You see, this is a crucifixion passage of Scripture. Written about 1,000 years before the death of Christ it accounts in uncanny detail the events of the cross. You will hear the similarities as we read the passage. The piercing of hands and feet, the gambling over garments, the bones of the psalmists being pulled out of joint. Christians read this Psalm and see in vivid detail the death of their Saviour. So, why not wait to preach this on Good Friday? It’s Christmas and we all just want to be happy and here sermons about happy things. The birth of Jesus, not the death of Jesus.

Christmas, and the glory of the incarnation, is only truly experienced for those who remember that Jesus was born to die. When Christ was born war was declared on sin and death. The cries of a baby boy in Bethlehem were really cries of victory that marshalled in the angel armies that appeared to lowly shepherds and declared, Luke 2:14 ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”” The first breaths of Jesus were a precursor to his declaration the “It is Finished!” as he breathed his last. The miracle of life in the empty womb of a virgin foreshadowed the miracle of the resurrection in and the empty tomb. He came to die to save his people from their sins. He would not be thwarted and in his birth and death we find the Hope of Pardon. Guilty sinners who place their faith in Jesus find full and free forgiveness.

And yet, in this world marred by sin, we still feel its present effects, even during the “happy” times of year. The hanging of ornaments bring memories of lost loved ones, wrapping presents reminds you of days now gone when you’re house used to be a little louder, the holiday smells remind you of a difficult childhood when Christmas wasn’t what it was supposed to be, or perhaps your pains have nothing to do with Christmas at all, but this morning you need a reminder that God is near the brokenhearted.

As work our way through this passage I will divide the passage into four sections. The first three sections contain 2 sub sections in each. of those two subsections, One will give an account of the authentic suffering of the psalmists. These are prophetic passages that are relaying to us the sufferings of Christ on the cross. Jesus actually quotes the first verse of the psalm while hanging on the cross. However, directly after each section of authentic suffering we will read a declaration of authentic trust in the Lord. The three sections follow this pattern. A statement of authentic suffering followed by a statement of authentic trust. The final section then proclaims this simple truth: Christ will be glorified to all, as the result of his suffering.

As we look this Psalm I want us to consider what is declared to us and the world at each section. Lets read Psalm 22 together.

Declares that this World is Broken, But God is Still Working v. 1-5

The Psalm opens with words later quoted by Jesus while he hangs on the cross in Mark 15:34 “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” The common opinion of many commentators is that Jesus was quoting Psalm 22 as means of calling attention to the surrounding crowd the fulfillment of the Psalm. I believe there is certain considering just how many eery similarities there are between this Psalm and the crucification events. I will bring attention to those as we go. However, I also believe there is a dual purpose to Jesus’ cry. He is showing us how to suffer. He uses the Scriptures to articulate his feelings. He is authentic in his suffering. He cries out, , Psalm 22:1–2“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.” Perhaps you are wondering? Can I really be that honest with God? Can I really cry out that I feel abandoned? Can I ask how much longer Lord will I groan!? Why aren’t you saving me!? I am crying out constantly, but I don’t hear a response. Can we actually say something like this?

Matthew Henry, the Puritan pastor makes three notes regarding these 2 verses.

(1.) Spiritual desertions are the saints' sorest afflictions; when their evidences are clouded, divine consolations suspended, their communion with God interrupted, and the terrors of God set in array against them, how sad are their spirits, and how sapless all their comforts!(2.) Even their complaint of these burdens is a good sign of spiritual life and spiritual senses exercised. To cry out, "My God, why am I sick? Why am I poor?" would give cause to suspect discontent and worldliness. But, Why has though forsaken me? is the language of a heart binding up its happiness in God's favour.(3.) When we are lamenting God's withdrawings, yet still we must call him our God, and continue to call upon him as ours. When we want the faith of assurance we must live by a faith of adherence. "However it be, yet God is good, and he is mine; though he slay me, yet I trust in him; though he do not answer me immediately, I will continue praying and waiting; though he be silent, I will not be silent."

