And at
the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi,
Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)
This phrase is among the seven last ‘words’ (exclamations) from the cross. They
reveal an amazing endurance of our Lord for physical pain in His human
manliness. The pain of the cross is so intense that it cannot be imagined –
only experienced. It is an unrelenting severe pain. In fact, it even increases
as it continues. It might be designated as an excruciating pain. Such
pain is beyond the common endurance of the human body, yet Jesus retained His
mental faculties throughout the process of crucifixion. It is interesting to
note that the word, excruciating, comes from the Latin (ex: from, and cruci:
cross) meaning pain as from the cross.
Partially blinded by the blood streaming down His face from the crown of
thorns, Jesus looked through the haze at the multitudes of jeering hecklers for
whom He was presently suffering. He could bear, somehow, the intense physical
pain of the cross, but what of that of His immeasurable and unrequited Love
with which He loved the very ones who had crucified Him mercilessly. It was a
sacrifice that HAD to be made. It was decided in the Counsel of Heaven in
Eternity Past, and our Lord entered into our scale of time to endure that
sacrifice of redemption for those whom He would receive.
Amazing how prophets of old often uttered prophecies of which they had no
understanding but, yet, were led by the Holy Ghost to record the words. One
such blazing example in given by King David in the 22nd Psalm
(known as one of many Messianic Psalms). This Psalm describes in great detail
the suffering of Christ on the cross – how his tongue clave to the roof of His
mouth for thirst, His blood coagulated in this thoracic cavity due to pooling,
and His arms being jolted out of socket due to the abrupt drop of the cross
into its appointed pit. He describes those who ridicule Him – His nakedness and
shame. He also uses a term that seems out of place to describe Himself there on
the cross: “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised
of the people. (Psalms 22:6)
This verse 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) describes 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 doorpost 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 expanse 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
that wonderful Personage (Jesus Christ) symbolized in the Crimson Worm?
May it be so in your faith and
living.
