We all remember the first words from Psalm 22:

My, God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Jesus cries out on the cross. But, what we don’t often realize is he is remembering a psalm he must have sung countless times, and the end is glorious.  Testifying to the greatness of God to countless generations, the last words speak of completion and triumph.

Psalm 22:31

They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Yes, he has…

This got me thinking about actual reenactments that have gone on over the centuries. I seemed to remember this is still a custom in some places, like parts of the Philippines, for instance? Sure enough, youTube to the rescue. This video shows actual nails being driven in, so please do not view if squeamish. Then again, if you saw The Passion of The Christ, this is “G.”

I understand the vicarious nature of the reenactments (passion plays are OK, but hold off on real nails, please) but what Jesus means when he says, “Follow me” is (from Dallas Willard), “Do the things Jesus would do if he were you in any given situation.”

“What would Jesus do if he were you at work today?”

“What would Jesus do if he were you and someone just cut you off on the freeway?” (obviously, you aren’t reading this as it happens)

“What would Jesus do if he were you and it is the end of the day and you are exhausted, a bit frustrated at how the day went, and you open the front door and your three year old comes running up and wants to play “Thomas the tank” that very second?

You get the picture…