So . . . I just started reading this book by my pastor in Ohio, Dennis McCallum. The title is Satan and His Kingdom. I don't want to give a summary, because I need to go to bed, but I just read a paragraph here in chapter five that totally cleared up a thought that always bothered me. (This book is SUPER good, by the way. If you can find it, read it! . . . And read the Bible references he points out. Super great.)
Anyways, I was always bothered by the fact that at the cross Jesus said, "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me!" I know that Jesus was quoting from Psalm 22 and that had always been explained to me, but . . . I couldn't for the life of me figure out why He would bother doing that. Everyone always said that Jesus said it to fulfill Scripture . . . Um . . . Is it just me, or does that seem like a weird thing to say after Jesus had just lived 30+ years spouting teachings about how great and loving God is? Just to fulfill Scripture He decides to tell God that He was unfaithful to Him? You know? I mean, Jesus did every single thing God every required of anybody . . . Thats a past-cruel way to repay His only begotten Son. Also, it seemed like Jesus was actually being the pansy victim of circumstance that the writers of Jesus Christ Superstar would have all of us believe. Anyways, the thought never sat well with me.
But Pastor McCallum explained...--Here. Lemme just retype the paragraph:
"Imagine Satan looking on when Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (NASB). Perhaps only at that moment did he realize that this psalm (which he would have known by heart) fully predicted the crucifixion. He may have suddenly realized, too late, that he had done exactly what Jesus wanted him to do. At the cross, Satan disproved his own accusations against God."
(That last italicized sentence has to do with a point Ps. Mc made earlier that Satan was always accusing God of being too holy for love. In other words, "Why would a loving God require imperfect people to be perfect, and then punish them for their disobedience?" But...there it was. The entire disproof of the lie in the Person hanging before him on the cross.)
I just love that! Jesus wasn't actually telling God that He'd forsaken Him at all! He was actually almost taunting Satan . . . in this moment of seeming to be at his complete wits end, and Satan thinks he has the upper hand, Jesus, as a picture of humility and suffering, beats Satan at his own game!
With that perspective, I reread Psalm 22 as though I were Satan bringing it to mind in that moment. It's like when you bet everything on three aces because you know your opponent has some low cards, but then they pull out a straight flush. You had part of the story, which made you arrogant, but the very part of the story you missed served as your own undoing. Imagine the sheer devastation to Satan as he watched Jesus, remembering this passage with phrases like, "the band of spoilers have hemmed Me in, piercers of My hands and My feet" and " They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing" as these very actions had just happened.
Then imagine finally realizing this last verse of Psalm 22 for what it REALLY means: "They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness to a people that shall yet be born, that He has done this."
In those few words, Christ wasn't claiming God's unfaithfulness, He was, in fact, proclaiming straight to Satan's innermost being what a true idiot he really is. Jesus was always one for efficiency, after all. I mean, remember when Jesus said it and the crowd all thought He was calling out for Elijah? I think He said those words purely for Satan's benefit, and in the old language that Satan, and a select few scholars, would have actually known!
Brilliant!
1Co 2:6 But, we speak wisdom among those who are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, that come to nothing.
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God has hidden, predetermining it before the world for our glory;
1Co 2:8 which none of the rulers of this world knew (for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory).
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