I Thirst...

I. Introduction.

Personal Intro:

· Who I am…A great deal of my spiritual formation happened in the seats you are in.

· Little leaguer in Turner Field.

· Humbling to be surrounded by such great men of God

· Honor to stand before you at the GP

Sermon Intro / Illustration:

· Today I am going to share: 2 WORDS, 2 POINTS, AND 2 QUESTIONS (REPEAT 2X)

Transition------ Turn with me to The Gospel of John Ch 19:28-29. I will be reading from the ESV Translation

Note / Context:

· Jesus hanging on the cross, nearing the end, suffering unimaginably, speaks out

READ

I Thirst……

Intro:

· It is not hard to see why Jesus would feel this need.

· In the past 24hrs his physical and spiritual life has been incredibly eventful

· He has prayed to the point of agony such that he sweat like great drops of blood ()

· He has been scourged

· He has been beaten and mocked

· He has been physically mistreated in most everyway imaginable.

· He has walked through shame and ridicule to the “Place of the Cross” Golgotha in Aramaic

· Was nailed to a cross and has hung for hours.

· It is no surprise He is thirsty…OF COURSE HE IS

· But those two words, simple and often overlooked as routine in this scenario say so much more

· Those two words help us see who Jesus is and why He was hanging on that cross

Point #1: Jesus’ Physical Thirst speaks to the purpose of His Humanity

· This man hanging on the cross was the Living God incarnate, 100% God and 100% Man

· God did not have to send His Son here to overcome sin, he sent his son to overcome sin FOR US

· In doing so, he lived a perfect life in His humanity

· He experienced everything we have and will and was tempted in every way, yet did not sin

· This being accomplished, he is the perfect PROPITIATION for our sin

· And perfect INTERCESSOR for us to the Father

· PROPITIATION simply means he paid the price for the wrath of God due each of us

· That payment, that atonement, cost the blood a perfectly sinless, blemishless man

· In his moment of thirst, he was given the cup of God’s wrath

· He who was without sin was made sin so that we may become righteous through Him ()

· As our INTERCESSOR, He sits on the right hand of God speaking up for us

· The Author of Hebrews Speaks to this well

· READ – That is who He is and what He does and the reason He can do it so well because He was 100% man, just like you and I in that regard.

· READ and 2:14-16

· If you had to give a sermon in 5 min, I can tell you what it is like because I am doing it and have that experience. I understand.

· IN every feeling emotion, pain, and temptation, Jesus Christ can sympathize and understand because he has been there and done that

· I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ()

Summary:

· As Jesus cries out in thirst, we see his humanity. The humanity that allowed him to be a perfect example, a perfect sacrifice, and perfectly understand our lives as he sits on the right hand of God speaking up for all those that are His.

Transition: 2 words, 2 points, 2 questions…. STICK WITH ME

Point #2: What Jesus did on the cross Ensured we would never thirst again

· Living in this world without Christ we are as forsaken as Christ was hanging on that cross

· Just waiting to die…

· There is no hope, there is no chance for escape, and our sin allows us only one path

· And that path ends with eternal spiritual death

· As eternal beings, made in the image and likeness of God, we long for relationship with our Father.

· READ

· The Psalmist captures this perfectly…His Soul Thirsts for the Living God.

· Christ Himself spoke to the resolution of this thirst

· READ

· We will never thirst again in Christ Jesus

· READ

· If we thirst and we come to Him, The Living water, that will quench our thirst eternally will flow from our hearts

· Recall Christ’s words to the woman at the well in

· “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.

Summary: As He was consumed by our SIN, Jesus cried out in his thirst for the love of God the Father.

Transition: 2 words, 2 points, 2 questions….

Here are your 2 Questions:

1) Jesus walked in this world, setting a perfect example for us to follow and experiencing everything in life we would. Are you looking to him as your example, and praying to him as if he understands everything you are going through perfectly?

Know that he is the perfect example, understanding everything you feel by God’s design and He longs to sympathize and intercede for you!

2) When this world is difficult and you thirst for unity and relationship with a God that loves you more than you can imagine, are you quenching that thirst with the temporary drinks of this world or are you seeking the well of Living Water that will quench your thirst for eternity?

NEVER FORGET:

a. Jesus Christ Loves you so much that in his suffering on the cross He willingly drank the full cup of the Father’s wrath that was earned by you and I, to afford us the Living Water that will quench our hearts for eternity.

b. You simply need to push aside the temporary refreshment of this world and grasp on to that Devine cup and hold tight to His love for you. And you will NEVER THIRST AGAIN.