Yes, the psalmist, David, and Jesus are authentic in their suffering, but they are not faithless in their suffering. They feel the withdrawal of God’ presence and it is excruciating, but they endure the pain knowing what we read in verse 3-5. Psalm 22:3–5“Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.” When I was helping interview salesmen for my old company my boss told me, the best indicator of future success is the presence of past success. If someone had good numbers at their current position, hopefully the would continue the trend with us. This principle is lived out by the psalmists. He looks to the past faithfulness of God to the people of Israel and takes heart that God will continue his faithfulness.

We don’t exactly what he was recalling: perhaps it was the birth of Isaac, the child of promise, when Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children, The deliverance of Jacob from Esau, of the deliverance of Joesph though sold into slavery by jealous brothers, wrongfully imprisoned by Potifur, yet he rose to second in command in all of Egypt where he had the power to save his brothers from famine and declare what you meant for evil, God meant for good. We simply don’t know the specifics of his declaration, but we know he believed though he felt abandoned that God would not put him to shame.

And so to for us in when authentically suffering and cry out to God, “Why can’t I feel your presence!?, How long will this go on!?, Why don’t you answer me, My God!? We acknowledge that this is a world in which God’s presence is not always tangibly felt and experienced. This world is broken, and it groans and we groan with it! But, we also must declare that God is holy and still enthroned on our praises. He past faithfulness points to the truth that one day every tear will be wiped away and all sorrow will cease. He blessings will flow far as the curse is found. Nothing will be left out of order, and he will be our God and we will be his people. So, we also cry now, Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, come.

T/S- We cry out because we know that this true, but we also know that we are weak and cannot bring about this redemption ourselves. The dual commitment of authentic suffering and authentic trust declare that we are weak, but still secure.

Declares We are Weak, But Still Secure v. 6-10

Read v. 6-10. Jesus through the spirit by David’s pen tells us that he is a worm. What a strange thing to say, and perhaps we would think that this section isn’t speaking of Jesus. Maybe this part is just about David. But I believe again that the parallels are too striking. He scorned by mankind, mocked, and compare Psalm 22:7–8 “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”” ” to Mark 15:29–32“And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.” and Matthew 27:43 “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”” Jesus was utterly despised and rejected by men.

And we must also recognize that to go from almighty God to be a human baby… it worse than to go from man to worm. The worm that slithers through the dirt blind, slimy, and disgusting is still not a worthy comparison between God and man. Jesus in humbling himself to become a man and be born as a baby, is an incomprehensible act. No one would assume such weakness willingly if they had access to such power. Who would assume such vulnerability?

Once in an evangelistic conversation with some muslims in Carl Frye Park I was mocked because these men would not tolerate the idea that God would allow himself to be a human baby. Because that would be that God would have to poop and then would have to allow a human creature to wipe his rear. They could not fathom God being humiliated in such a way. He was, he humbled himself and became a baby.

Who would subject themselves to this humiliation and weakness? The one who knows that even while he passed through a birth canal and needed the milk of a human mother that he would still rule the universe. Even at the point of the conception, God knew there was no danger of his plans failing. Weak in the womb, weak at birth, and weak as he fed from Mary’s breast. He was totally secure in the care of the Father.

If you are in Christ, you share in this security. You can sing the original lyrics of Isaac Watts Song Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed: Alas, and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I? you can sing them and know they are true. And the the answer to the question is a resounding YES! Christ became a baby to die for worms, like you and me. Weak, vulnerable, sinful, helpless but totally secure in the hands of our Savior.

T/S- No matter how dire our situation we are able to know that we have hope. We can declare that we have hope even when surrounded by the enemy.

Declares There is Hope, Even When We Are Surrounded v. 11-21

Read v. 11-18. Here again, I amazed by the accuracy of David’s prophecy. He describes Jesus surrounded by his enemies and he poetically describes them as bulls, lions, a pack of dogs, and evildoers that pierce him. They are powerful and fearsome enemies, that deeply desire his demise like a ravening and roaring lion. Like the Pharisees that plotted his death and dragged him into trials and refused to take Pilot’s offer to release Jesus instead of the criminal Barrabas. The crowd and the religious leaders wanted Jesus dead. They cried out Crucify Him! Crucify Him! The Roman soldiers dressed him up, mocked him, beat him, whipped him. They were merciless. We read in John 19:23–24“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,” Jesus cried out in John 19:28 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”” Because he tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. His bones though not broken were pulled out of joint as he hung on a cross, he heart melted as he endured the wrath of God, his hands and feet were pierced as he was nailed to the cross. Psalm 22 is fulfilled in the crucifixion of Christ.

And in that crucifixion we know that when all hope seemed lost the best part was about to come. Read Psalm 22:19-21. The psalmist cries out to God and in reverse order asked for deliverance from the sword (the evildoer that pierces), the dogs, the lion, and the wild oxen/bulls. Each threat authentically acknowledged and each threat announced as the Psalmist prays for deliverance and rescue. He is not vague in his request. And we should not be vague in our prayers either. Jesus shows us how to suffer. He needed rescue from real threats so he cries out with Psalm 22 to His Father in heaven.

When all hope seems lost in your life, don’t stop praying! Pray directly and specifically to the Lord. Cry out for his help and rescue! Chose by faith to believe that God will deliver you! If your bones are out of joint, you heart is melting like wax, your tongue stuck to the roof of your move. If you are surrounded by bulls, lions, and wild dogs. If men threaten to pierce your hands and feet then cry out to Jesus! Because when all hope seems lost, the best part is yet to come.

When we are surrounded, we can know that we will be saved! Perhaps not in this life, but certainly in the next. God will not let you be put to shame.

T/S- He is the great rescuer that has come to save his people from their sin. And because of this he will receive all of the glory in the church and in the world!

Declares Christ Glory to All! v. 22-31

The three sections of authentic suffering and authentic trust crescendo into a final section of authentic praise and glory. The psalmist proclaims for us the results of the crucifixion. Read. 22-26. The suffering of Jesus leads to his glorification amoung the people of God: The universal church expressed through local congregations. The final verses make it clear that the death of Jesus will lead to the inclusion of the gentiles, but even here in these verses I believe that these declarations of praise should be mimicked by us in our local church. We are to tell of the name of God to our brothers and praise him in the midst of the congregation. This is why we sing. It is not a time to just watch the musicians on the stage. We all sing, together. We need to remember that according to Romans 9:6–8“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

So, when the Psalm says Psalm 22:23 “You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!” I believe it is referring to all who are children of God by faith. All of those who are in Christ, by faith, are those who he not despised even if they are suffering. They are in Christ. You who are in Christ can know that God hears you when you cry out to him as you are being afflicted. Just as he heard Christ cry out when he hung on the cross.

And the reality of God hearing our prayers in the midst of our affliction leads to the praise of God by the whole congregation. And we can know that God will satisfy the afflicted. That when we seek God in our suffering He will hear us and it will lead to our hearts living forever!

Perhaps who know someone that is afflicted this holiday season. You may want to give them a gift, praise God. You may want to send them a card. Great things. But would you be willing to share the Gospel with them? Would you bring Christ into the conversation, pray with them. Talk to them about the help that only Jesus can bring?

Because listen to the end of this Psalm 22:27-31. It is a guarantee that the rich and poor and all in between will bow the knee to the Lord Jesus Christ! It is a promise the people from every tribe and nation would come to know Jesus. People who have never been born. Why? Because he has done it! He has conquered sin and death! He had defeated our greatest enemy! In him all the afflicted are blessed and satisfied.

Conclusion

This Christmas season we must remember that we have the greatest news ever! Jesus Christ has come to save his people from their sins. How good of news do you really believe that is? It is good enough to share with afflicted in your life? Or do you think they need something else? That in some way the gospel news of Jesus just isn’t really enough? And if that is true, what does that say about your belief in the gospel? Do you believe that his life, death, and resurrection are enough? In your afflictions do you cry to Christ? Or do you go somewhere else? Only Jesus can satisfy the afflicted heart, only in Jesus can your heart live forever. This is the best news, and the best thing about Christmas. Let’s pray.