It About Understanding

The Message of Thirst

John 12:35-36, John 14:1, Act 14:23, Rom 15:13, Heb 2:13, John 19:28-30, Psa 107:35, 114:8

Isa 44:3, John 4:6, Mark 6:6, John 2:15, Mark 4:38, John 11:35, Mat 4:2, Mark 15:22—24,

Heb 4:15-16, John 19:28,13:18, 17:12, 19:24, 36, 37, 20:9, 2 Cor 1:3—5

December 17, 2000

I. Have you ever thought about how much of our relationship to God is based on trust?

John 12:35-36 NIV Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."

(John 14:1 NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.

(Acts 14:23 NIV) Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

(Rom 15:13 NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Heb 2:13 NIV) And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."

A. I had a horse once, that was the best cow horse that I had ever ridden.

B. She was a quarter horse and she could run like the wind and make any turn that any cow tired to use to get rid of her.

C. But she had one problem, she wouldn’t cross a creek.

D. I tried everything I talked to her and tried to lead her into a creek. She would have no part of it

E. I put a rope behind her and tried to drag her into a creek. She wouldn’t buy it.

F. One day in sheer desperation I put her in a full run when I saw a creek ahead of us and in hopes that she would see it too late and not be able to stop, and run through it and see that it was all right, but that only worked until she saw the creek because she was also able to stop on a dime, but I wasn’t and I went over her head at warp speed and landed in the creek.

G. I always wished that I could some how learn horse. I wished that I could know what it was like to be a horse, so I could know what it was that she feared, and then I could tell the horse to trust me it would be all right to go through the creek.

II. I know, you think it s crazy for a man to want to become a horse? But the trip from man to horse is shorter than the one from being God to being a man, or heaven to earth. But Jesus took it. Why? Why did he do that?

A. He wants us to trust him.

B. Think about that for a minute. Why did Jesus live on the earth as long as he did?

C. Couldn t his life have been much shorter? Why not step into our world just long enough to die for our sins and then leave? Why not a sinless year or week? Why did he have to live a life?

D. To take on our sins is one thing, but to take on our sunburns, and sore throats? To experience death, yes—but to put up with life? To put up with long roads, long days, and short tempers? Why did he do it?

E. Because he wants you to trust him.

F. Even his final act on earth was intended to win your trust.

G. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

(John 19:28-30 NIV) 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.

III. This is the final act of Jesus life. In the last act of His Earthy life we hear the sounds of a thirsty man.

A. And through his thirst—through a sponge and a jar of cheap wine—he leaves a final request.

B. "Trust me."

C. Jesus has cracked lips and mouth of cotton. His Throat so dry he can t swallow, and his voice is so hoarse he can hardly speak. He’s thirsty. To find the last time moisture touched His lips you have to go back a dozen hours to the meal in the upper room. The first lord’s Supper.