Thirsty Series

Thirsty

This morning we will continue our study on the sayings of Jesus from the cross. Today we come the fifth statement of Jesus. It is found in the gospel of John chapter nineteen. Please follow along as I read:

Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. John 19:28-29 (NASB)

It had been a long day for Jesus. He had been arrested in the middle of the night. He had been bounced around from one court to another. He had been slapped around - pushed around - mocked. A crown of thorns had been placed on His head. They had used rods to beat the thorns into His scalp. He had been whipped. He had been beaten. They made him carry the cross. They nailed the nails into his hands and into his feet. Not for one second did he have a moment’s rest. Not for one moment had anybody offered him anything to drink - and now He says, "I am thirsty."

No wonder he was thirsty. There was the loss of blood. There was exposure to the elements - the wind, the heat, the sun. He had been on the cross now for 6 hours. Sweat rolls off him in buckets. It’s hot and it's dry and He says:

"I am thirsty."

Do you know what this statement shows me. It shows me:

I. The Humanity of Christ

Have any of you ever been thirsty? I have too. To be thirsty is common to us humans - isn't it?

Jesus was fully God - but I must never forget that He was fully human too. He lived in a body of flesh and blood just like each of us do. He knew what it was to experience pain. He knew what it was like to experience loneliness, sadness, joy, and anger. Jesus felt the same emotions and experienced the same feelings that all of us do! John chapter one puts it this way:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God............ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-2; 14 (NASB)

He became flesh - just like you and I - with all the emotions - with all the wants - needs that we as humans have. The book of Philippians says it this way:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Philippians 2:5-7 (NASB)

He was made into the likeness of men. He was made like you and me. He took on flesh and bone. And because He is fully human - we have this promise in the book of Hebrews:

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NASB)

Also from the book of Hebrews we find:

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 (NASB)

He became flesh and bone and because of that fact - He experienced the same physical needs that you and I experience. He became thirsty.

But let's not overlook:

II. The Sovereignty of Christ

As I think about this saying, I am aware that Jesus cried of thirst because He was truly thirsty. But that is hard for me to comprehend. Why? Because it is Christ who created the streams - the rivers - the lakes - and even the oceans. All the water of the world was created by Him. Do you recall the verses that we read in John chapter one. Let's read John again and look also at verse three:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:1-3 (NASB)

Jesus is the creator of the universe - He made all things. Or what about the verses in Colossians which say: