LessonsFromTheCrossofJesus
(PartII)
“AndHe diedforall,thatthose wholivedshouldnolongerliveforthemselvesbutforHimwhodiedforthemandwasraisedagain.”
(2 Corinthians5:15)
JesusChristdiedonthecrossforoursins,Hewasburiedbutrosefrom thedeadonthethirddaytogiveeternallifetothosewhobelievein Him. Thiseternallifeareforthose whoareworthytohaveHim;forthosewhofollowHisstepsandwholivetheirlivesforHim.
TheLordJesusChristwhileHewashangedonthecross,HespokeHis last wordsthatcarriedmanybeneficialspirituallessons;theyaremeaningfulandfruitfulasweapplytheminourdailywalk withGod. Inthepreviousmessagewediscussedsomeofthem,herewewillcontinuewiththeremaining.
5) “Later,knowingthatallwasnowcompleted,andsothatthe Scriptureswouldbefulfilled,Jesussaid,“Iamthirsty.” (John19:28) TheLordJesus Christsaid,“Iamthirsty,”becauseHe cametofulfillthescriptureasHesaid,“DonotthinkthatIhavecometoabolishtheLawof theProphets;Ihavecomenottoabolishthembuttofulfillthem. Itellyouthetruth,untilheavenandearthdisappear,notthesmallestletter,nottheleaststrokeofapen,willby anymeansdisappearfromtheLawuntileverythingisaccomplished. Anyone whobreaksoneoftheleastofthesecommandmentsandteachesotherstodothesamewillbecalledleastinthekingdomofheaven,butwhoeverpracticesandteachesthese commandswillbecalled greatinthekingdomof heaven. ForItellyouthatunlessyourrighteousnesssurpassesthatofthePhariseesandthe teachers ofthe law, you willcertainly notenterthe kingdomof heaven.” (Matthew5:17-20) TheLordJesus Christcame tofulfill thewillofGODandtodothewordofGODasHesaid,“HereIam,Ihavecome—itiswrittenaboutmeinthescroll. Idesiretodoyourwill,OmyGod;yourlawiswithinmy heart.” (Psalm40:7-8) Wetoo mustlearnto obey God andHis word andfulfillthescripturesinourlivesindoingHiswill.
TheLordJesusChristfeltthirstyonthecross;Hesufferedasahumanbeing withallthephysicalfeelingofpain. HeishundredpercentGod, alsoHeishundred percent human.When He felt thirsty, although He is God, He humbledHimselfandaskedforadrink,“Who,beinginverynatureGoddidnotconsiderequalitywithGodsomethingtobe grasped,butmadeHimself nothing,takingtheverynatureofaservant, beingmadeinhumanlikeness. Andbeingfoundinappearanceasa man HehumbledHimselfandbecameobedienttodeath—evendeathonthecross! ThereforeGodexaltedHimtothehighestplaceandgaveHimthename thatisaboveeveryname,thatatthenameofJesuseverykneeshouldbow,inheavenandonearthandundertheearth,andeverytongueconfessthatJesusChristisLord,tothegloryofGodtheFather.”(Philippians2:6-11) WelearnfromJesus’actiononthe crossistobehumble;whenweneedsomethingweneedtohumble ourselves,wegoandask,andnottohaveprideorarrogance.
ForwhatJesuswasthirstywhenHesaidonthecross,“Iamthirsty,”? In fewoccasionsinthe BibleJesusshowed Hisdesiretoeatordrink.Oneofthem isonthelastsupperatthenightofHisbetrayal,aswecanreadnow,“Whenthehourcame, JesusandHisapostlesreclinedatthetable. AndHesaidtothem,“IhaveeagerlydesiredtoeatthisPassoverwith youbefore I suffer. ForItell you,Iwillnoteatit againuntilitfindsfulfillmentinthekingdomofGod.” Aftertakingthecup,He gavethanksandsaid, “Takethisanddivideitamongyou. ForItellyouIwillnotdrinkagain ofthefruitofthevineuntilthekingdomofGod comes.” (Luke22:14-18) JesuswantedtoeatthePassoveranddrinkthefruitofthevinewithHisdisciplesbeforeHesufferedbecauseHewillnottasteituntiltheKingdomofGodcomes.Thespiritualmeaningof thefruitofthevinemeanstherighteousnessofGodthatJesuswantstoseeinthelifeofHisdisciples. Jesussaid,“Blessedarethosewhohungerand thirst forrighteousness,fortheywillbefilled.”(Matthew5:6)
JesusisthirstytoseeHis discipleslivingtheirlivesinholinessandrighteousnessforGod. Heisthirstyforpeoplewhohavethefruit oftheHolySpiritintheir lives,whoarefilledwithlove,joy,faithfulness,gentleness, patienceandself-control.
ForwhatJesusishungryorthirstyandHelikestoeatanddrink? OnetimetheLordJesusChristwassittingwithaSamaritanwomanandwaspreaching toherthe wordofGod. MeanwhileHisdisciplesurgedHim,“Rabbi,eatsomething.”ButHesaidtothem,“Ihaveafoodthatyouknownothing about.” ThenHisdisciplessaidtoeachother,“Couldsomeonehave broughtHimfood?”“Myfood,”saidJesus,“is todothewillofHimwhosentmeandtofinishHiswork.” (John4:31-34)Andthisshouldbeourfoodaswell,topreachthewordofGod,andtoreachthe lostandtobringthemtotheknowledgeofChristJesusourLord. JesusishungryandthirstytoseeusdoingGodswillandtofinishHisworkbybringingnewsoulsintoHiskingdom.
Mydearandbeloved: TheLordJesusChrististheliving word ofGod,andifwe wanttoliveforeverwithHimweneedtoliveforHimandthiswillbethroughtheabidinginHiswordandlivingalifeinobediencetowhatHesaidasyouagreetopray.
Myprayer: Father God, Icome before you inthename of Jesus who diedfor my sinsonthecrossandrose againfrom thedeathtogivemeeternallife. LordIcommitmylifeuntoyourhand. GuidemeandhelpmeLordtodoyourwill;toliveinholinessandrighteousness. Helpmetohavecompassiononthelostsouls,topreachyourgoodnewstothemandto bring them to the knowledge of Christ to be delivered from sin and be saved. This is my prayer in Jesus name Amen.