“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.” Key points Messianic prophecy, written and inspired roughly 1,000 years prior to the crucifixion. Jesus quoted Psalm 22 on the cross Movement from suffering → victory Specific language, not exaggeration English clarification for worm- Weak, small, insignificant, dirty, gross, slimy, used as bait, a creature not appealing to the eye, something we dont desire to touch or have as a pet Hebrew clarification Tola‘ath “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” — Isaiah 1:18 “Scripture does not need nature to prove Christ, but creation often echoes redemption.” Notice the pattern. The crimson worm gives its life to protect the next generation. Its children live because the mother’s work is complete. Christ did the same, but perfectly and fully. He poured out His blood to cover our sins, and because His sacrifice was finished, we live spiritually and eternally. By this image, I do not mean we find our identity in nature, but that we see, in a small and earthly way, a picture of the covering Christ has given His people. Scripture: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” — Matthew 26:28 Key Points: Law fulfilled: Christ perfectly obeyed God’s law on our behalf Sacrifice final: His blood secures forgiveness completely Sin washed away: Just as the crimson stain in nature eventually fades and becomes white as snow, our sins are removed and we are made pure before God (Isaiah 1:18)Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Wool here symbolizes purity, softness, and complete cleansing, showing that God not only removes our guilt but restores us to a clean and tender state.New life through the Spirit: Communion reminds us we are not dead in trespasses; we are alive, baptized with the Holy Spirit, and have eyes opened to see God’s work in us “We do not come as striving servants, we come as covered children.” Our past sins are gone, our present struggles are met with grace, and our future hope is secured. Communion reminds us that we are spiritually alive, covered, and walking in the new covenant. Tonight, we remember that we are not protected by our obedience, but by His sacrifice. We are not saved by our righteousness, but covered by His blood. We come as the children of the Crimson Worm, not because creation defines us, but because Christ has covered us completely. By this image, I do not mean that we find our identity in something from nature. We see, in a small and earthly way, a picture of the covering Christ has given His people. Reflect on this: Past sins → covered Sin no longer has dominion over our lives. We do not need to live in shame or guilt because Christ’s blood has fully covered us. As Isaiah 1:18 says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” God has made us pure. Present struggles → protected Though we still face trials and temptations, God’s Spirit guards our hearts and gives us strength to persevere. He reminds us that His grace sustains us in the moment, even when the weight of the world feels heavy. Future hope → secure We can have a sure hope, knowing that salvation comes through faith alone. Works cannot earn eternal life. In our depraved state, Christ was and is the only way to salvation. Because of Him, we know our future is secure. Alive in Christ → eyes opened through the Spirit Through the Holy Spirit, our eyes are opened. We now have conviction, the ability to repent, and the desire to live for God. When we were spiritually dead, we had no inclination to die to ourselves and live as a sacrifice. Now we are called to glorify God in all we do.
