1 April 2018, Anno Domini
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YGod, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? (Psalm 22:1) I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)
On Palm Sunday how our Lord came to Jerusalem by way of the Mount of Olives (His favored place of prayer) which borders the Kidron Valley on the east of the city. He was hailed by the multitudes of Jerusalem with loud Hosannas and much fanfare. It is worth noting that five days later, those same multitudes were calling for His crucifixion – a testimony to the fickle nature of men without Christ.
Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm which describes the suffering of Christ on the cross. As you can see, it even begins with the very words of Christ on the cross at His final hour given in Matthew 27:46, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.” But look at the change in tone of this great Psalm at verse 22! Now, He has finished His atoning sacrifice and will “declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” And He is in the midst of all today who are gathered together in His name.
Jesus did not take up the burden of His cross on the Via Dolorosa – He undertook that cross from the moment of His coming. It was a long walk He trod. He was rejected and ridiculed, scorned and persecuted; yet, His feet never turned from His advance to that dreadful hill outside the gates of the city called Calvary and Golgotha.
We, too, are commanded to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23)– not just at life’s end, but every step of the walk of the faithful. We die, as did Paul, daily to self. We follow in the tracks of our Lord not only along the blue shores of scenic Galilee, but also through the hateful corridors of Jewish rulers and religious bigots. And, yes, we must bear our cross to Golgotha as well.
Gloriously pointed out in the 22nd Psalm beginning at verse 22 is the fact our following will result in a glad morning of praise and joy after we have, like Christ, emerged from our borrowed tombs.
Our cross may not reward us with power, pelf, and prestige as the world values those attributes. We, too, will be rejected and persecuted, scorned and alienated, if we are true to our conviction in Christ. But joy shall come at the knell of victory from the heights of Mt. Moriah at the end of our pilgrimage.
As Children of the Most High King, we shall walk, talk, and live in the power and victory of our Lord.
Jerry L. Ogles
Presiding Bishop
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
