April 5: Believing His Salvation.
HIS HUMANITY.
Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."--John 19:28
Twenty years ago, I was part of a group of ministers led by Dr. Kiemeney, who designed "CrossWords," a weekend evangelistic series for young adults. The series was repeated in more than one geographical area, and it invigorated young adult ministers in the local churches involved. I still remember the large banners announcing the event. The series was based on the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross. The tagline for CrossWords was: "A dying man's last words are revealing."
As He hung on the cross, Jesus knew that all Scripture was being fulfilled. Aside from the spiritual burden that He was carrying, which we can't fully understand, Jesus also felt physical pain. His dry mouth needing relief, He said: "I am thirsty" (John 19:28). Someone gave Him vinegar with a sponge. Even this very detail is fulfillment of prophecy, as recorded by the psalmist: "For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:21). John reports that the sponge was attached to a branch of hyssop, which I believe is a significant detail because at the time of the Exodus, the Israelites dipped twigs of hyssop in the blood of the Passover lamb to mark the lintels and doorposts of their houses (see Exodus 12:22). Jesus is now dying as the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. At the time of the writing of John's Gospel, some early Christians became entangled in Gnosticism, which was a heretical teaching that Jesus was only a spirit without a real human body, and that He was human only in appearance and therefore couldn't experience physical suffering on the cross. John's report that Jesus was thirsty highlights that He was fully human, as well as fully God. We can trust Jesus to be compassionate with us because He became human. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus fully understands us: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15, 16).
My Response:______________________________________________________
HIS HUMANITY.
Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."--John 19:28
Twenty years ago, I was part of a group of ministers led by Dr. Kiemeney, who designed "CrossWords," a weekend evangelistic series for young adults. The series was repeated in more than one geographical area, and it invigorated young adult ministers in the local churches involved. I still remember the large banners announcing the event. The series was based on the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross. The tagline for CrossWords was: "A dying man's last words are revealing."
As He hung on the cross, Jesus knew that all Scripture was being fulfilled. Aside from the spiritual burden that He was carrying, which we can't fully understand, Jesus also felt physical pain. His dry mouth needing relief, He said: "I am thirsty" (John 19:28). Someone gave Him vinegar with a sponge. Even this very detail is fulfillment of prophecy, as recorded by the psalmist: "For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:21). John reports that the sponge was attached to a branch of hyssop, which I believe is a significant detail because at the time of the Exodus, the Israelites dipped twigs of hyssop in the blood of the Passover lamb to mark the lintels and doorposts of their houses (see Exodus 12:22). Jesus is now dying as the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. At the time of the writing of John's Gospel, some early Christians became entangled in Gnosticism, which was a heretical teaching that Jesus was only a spirit without a real human body, and that He was human only in appearance and therefore couldn't experience physical suffering on the cross. John's report that Jesus was thirsty highlights that He was fully human, as well as fully God. We can trust Jesus to be compassionate with us because He became human. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus fully understands us: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15, 16).
My Response:______________________________________________________
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