"Encourage one another
daily"
(Hebrews 3:13).
A daily, Bible-based
perspective of
hope, encouragement and exhortation.
hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Friday, March 25, 2005 (Good Friday)
(This message is a bit longer than
normal and later getting out due to
study involved)
"I Thirst"
"After
this, Jesus, knowing
that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be
fulfilled, said, "I thirst!'" (John 19:29).
Today those of us who follow Christ especially recall His death on the Cross. There is so much Biblical material to ponder today which relates directly to this very concentrated historical period. Earlier this week I shared a chronological chart that points out when various events likely occurred. I find this helpful as I consider the Cross.
The Scriptures record seven last sayings of Christ on the Cross. I still recall over 20 years ago participating in an interdenominational service on Good Friday in which I joined with ministers from various churches in the community that I served (St. Marys, PA). As we planned the service we decided that each minister would give a short meditation on one of these specific sayings. You sure don't want to have one of the later speaking slots in a service like this!
Now I believe it can be earnestly considered among serious Bible students whether these are the only seven statements Christ made from the Cross or, if in the providence of God, these are the only ones the Spirit led the Gospel writers to include in the record.
Whichever, we do well to meditate on these sayings and today I have on my heart one specifically. Actually I must admit it's one that I haven't necessarily pondered as much as the others. Of the seven last sayings only one reveals His physical pain. (I will list all seven of them below the encouragement.) We don't have a record such as "Oh, this pain is anguishing", although His physical pain was surely unbearable.
The singular reference to His physical pain was "I thirst", (the shortest of the seven sayings). This is a physical sensation we can all identify with in one way or another. For most of us it really probably never gets to a full pain stage, just various degrees of discomfort. Can you specifically recall occasions when you have really been thirsty?
In my case it's always been relatively minor, but I can recall an experience quite distinctly. While I was in Bible College in the summer of 1975 I stayed on campus to work during the summer break. I lived in a mobile home and for some reason the water system broke down and I didn't have any stored up. I had some milk but still to this day I recall how miserable I was that night not having the ability to get a drink of water.
My pastor's wife, Wendy, has endeared herself to Ester during visits to hospitals by putting "blue lipstick" on her lips. At first I did not understand this until Brooksyne explained that "blue lipstick" was actually a blue swab soaked in water that was given to Ester following a surgical procedure before she could drink. Her kind act met a fundamental human need.
The thirst that our Lord experienced on the Cross surely goes well beyond what most of us have ever endured. In conjunction with His other physical pain I just can't imagine. Yet even the most hardened soldiers, who had just been gambling over His clothing, responded in an act of kindness by giving Him some relief. *
Today as we recall this particular expression and so many others as He "endured the cross" let us with renewed devotion and commitment set our hearts to love and serve Him!
Be encouraged today as we recall the main thing,
Stephen C. Weber
Note from Brooksyne: I can clearly remember a time when I was dreadfully thirsty. Stephen and I were in Guatemala in 1990 and we ran out of bottled water. We were staying at the orphanage on the Rio Dulce where Ester was born and it was very, very hot. A volunteer told us about a little house (by our definition in America it would have been a shack) where a family sold Coca Cola out of their refrigerator. We walked a very long trail to find this place and gladly paid the children for the bottled cokes we quickly drank. They weren't very cold and the initial quench from the sugared drink left us quickly, but it was a quick and temporary fix.
It makes me think of the woman at the well in John 4:13 when Jesus said to her as she drew water, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jesus was willing to surrender His life on the cross, allow His body to become dehydrated and endure the physical anguish that comes with such a tormenting death. His redemptive sacrifice and physical death made it possible for us to inherit eternal life where we drink from the springs of living water forever and the satisfaction it brings will never diminish.
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
(Speaking to John and Mary,) "Dear woman, here is your son…Here is your mother" (John 19:26, 27).
"My God, my God why have you forsake me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
"I am thirsty" (John 19:28).
"It is finished" (John 19:30).
"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
* There are some legitimate questions as to whether the attempt to satisfy Christ's thirst was an act of mercy or merely more mocking since he was given "wine vinegar", hardly what we would want in a condition like this. Here are some notes from several study Bibles I use:
(19:29) This vinegar was a cheap wine that the Roman soldiers drank while waiting for those crucified to die. (Life Application Bible)
(19:29) The Greek word translated "wine vinegar" is oxos, a sour wine or vinegar. The English word, "vinegar" is from the French vin (wine) and aigre (sour), thus, sour wine. Vinegar, or sour wine, is made when alcohol changes into vinegar by the formation of acetic acid. Christ's tasting of the vinegar was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Ps. 69:21, "they…gave me vinegar for my thirst." (The Full Life Study Bible)
(19:29) Wine vinegar; equivalent to cheap wine, the drink of ordinary people. A sponge; a useful way of giving drink to one on a cross, and may indicate forethought and compassion on someone's part. Hyssop: the name given to a number of plants. (NIV Study Bible)
Today those of us who follow Christ especially recall His death on the Cross. There is so much Biblical material to ponder today which relates directly to this very concentrated historical period. Earlier this week I shared a chronological chart that points out when various events likely occurred. I find this helpful as I consider the Cross.
