The
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and
charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love
that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of
men, and despised of the people. (Psalms 22:6)
This
devotion addresses an obscure and little known Type of Christ given in the 22nd Psalm – a Messianic Psalm. A Messianic Psalm is one that relates to
Jesus Christ. And he said unto them, These
are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)
This Psalm is of particular note for it quotes the very words of Christ from
the Cross in its first verse: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Psalms
22:1) The first half of this Psalm 22:1-21 reveals the suffering of Christ on
the Cross. The second half (vv 22-31) describe His resurrection joy! The
specific reference of the Type to which I refer is that of the Crimson Worm. I
first wrote of this in a devotion in the late 90's. It is an amazing Type whose
image is near perfect with that of Christ on the Cross.
Before advancing further, let us examine the word used in Psalm 22:6 for
`worm.' In the Hebrew language, this word is `tola' ath' which means crimson,
or scarlet, worm. How could Jesus possibly be compared to a Scarlet, or
Crimson, Worm? Well, in many points as we shall see. While living in Iran (old
Persia), I happened to observe, often, large bloody spots on the white oak trees
lining the boulevards of Esfahan. On inquiry, I was told that these red blood
spots were caused by the crimson worm. This particular species, coccus ilicis,
has an interesting life cycle that commends itself to comparison to Christ on
the cross. The dye from these worms was used to color garments red in Jesus'
day. Of course, red was the color favored by the wealthy and was very expensive
to produce. The color of red, or scarlet, is used in the Bible to describe how
revealing are our sins: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
The
female of this species will seek out a certain kind of tree when she is ready
to produce young. She climbs the tree, just as Christ mounted the Cross, at her
own volition. If the Crimson Worm does not climb the tree, her young family
cannot be realized. If Christ had not, at His own volition, allowed Himself to
be crucified, His family – the Church – would not have been possible, nor would
the coming of the Holy Ghost: Nevertheless I
tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not
away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him
unto you. (John 16:7)
When
the Crimson Worm has reached a certain position on the tree (usually a point
beneath the first branches of the tree, she attaches her body to the tree in
such a manner that it cannot be removed without tearing it apart. How like the
nails in the hands and feet of our Lord! She then lays her eggs which are
deposited just beneath her stomach. When her young are hatched, they feed upon
her living body. Do we not, likewise, feed upon that Bread of Heaven
which Christ is to us? And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall
never thirst. …. I am the bread which
came down from heaven. (John 6:35, 41)
When
the young grubs can survive without the mother, she begins to die and, as she
dies, she exudes a crimson gel that covers her babies. From this point on, they
shall be like her – CRIMSON! The dye also covers an area about six inches in
diameter on the tree and is indelible in its nature. All who in future years
pass the tree will see the blood spot where this Crimson Worm died. All who
come to Christ for the saving of their souls must first see the blood of
Calvary.
Now
in death, the Crimson Worm curls into a small knot and, after three days, turns
snow white: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as
snow. Amazing that the life and work of Christ on earth was sealed on
the third day at His resurrection when He sealed that work with newness of
life. He rose that we might rise. The Crimson Worm, now white, dries to a
powder and falls to the ground.
WHY
did Christ suffer and die for you and me? Because without the shedding of blood
there is no remission of sin (Heb 9:22), and that sacrifice must be one without
blemish or guilt. Jesus Christ is the one and only substitute who could qualify
to be the atoning Lamb whose blood could redeem us. The ONLY one in all of time
and eternity. And He was willing to make the uttermost sacrifice for sinful man.
Remember that first Passover in Old Egypt when God gave a meaningful
foreshadowing of Christ to the people of Israel in bondage? Speak ye unto
all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they
shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a
lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and
his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls;
every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your
lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out
from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the
fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of
Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and
strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses,
wherein they shall eat it. (Ex 12:3-7) Is you soul sealed under that
blood of an innocent and unblemished lamb? For I will pass through the
land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of
Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute
judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon
the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and
the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of
Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a
feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an
ordinance for ever. (Ex 12:12-14)
When
the Angel of the Lord broods over the eternity of your years, shall He see the
Blood and Passover you, dear Reader?
Do
we not observe that same Passover in the Church today by means of the Lord's
Supper?
Friends, are you covered with that Blood shed on Calvary's Cross? Are you now
and forever like Him in your will to obey the Father? Do you feed on the
living Body of Christ daily by devouring His Word? Do you see the beauty of the
wonderful Personage of Jesus Christ symbolized in the Crimson Worm?
May it be so in your faith and living.
