BACKGROUND
We all know what it feels like to be thirsty. Parched Lips! Cottonmouth! Feeling Dehydrated! It could be from working out in your yard on a hot summer day; it could be from just waking up after a surgery; or it could be that you spend a long time on the telephone talking with someone. It is part of our humanity to become thirsty and need something to drink.
We have now come to our fifth phase in the final words of Jesus from the cross series. This fifth phrase is the shortest of all the phrases: one word in the Greek and two words in English: “I thirst”. Matthew did not record this statement; Luke makes no mention of this statement; Mark is silent about this statement, but John recorded it. And what is so interesting to me about this is that John spent more time than any other Gospel writer proclaiming the deity of Jesus. John, in writing his Gospel, wanted to show Jesus and God are the same. Just look how John starts off his Gospel. John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And yet, the Holy Spirit by divine inspiration had John record this phrase “I thirst” and when you think of God that is not something I would ever expect to hear come from the mouth of God, I thirst”. To thirst is a very human quality; it is not a God quality. So, why the phrase: “I thirst”? That is what we are planning to find out today. Turn with me in your Bible to John 19:28-29.
SCRIPTURE READING
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.
POINT #1
“I THIRST,” LET’S US KNOW OF JESUS’ HUMANITY.
Have you ladies ever wondered what your husbands are talking about outside the church before church starts? Let me give you a hint- it is about themselves. Raymond will start by saying both his knees have given out. Toxie, my shoulder is hurting me, but I am not having that surgery. Ronnie will say I got to lose some weight quickly because I got to go back to that heart doctor in a couple of weeks and he is going to be mad. Dale will say I am so tired because my wife worked me like a slave this weekend. Willie Rawls will say I cannot breathe as he puffs on his cigar. Now you ladies know what happens outside. You are not missing anything.
But I am guessing you ladies do the same thing when you get together. I have heard some of the telephone conversations between Anne and Judy Shores. And I know that they talk about having every ailment known to womankind.
Here is the point: it is a human quality to talk about yourself. It is a human quality to talk about what is going on with your body; it is a human quality to talk about what is going on with you.
Up to this point, as Jesus is hanging on the cross, I have not seen much of that. In Jesus’ first statement from the cross, He is asking the Father to forgive those Roman soldiers. He is talking about the soldiers. In His second phrase, He is telling the thief on the cross the he will be with Me in Paradise. He is encouraging the thief. In His third statement, He is making plans as to what will happen with His mother. He is talking about Mary. And in His fourth statement, He is talking to the Father. I get a little glimpse of His humanity because I think it is natural for man to talk to the One who is greater than Him.
But now, we come to this fifth statement, and Jesus shares with me and you. I am one of you guys. I can be out in front of the church complaining about my body: I am thirsty. I possess that human quality to talk about my body because I am just like you.
So now there is no question in my mind who is hanging on this Cross: It is the Totally God, Totally Man Christ.
I like how the Apostle Paul put it Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
POINT #2
“I THIRST,” TEACHES HOW WE ARE TO HANDLE THE TROUBLES OF OUR LIFE.
Let me go back and read verse 28 again to you. “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
You know what that tells me: as Jesus was dying on the Cross, He turned His mind to the Scriptures. As troubles entered His life, He turned to the Scriptures. That sounds like pretty good advice to give to people who are listening to you as you are dying.
“Hey, don’t turn away from God and the Scripture when troubles come into your life. Turn to God and the Scriptures.” Mediate on the Scriptures, quote them, claim their promises, let them speak to you in your pain.
Unfortunately, what I see happen more often than not is troubles comes into a person’s life and instead of turning to go they turn away from God. How tragic!
POINT #3
“I THIRST” REVEALS EXACTLY WHAT CHRIST DID FOR YOU AND ME ON THE CROSS.
“I thirst” tell me that He became my substitute. I should have been there not Him. But He became my substitute and He took upon Himself what I deserved so that I might get what He deserved.
Let me show you what I am talking about:
He was thirsty…so I can drink of his living water.
He was without a place to lay his head… so that I can have a mansion in heaven prepared for me.
He was forsaken by God… so that I did not have to be forsaken.
He experienced death …so that I can have eternal life.
POINT # 4
“I THIRST” SHOWS ME THAT THE BIBLE IS NO ORDINARY BOOK. IT IS GOD WRITING TO ME.
I am told in our Scripture today that Jesus said that “I thirst” in order to fulfill the Scriptures. It is fulfillment of Psalm 69:21 (NIV)
21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
And what does verse 29 of today’s Scripture say: they gave him wine vinegar. Really, think about it for a minute! If you and I were hanging from the Cross, would you really care that you fulfilled all the Scriptures perfectly. You are going to die shortly; it isn’t going to matter anyway. I am not going to be focused on making sure I got all my work done before I breathed my last breath. Being close to death changes your priorities. But not Jesus- death did not change His priorities. He wanted me to know this Book is no ordinary book.
Well, someone might say that He manipulated the events of His death to fulfill those prophesies. I would tell them: it is impossible.
My question to you is this: did He have any control over what the soldiers gave him when He said He was thirsty? No!
It was in Psalm 22:18 (NIV)
18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Did Jesus pay them off to cast lots for his clothes? No! Then how did Jesus get them to cast lots for His clothing?
Psalm 34:20 (NIV)
20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. I am sure that Jesus did not get to tell the Roman soldiers do what you want but don’t break any bones. And I sure the Roman soldiers didn’t care if they broke a bone or two. But no bones were broken.
Isaiah 53:9 (NIV)
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
He was buried in a rich man’s tomb. No where do I see Jesus making plans as to where He would be buried but He was buried in a rich man’s tomb exactly like the Scripture said.
This is no ordinary book. It is the inspiration of God. And “I thirst” tells me that God’s Word is truly reliable. Let us pray.
