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Text: Psalm 22
Reproach of Christ
- Abandoned by God (vs 1) – Matthew 27:45-46
- Despised by the people (vs 6)
- Not human and not worthy of humane treatment
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
- 1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
- Mock by the people (vss 7-8)
- Matthew 27:39, 43
- Mocked his trust in God
- Dehydration (vss 14-15)
- John 19:28
- I thirst is the cry of your lost soul in hell if you ignore and neglect the death of the Lord Jesus Christ in your place.
- Complaint of the rich man’s soul in hell in Luke 16 is thirst.
- Crucifixion (vs 16) – Matthew 27:35
- Starvation (vs 17)
- Made sport of his only belongings (vs 18) – John 19:23-24
Reproach is what comes with victory over the world
- John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
- The devil is the the god of this world (1 Corinthians 4:4) and the ruling regime (Revelation 13:4).
Reward of the reproach (vss 26-28, 30-31)
- Ruling is directly tied to the reproach of Christ. Ruling has to do with what trusting Jesus Christ cost you in this lifetime.
- He will be King of kings for accepting this reproach.
- Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
- Now John sees the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS and His new cabinet members running things. (Revelation 20:4). Who makes up this group?
- Matthew 19:28 – apostles
- Tribulation martyrs – Revelation 6:10-11, 12:11, 15:2
- Sacrificial church age saints – 2 Timothy 2:12, Romans 8:17
- Faithful – Luke 19:17, 19
- Hebrews 11:25-26 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
- Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
- The suffering of an American Christian sounds like an oxymoron because of our religious liberty in this country. But there is a problem trying to reconcile living in the blessings of God and being told to suffer, moreover, Paul even said in 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. The dilemma in American Christianity is where is there any comparison to a martyr who gave up his life in a hostile country and a Christian who seems to live in the blessings of God.
- Bible definition of suffer
- Suffer in the Bible means to put up with something without changing course. Job 21:3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
- A long distance runner will suffer until they finish the race.
- Suffering defined in Moses life as ignoring the pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
- Bible definition of persecution
- We know persecution has to do with physical assault. But what is the spectrum of persecution defined by the Lord? The range of persecution is defined as anything from mocking to prison and death.
- Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Paul says what Ishmael did to Isaac was persecution. So what did Ishmael do to Isaac? Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
- Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
- Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
