## The Thirsting Saviour

## John 19:28

In the past few weeks we have been observing, through looking at the Scripture, the crucifixion of Christ. Some might wonder if anything that happened so long ago and so far away could have any impact upon us today. I believe that it has had tremendous impact in the past and that it still has a great impact upon us even in this nuclear age in which we live.

The Son of God is eternal,, and the Word of God is eternal. Neither God, nor His Bible,, ever goes out of date. It is more valuable than all of the daily newspapers and magazines that have ever been printed. God's Word is Truth, and that is the need of mankind! So what is the Truth about the events which took place on Calvary so long ago? Much importance is placed upon a man's dying words. Well, we have been carefully listening to the words of the dying Savior which were spoken from the cross.

We have heard Him pray for His persecutors; we have heard Him promise Paradise to the penitent thief, we have heard Him make provision for His mother; and we have heard Him cry out to God through the darkness.

This morning we come again to the cross of Christ. It is nearing the end for the Savior, lie surely will not be able to last much longer. The three hours of darkness has passed and the sun is shining once again as He cries out, "I thirst!".

I. Jesus Said, "I Thirst," Because He Died As A Man

A. John's primary purpose was to show Christ's deity, but here he shows His humanity

B. Came to feel what we feel and to know our needs

1. Grew (Luke 2:42)

2. Wearied (John 4-.6), compare to Isaiah 40:28-31

3. Hungered (Matt. 4-.2)

4. Slept (Mark 4:38)

5. Wept (John 1 1:35)

6. Groaned (John 1 1:33)

C. The human race had sinned and must die

D. He had refused the potion prepared to dull the pain (Matt. 27:34)

1. He must feel all the pain due humanity

2. Not one nerve can be less sensitive as He dies for man

E. Men still feel the same pain. suffering, and needs as they have through the centuries

II. Jesus Said, "I Thirst," Because He Experienced The Thirst Of Hell For Man

A. The awful thirst of hell (Luke 16:19-3 1)

1. How real physical thirst can be

2. A mirage on the desert and how it affects people

B. Those three hours of darkness as Jesus took our place are difficult to comprehend in His agony

C. There, compressed into those hours was an eternity in hell

D. Thus the cry, "My God, My God"

E. This goes beyond physical thirst to the thirst of the soul

F. In this space age, people still die and go to hell

G. In this space age, they still have such spiritual thirst that it drives them to drink, drugs, crime

III. Jesus Said, "I Thirst," Because He Must Fulfill The Scripture To Prove Its Message To Everyone

A. "That the scripture might be fulfilled" (Ps. 69:2 1)

B. At least 333 prophecies of the Old Testament converge in Jesus

C. And 240 of these were fulfilled by the time of His ascension

D. The Word of God is so important to the Savior that He will utter every word necessary to fulfill it

E. Let others deny it: Jesus declares it to be true

F. The Bible stands

Do you still wonder if he cares for you? The call is to thirsty souls today.