A Cry Of Suffering Series

Later, 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, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30 (NIV)

JESUS CRIED “I THIRST” BECAUSE:

1. It fulfilled Scripture

They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

Psalm 69:21 (NIV)

There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

Matthew 27:34 (NIV)

2. It revealed His humanity

There is something scandalous about Jesus becoming fully man, even to the point of becoming tired and thirsty. Yet the Scriptures assure us that he grew up as a child; he ate, slept, drank, and became weary. He became angry at injustice, and when overcome by sympathy, He wept.

- Erwin Lutzer in Cries from the Cross

WHAT JESUS’ HUMANITY MEANS TO ME:

Because God’s children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We all know that Jesus came to help the descendants of Abraham, not to help the angels. Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:14-18 (NLT)

1. His humanity impacts my past:

He is the sacrifice for my sins

For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Leviticus 17:11 (NIV)

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)

2. His humanity impacts my present:

He supports me in my suffering

3. His humanity impacts my future:

He secures my splendor

There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:40-44 (NIV)