Cries From The Cross - Cry Of Suffering Series

Reading: John chapter 19 verses 28-30.

In this series of studies:

• We are considering the seven statements of Jesus from the cross:

• These statements are very important to us:

• Not only because of the Person who spoke them;

• But, also because of the place where they were said.

• Remember the context that these great words were spoken in;

• It was when our Jesus was doing His greatest work on earth,

Quote:

“These seven last words from the cross are windows that enable us to look into eternity and see the heart of God.”

• This morning we are looking at the fifth statement that Jesus made on the cross;

• “I thirst?”

Note:

• Jesus was crucified at nine o'clock in the morning,

• And He spent the first three hours on the cross in the sunlight.

• Then darkness came, and the cross was shrouded in darkness for three hours.

• At the end of that darkness,

• Jesus made his fourth statement:

• "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew chapter 27 verse 46).

The last three statements Jesus made from the cross are cantered upon Himself:

• His first three statements centred upon others;

• His enemies, the thief, and John and Mary.

• The fourth statement Jesus made;

• Centred on God himself.

But in the last three statements that Jesus made from the cross:

• We see a different focus, now the Lord focuses upon Himself,

• And in particular the three elements that make up a human being:

• (a). His body:

• "I thirst" (John chapter 19 verse 28);

• (b). His soul:

• "It is finished" (John chapter 19 verse 30);

• Isaiah chapter 53 verse 11;

• “After the suffering of his soul”, or “He shall see of the travail of his soul”.

• (c). His spirit:

• "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke chapter 23 verse 46).

• On the cross we see that Body, soul and spirit;

• Were all offered by Jesus in perfect obedience to His Father.

The shortest of the seven statements that Jesus made from the cross:

• Is this one found in John chapter 19 verse 28:

• "I thirst."

• In the Greek New Testament it is one word of four letters.

• It is the only statement in which Jesus referred to His body and His physical suffering.

• It may only be one simple word;

• But it reveals to us the heart of Jesus in a deeper loving way.

• When we hear Jesus say, "I thirst,"

• We are able to see three portraits of Christ:

(The 1st portrait): The suffering Son of Man.

• Jesus Christ was truly a man,

• Fully human!

NOTE:

• Non-Christians struggle to believe in the deity of Jesus;

• They accept him as a great human teacher but not the Son of God.

• Some Christians struggle with the humanity of Jesus,

• They struggle to appreciate that he was fully human!

Ill:

• We see the two natures of Jesus in perfect unity and harmony.

• Just like the parallel lines of a railway track.

• 100% the Son of Man.

• Man as though he was not God.

• He was 100% God the Son.

• God as though he was not man.

In the early church there was no question about the deity of Christ.

• But there were those who questioned His humanity;

• And who said that He really was not really a man.

• They said that He just appeared to be a man.

• This is one reason why New Testament letters like ‘One John’ was written.

• John wrote his letter (1 John);

• To reaffirm once again the fact that Jesus Christ was truly man as well as truly God.

As you scan the New Testament the evidence is there that he was fully human:

(a). He had human names:

• Expression “Son of Man” occurs 80 times in the gospels.

• New testament refers to him again and again, calling him a “Man”.

(b). He possessed a human body.

• Ill: John chapter 1 verses 14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”

• Quote “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see….incarnate deity”.

(c). He had a human nature:

• He was born after a full term pregnancy (Luke chapter 2 verse 7).

• He grew to maturity & manhood (Luke chapter 2 verse 40).

• He got tired (John chapter 4 verse 6).

• He became thirsty (John chapter 19 verse 28).

• He slept (Mart chapter 8 verse 24).

• He loved (Mark chapter 10 verse 21).

• He had compassion (Mart chapter 9 verse 36).