Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
When the female scarlet worm species is ready to give birth, she attaches herself to a tree trunk, securing herself so permanently that she will not leave. The eggs laid beneath her are protected until the larvae hatch and begin their life cycle. As the mother dies, her body and the surrounding wood are stained with a crimson fluid. This fluid, extracted from the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, was used to make the commercial scarlet dyes of the past. This imagery parallels Christ's death on the cross, shedding His blood to "bring many sons to glory" (Heb 2:10). He sacrificed Himself so that we might have life through Him. Psalm 22:6, which describes such a worm, is seen as a representation of Christ.
Psalm 22 is a prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ's, sufferings at human hands. Jesus Christ Himself is considered the true author of the Psalm. In verse 6, He states, "I am a worm," a declaration that invites contemplation on its meaning.
Psalm 22:6 reads, "But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people."
The Hebrew word for worm, 'tolaw,' refers to a crimson grub. Often translated as 'scarlet' in the Old Testament, this term is linked to the red dye derived from the worm, used for the tabernacle's curtains.
Exodus 26:1 instructs, "You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet [tolaw] thread; artistic designs of cherubim shall be woven into them."
The Crimson Worm, scientifically known as Coccus ilicis, resembles a grub more than a worm. Its life cycle is symbolic, pointing to the sacrifice of Jesus. The female worm, when ready to lay eggs—which occurs only once in her lifetime—ascends a tree or fence, favoring a particular oak species. Upon attaching to the wood, her body forms a hard crimson shell that is so firmly bonded it can only be removed by destroying the worm's body. Beneath this shell, she lays her eggs, and her larvae feed on her living body for three days, protected and nourished by her. After the mother worm's death, her body releases a crimson dye, marking the wood and her offspring, who retain this color for life. On the fourth day, the mother's body turns into a white wax, dropping to the ground like snow.
Isa 1:18
“Come now, and 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 be as wool.
With this understanding of the life cycle of the tolaw, the crimson worm, we can see several ways in which Jesus was a “Crimson Worm”.
Just as the mother worm attaches herself to the tree or fence, Jesus willingly allowed himself to be hung on a tree or cross.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Just as the mother worm, when crushed, excretes a scarlet dye that covers the baby worms and stains them, Jesus was bruised for our iniquities.
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
His scourging and death brought forth His scarlet blood that both washes away our sins and marks us as His own.
Just as a baby worm relies on the mother for the crimson dye to mark it, a Christian relies on the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, to receive new life, and to be marked as His own. Understanding atonement is vital, acknowledging that Jesus took on sin demonstrates that love was the motivating force from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without compromising the Trinity. The Father's love for His Son remained steadfast. Beyond His crucifixion, Jesus accomplished many tasks, including absolute obedience to the point of death. His resurrection, as well as His crucifixion, are crucial for salvation according to scripture, and belief in both is required. 'Bruised' in Hebrew is 'daw-kaw,' meaning to crush, be crushed, be contrite, or be broken, allow to be crushed. The phrase 'He emptied Himself' is a profound way to describe the message of Philippians, which states that He willingly descended from heaven to earth, having emptied Himself. He became what He was not without ceasing to be who He was. He was 100 percent man and 100 percent God.
Nothing about the cross was surprising to the Father, Son, or the Holy Spirit, and the Father's love for His Son persisted even as He died on the cross. When Jesus uttered, "why have you forsaken me," He was quoting Psalm 22. He needed to experience what separation from God felt like, and although He was never apart from the Father and Holy Spirit, He experienced what we would feel if left in our sins and under Adam's fall. He became a curse for us as stated in Galatians 3:13, and though Jesus was sinless, Jesus allowed the weight of the complete darkness to be upon Him on the cross, so we can be complete in Him as we see ourselves crucified with Him by faith. My friend, the blood is there for you, and you can trust in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Like the crimson worm sacrificing her life for her offspring, the Lord laid down His life and was crushed for us. He took on sin so we might become the righteousness of God through Him, never yielding to temptation but persevering to the end.
Prayer,
Lord, we approach You now seeking the revelation of Your magnificent sacrifice for us. Reveal to us the gravity of the cross and resurrection and assist us in daily nourishing ourselves with this revelation in our journey with You. Amen.
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