The Scriptures record seven last sayings of Christ on the Cross. I still recall over 20 years ago participating in an interdenominational service on Good Friday in which I joined with ministers from various churches in the community that I served (St. Marys, PA). As we planned the service we decided that each minister would give a short meditation on one of these specific sayings. You sure don't want to have one of the later speaking slots in a service like this!
Now I believe it can be earnestly considered among serious Bible students whether these are the only seven statements Christ made from the Cross or, if in the providence of God, these are the only ones the Spirit led the Gospel writers to include in the record.
Whichever, we do well to meditate on these sayings and today I have on my heart one specifically. Actually I must admit it's one that I haven't necessarily pondered as much as the others. Of the seven last sayings only one reveals His physical pain. (I will list all seven of them below the encouragement.) We don't have a record such as "Oh, this pain is anguishing", although His physical pain was surely unbearable.
The singular reference to His physical pain was "I thirst", (the shortest of the seven sayings). This is a physical sensation we can all identify with in one way or another. For most of us it really probably never gets to a full pain stage, just various degrees of discomfort. Can you specifically recall occasions when you have really been thirsty?
In my case it's always been relatively minor, but I can recall an experience quite distinctly. While I was in Bible College in the summer of 1975 I stayed on campus to work during the summer break. I lived in a mobile home and for some reason the water system broke down and I didn't have any stored up. I had some milk but still to this day I recall how miserable I was that night not having the ability to get a drink of water.
My pastor's wife, Wendy, has endeared herself to Ester during visits to hospitals by putting "blue lipstick" on her lips. At first I did not understand this until Brooksyne explained that "blue lipstick" was actually a blue swab soaked in water that was given to Ester following a surgical procedure before she could drink. Her kind act met a fundamental human need.
The thirst that our Lord experienced on the Cross surely goes well beyond what most of us have ever endured. In conjunction with His other physical pain I just can't imagine. Yet even the most hardened soldiers, who had just been gambling over His clothing, responded in an act of kindness by giving Him some relief. *
Today as we recall this particular expression and so many others as He "endured the cross" let us with renewed devotion and commitment set our hearts to love and serve Him!
Be encouraged today as we recall the main thing,
Stephen C. Weber
Note from Brooksyne: I can clearly remember a time when I was dreadfully thirsty. Stephen and I were in Guatemala in 1990 and we ran out of bottled water. We were staying at the orphanage on the Rio Dulce where Ester was born and it was very, very hot. A volunteer told us about a little house (by our definition in America it would have been a shack) where a family sold Coca Cola out of their refrigerator. We walked a very long trail to find this place and gladly paid the children for the bottled cokes we quickly drank. They weren't very cold and the initial quench from the sugared drink left us quickly, but it was a quick and temporary fix.
It makes me think of the woman at the well in John 4:13 when Jesus said to her as she drew water, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jesus was willing to surrender His life on the cross, allow His body to become dehydrated and endure the physical anguish that comes with such a tormenting death. His redemptive sacrifice and physical death made it possible for us to inherit eternal life where we drink from the springs of living water forever and the satisfaction it brings will never diminish.
The Seven Last Words
of Jesus on the
Cross
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
(Speaking to John and Mary,) "Dear woman, here is your son…Here is your mother" (John 19:26, 27).
"My God, my God why have you forsake me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
"I am thirsty" (John 19:28).
"It is finished" (John 19:30).
"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
* There are some legitimate questions as to whether the attempt to satisfy Christ's thirst was an act of mercy or merely more mocking since he was given "wine vinegar", hardly what we would want in a condition like this. Here are some notes from several study Bibles I use:
(19:29) This vinegar was a cheap wine that the Roman soldiers drank while waiting for those crucified to die. (Life Application Bible)
(19:29) The Greek word translated "wine vinegar" is oxos, a sour wine or vinegar. The English word, "vinegar" is from the French vin (wine) and aigre (sour), thus, sour wine. Vinegar, or sour wine, is made when alcohol changes into vinegar by the formation of acetic acid. Christ's tasting of the vinegar was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Ps. 69:21, "they…gave me vinegar for my thirst." (The Full Life Study Bible)
(19:29) Wine vinegar; equivalent to cheap wine, the drink of ordinary people. A sponge; a useful way of giving drink to one on a cross, and may indicate forethought and compassion on someone's part. Hyssop: the name given to a number of plants. (NIV Study Bible)
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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