Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 37. 

TEXT: He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him
rescue him, for He delights in him! (Psalm 22:8).

We saw the childish mockery of the Jewish crowds
yesterday. But surely we can expect a more dignified
response from the Jewish leaders. As it turns out, their
mockery may be more sophisticated, but it is no less
childish. They urge Jesus to throw His concerns on His
Father, to plead with Him to deliver Him from His suffering,
"Let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him."

They laugh to each other, knowing God had said, "If a man
has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put
to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not
remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the
same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God" (see
Deuteronomy 21:22-23). To their minds God would never
permit an innocent man to be crucified, so Jesus could
hardly be God's Son. God could not possibly delight in a
man He has cursed and forsaken!

Now step back and compare their words with those written
by the prophet David: "He trusts in the Lord; let Him deliver
him; let Him rescue him, for He delights in him!"

"He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires
Him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God'" (Matthew 27:43).

It is striking that the very words they say match this
prophecy of the Messiah so closely. Their own thoughtless
mockery testifies that Jesus is indeed the Messiah they
have rejected-just as He was predicted through David. Yet
He has become a curse by being crucified to free them from
God's curse.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for becoming a curse for me
that I may live under Your eternal blessings. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)