I'm Thirsty Series

We continue looking at the seven final sayings Jesus made on the cross and how they reveal the heart of the Savior.

Importance of context > the story of God’s love for us and our need for Him

So Far >>

“Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34)

The Big Idea: Christ gives us the example of forgiveness.

Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

The Big Idea: It’s never too late for God’s mercy and grace.

Woman, behold your son. John, here is your mother. (John 19:26-27)

The Big Idea: Christ demonstrates his compassion in the midst of our pain.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:45-46)

The Big Idea: Christ was abandoned so we might be adopted.

This Week >> “I am thirsty.”

Have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty. I mean so thirsty that your lips are chapped, your tongue feels thick, your throat is so dry that you can’t even make a sound, etc.

Average American drinks:

• 54 gallons of pop per year

• 25 gallons of beer

• 12 gallons of bottled water per year

John 19:28-29 NIV

28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.

* Follows immediately after “Why have you forsaken me?”

* Lines up time-wise with Matt 27:48-49 / Mark 15:36

* Harmonized it would read something like:

After this, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there and one of them ran and got a sponge. He soaked the sponge in the wine vinegar, put it on a stalk of a hyssop plant, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

“All was now completed”

– taking on sin / becoming the payment / completion of his mission

“So that the Scripture would be fulfilled”

All that was taking place was the fulfillment of prophecy. It fulfilled two passages out of the Psalms that were considered Messianic. By fulfilling Scripture, it was a sign to let the world know that Jesus was/is in fact the Messiah. He was/is the Deliverer.

“They give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.” Ps 69:21 NLT

“My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.” Ps 22:15 NLT

There are over 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah.

1958 – Peter Stoner, Science Speaks – one man to fulfill 8 prophecies = 1 in 10(17th power)

one man to fulfill 48 prophecies = 1 in 10(157th power)

(This is approximately the total number of electrons in all the mass of the known universe.)

Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

No wonder he was thirsty. Loss of blood. Exposure. Heat. Exhaustion. Dehydration. He’s been on the cross now for 6 hours. The sweat rolls off him like buckets. It’s hot. And the flies are buzzing around him. The crowds taunting him. The blood mixes with the sweat as it pours off his body. In the end dehydration sets in. You know what dehydration is like? First it gives you a fever. Then it gives you a terrible throbbing pain in your head. And then cramps in your abdomen. And then nausea sets in. Then your eyeballs begin to dry up in the sockets. And then your lips begin to go dry. Then your tongue gets swollen and thick. And then your throat feels like sand paper. Your vocal cords swell up. In the end you can barely whisper. It doesn’t sound like human words; it sounds like an animal croaking. No wonder Jesus was thirsty.

~ Ray Pritchard

Took everything he had to utter the single word (in Greek), “I’m thirsty.”

A jar of wine vinegar was there

This was the common drink of Roman soldiers. It was a light wine, turned sour and mixed with water. (from Barnes’ Notes)

Vinegar – OFr. > wine + sour

put it on a stalk of a hyssop plant

Interesting note – the hyssop branch was what was used during the Passover to spread the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts of the house.

lifted it to Jesus’ lips

Had already refused gall, which was somewhat of a numbing agent. It was given to knock the edge off of the pain. Sour wine, on the other hand, would actually revive and strengthen him somewhat.

They were expecting him to cry out more for “Elijah”. Possibly thought that they had finally broken him. He finally cried out on his own behalf. They were possibly expecting to hear more words of pain and suffering.