1. Thirst Blood Loss Produces Thirst
[Angel of Marye’s Heights – Fredericksburg, VA Saturday, December 13, 1862
No longer able to withstand the wrenching moans of the suffering wounded and dying Union soldiers, 19 year old Confederate Sergeant Richard Kirkland of the 2nd South Carolina approached Brigadier General Joseph Kershaw, CSA, seeking permission to go to their aid. Initially hesitant, the General acquiesced, refusing however to allow the white flag that would ensure his safety. Kirkland sprang over the stone wall with canteens full and ventured out between the hostile lines. At first, Federals fired upon the young man but ceased as they soon discovered his merciful intent. Then cheers rang out from both sides as the man to become known as the "Angel of Marye's Heights" offered water to one adversary after another. After helping those that he could, he crossed back to the safety of his lines, and resumed his duties as a Confederate soldier defending those lines.
2. Jesus spent 3 hours in the sunlight followed by 3 hours in the darkness experiencing constant blood loss
a. His first three statements focused on others – forgive-paradise-behold son/mother
b. The last statements are on himself – Forsaken Me?-Thirst-Finished-Into Hands
c. Body-Soul Spirit – Deuteronomy 6.4-9; Mark 12.29-32
3. 5th Statement from the Cross – John 19.28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
4. His thirst shows:
I. He Was the Suffering Son of Man
Isaiah 53.4
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
A. He was the God-Man – 100% God-100% Man
1. Born in the same manner as we – Matthew 1.21; John 13
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
2. He Grew Like We Do – Luke 2.52
3. He Lived in Adulthood – Mishnah – 30 years vigor of occupation
B. Laid Aside His Humanity – Philippians 2.5-8; John 13
C. Complete Understanding/Identification -- Hebrews 4.15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Several years ago the NBA players were threatening to strike – they were going to shut down the league – no professional basketball – the thing that amazed the league and players was that nobody cared! – the fans began to talk about how nobody could relate to the NBA players – the players didn’t understand the common fan any longer relate to their multi-million dollar contracts, huge mansions, outlandish lifestyles, and multiple, extravagant cars – nobody could relate so nobody cared.
II. He Was the Obedient Servant of God
A. There Is a Spiritual Thirst for God
Psalm 42.1
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
Psalm 69.3; 20-21
3 I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
1. Jesus Shows Us that Obedience Sometimes Requires Suffering
2. Jesus Shows Us Obedience Demonstrates Love – John 14.15; Matthew 7.21
B. There is a Spiritual Thirst of His Disciples
1. A High Cost – Philippians 2.5, 8
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
2. High Quality – Matthew 5.6
III. He Was the Loving Savior of Sinners
A. Sin Brings Suffering
“The power of sin is the false promise that it will bring more happiness than holiness will bring. The power of sin is the power of a lie.” John Piper
1. Suffering to Sinners
2. Suffering to the Savior – tasted hell – place of thirst (Luke 16.24)
Hebrews 2.9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
B. Our Sin Brings God’s Thirst – 1 Timothy 2.1-4
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1. Desires = longs for; determines; thirsts for
2. What more could he do?
1. Denmark Sculpture (A Change in Posture – Google Images)
One of Denmark’s leading sculptors had a burning ambition to create the greatest statue of Jesus ever made. He began by shaping a clay model of a triumphant, regal figure. The head was thrown back and the arms were upraised in a gesture of great majesty. It was his conception of Christ the King: Strong, Dominant. "This will be my masterpiece," he said, on the day the model was completed. But, during the night a heavy fog rolled into the area and sea-spray seeped through a partially opened window of the artist’s ocean-side studio. The moisture affected the shape of the model so that when the artist returned to the studio in the morning, he was shocked to find a wounded figure. The droplets of moisture that had formed on the statue created the illusion of bleeding. The head had drooped. The facial expression had been transformed from severity to compassion. And the arms had dropped into an attitude of welcome. The artist stared at the figure, agonizing over the time wasted and the need to begin all over again. But something came over him to change his mood. He began to see that this image of Christ was the truer one. Then he wrote at the base of the newly-shaped figure: "Come unto Me!"
2. His thirst prompts our thirst – John 4.13-14
13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
3. The question is not DO you thirst? It is HOW LONG will you thirst?
a. Come to Jesus – John 7.37 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
b. With an eye on heaven – Revelation 22.17
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
4. Matthew 5.6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
