We might think of the children of a family with their noses at table height, watching their mother slice up the portions of a freshly baked cake. One could imagine the wide eyes of each child looking intently as each wedge of the cake was lowered onto their plates and then eaten with utter pleasure. But once finished, they still yearned for their siblings’ half-finished portions or the uneaten remaining cake in the fridge. Our flesh is similarly driven by cravings, unsatisfied by what it is given, and searching for sight of something better.
It is breathtaking to hear Jesus praying to God in Psalm 119:57-61 and His passionate satisfaction and devotion to the portion He was given, His Lord and Father God.
“The Lord is my portion;” (Psalm 119:57)
As Jesus hung on the cross, in laying down his life for the sheep, He held our sin and guilt twisted in skin wounds from time spent at the Roman whipping pole, in the thorns of His crown, and through the nailing of His hands and feet (John 10:15). Through swollen lips, He cried out to His God: “I promise to keep your words.” (Psalm 119:57), “I entreat your favor with all of my heart;” (Psalm 119:58). He humbly asked for grace according to what God had promised Him in the Trinity in eons past.
Oh, how Jesus hastened to honor His Father, considering Him greater than Himself (John 14:28; Psalm 119:60). Jesus did precisely as He had been commanded to do so the world would know that He loved His Father as He completed the selfless rescue of His people from sin, death, and Satan (John 14:31; Hebrews 2:14).
Though the cords of the wicked ensnared Him (Psalm 119:61), He turned His feet in loving obedience (Psalm 119:59) to His God‘s commandments. Jesus held Himself on the cross clothed only in the people’s hatred and His Father’s rejection. He was the perfect sinless sacrifice torched to death in the furnace of God’s wrath for our sin.
What security and comfort it pours into believer’s hearts knowing that Jesus’ humble obedience is now ours. Our righteousness with God was fully met in Jesus because of His achievements at Calvary on our behalf. He “is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26), forever refusing to forsake those who are eternally His own.