In Psalm 22, it is Christ forsaken of God. Not that He is not despised of the people there: strong bulls of Bashan beset Him round, dogs compassed Him, the assembly of the wicked enclosed Him; but all this, felt as none but Christ could feel, what was it in the presence of the awful reality of Christ suffering from the hand of God—of Christ suffering for sin? Christ has brought out what God is, and this is love, even when it is a question of our sins. On the cross hung the one spotless, blessed Man, yet forsaken of God. What a fact before the world! No wonder the sun was darkened—the central and splendid witness to God’s glory in nature, when the Faithful and True Witness cried to His God and was not heard.

Forsaken of God! What does this mean? What has man to do with it? What part have I in the cross? One single part—my sins. Here then is One forsaken of God and saying it aloud before all men. There is none to see and sympathize. The women who followed from Galilee were there afar off, but they understood not. It baffles thought, that most solemn, lonely hour which stands aloof from all before or after. How does not the perfectness of Christ shine in it! In Christ nothing was brought out but what was perfect.

What do I bring to the cross? What have I in it? My sins. There is not a vanity we have not preferred to Him. What a humbling thought for us, for me! The Righteous One in suffering for sin, vindicates God, though to Himself the depth of agony. It was obedience—suffering to the uttermost; but forsaken. We know now why it was. It was for sin, for our sins, not for righteousness. Our sins were our only contribution. What a tale that tells on our part: on His, O what blessed love!