Enduring to the End

If I could “Be Like Mike” is the famous tag line of the 90’s Gatorade commercial featuring Michael Jordan. After watching this commercial every kid wanted to be like Mike. We would stick our tongues out will playing basketball. Wear Jordan gear as a superpower during pickup games. And practice every basketball move that made Michael Jordan the greatest player of all time.

But Jordan wasn’t the first athlete to enjoy Gatorade. Gatorade was created in 1965 by Dr. Richard Cade who was a scientist at the University of Florida. The head football coach was looking for a way to help football players recover during practices and games. The Florida heat drained the players strength. They would leave practices and games exhausted. The players we dehydrated, hungry, cramping, and empty. They gave everything they had on the field --- only to find themselves thirsty. So, Dr. Cade created a sports drink to help athletes endure the elements of the game.

That’s where we find Jesus in the text. He’s battered, and bruised, and exhausted, and thirsty. Yet, Jesus finds a way to endure all the pain and suffering with purpose. Up to this point Jesus has done everything opposite of a guilty man. He’s prayed for his enemies, led an altar call on the cross, created a family care plan for his mother, and taken on the sins of the world. And the text says after all these things were done, Jesus says --- I’m thirsty.

But let’s not romanticize the severity of the cross. Jesus is in pain, and he knows death is near. The sun is torturing his body. His hands and feet are numb. And all he wants is something to drink. But the drink he’s given makes things worse.

However, the 5th saying shows us something about Jesus. ---- It’s that He’s human, too! ---- And If Jesus can endure the agony of thorns and nails pressing through his body, then he can empathize with your pain. So let this scene be a message of hope when you’re feeling empty. When you’re exhausted and ready to quit look at the cross, because Jesus shows us how to endure the deadening moments of life with purpose.

He shows us how to endure moments that seem to knock the life right out of us. Jesus shows us how to endure betrayal. When friends and family turn their back on you, the cross shows us how to endure the pain of those relationships.

Jesus shows us how to endure persecution. When coverups and scandals come knocking at your door uninvited. The cross shows us how to endure persecution.

Jesus shows us how to endure oppression. When jobs and organizations use you for everything you’ve got – only to give you less than the minimum in return. The cross shows us how to endure oppression.

Jesus shows us how to endure disappointment. When happy beginnings turn into bitter end and life has seemingly squeezed every ounce of hope from your heart look to Jesus, because the cross shows us how to endure disappointment.

But I don’t want to sell you a fairytale, because things may get worse before they get better. Jesus doesn’t get relief immediately. Jesus is hurting. The pain won’t let up. And in this moment --- after Jesus has endured all of this he makes a declaration of need.

Yet, he doesn’t receive what he asks for. That’s why we’ve got to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus for hope and not humanity. Because the one who turned water into wine. I’m talking about good wine – not cheap wine, but nice barrel-aged wine that would make the best sommelier jealous, wouldn’t get what He was able to give to others.

The wine that Jesus is given is what poor and marginalized people choose to numb the pain of life. When Jesus asks for relief --- people increased the pain. But there’s hope at the end because Jesus endures.

Yes, the wounds from the broken relationship haven’t healed, but you can endure. Yes, your friends turned their backs on you, but you can endure. Yes, the sickness ended in death, but you can endure. Yes, the continue to talk about you, but you can endure. Yes, you’re innocent and they still call you guilty, but you can endure.

Yes, the money is gone, but you can still endure. I’m here to tell you that everything is going to change in an instant. Because the pain may last a while, but Jesus shows us how to endure through it all.

After all these things were finished --- to fulfill the Scripture Jesus says I am thirsty. No matter how deep the pain or how hard the struggle --- Look to the cross, because Jesus teaches us how to endure until the end.