Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst." ²⁹ A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.

Summary and Function

Summary: Jesus is God in the flesh, fully God and fully human. He’s the heart of God with flesh wrapped around it. To know Jesus and his character is to know God and God’s character. We can know Jesus’ character by looking at what he said while dying on the cross.

While dying on the cross, Jesus cried out, “I thirst” This shows Jesus’ humanity. He was dehydrated and dying and cried out what we would expect from a man in his circumstance. This, however, was also a fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus said this so that the prophecy in Psalm 69:21 would be fulfilled. Jesus did this to identify himself with Psalm 69. He knows what it is like to have to call upon God in a desperate situation because he called upon His Father in the hour of his need.

This statement also shows Jesus’ compassion. He made it after showing concern for the people who were killing him, the repentant criminal and his mother. In the midst of his suffering, he thought of others first. This is the example we are to follow.

Purpose: To help the congregation to better understand God’s love and respond to that love with a thirst for righteousness and the lost.

The Sermon

I. Introduction: Extreme Thirst

2. Have you ever experienced the kind of extreme thirst where…

• Your mouth is dry and your tongue sticks to the roof of your mouth
• You are light headed and your head is pounding at the same time
• You pass out and regain consciousness only to be disoriented
• You must get water soon or you will die

3. This is the type of thirst Jesus experienced on the cross.

II. I doubt Jesus was offered any water when…

1. He was arrested

2. He endured the mockery of a trial

3. Soldiers mocked him and placed a crown of thorns on him

5. He was forced to carry his cross

6. He was nailed to the cross

7. So, when he yelled, “I thirst” he had extreme thirst.

• This showed his humanity

III. Along with showing his humanity, the “I thirst” statement also

2. Showed Jesus’ compassion

IV. How “I thirst” fulfilled prophecy

3. Jesus identifies himself with the Psalmist who cries out to the Lord for relief.

V. The “I thirst” statement also shows Jesus’ compassion

1. The “I thirst” statement was the fifth statement Jesus made.

2. The first three statements dealt with the needs of others

• “Father forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)
• “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)
• “Woman, here is your son” (John 19:26-27)

3. Only after thinking about others, does Jesus think about himself

• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)
• “I thirst” (John 19:28)

• Most of us become self-centered when suffering. In Ranger school, when it became cold and wet and hypothermia became a possibility, many of us became self-absorbed and the platoon fell apart.
• Jesus, however, demonstrated concern for those who were causing his suffering, the repentant criminal and his mother before he even thought of himself.

IV. Let’s remember who Jesus is

1. God in the flesh, fully God and fully human, God’s heart with flesh wrapped

around it.

2. This is why Jesus can refer to himself as “The way, the truth and the life”

3. So, if Jesus is God in the flesh, then …

• God knows what it is like when we call upon him in desperation because Jesus called upon the Father in desperation
• We should follow God’s example and think of others first, even in the midst of suffering. This is the example Jesus gives us.

V. Conclusion: This is the example we are to follow.

1. When in a desperate situation, we need to call upon God for help.