The Word of Suffering
John 19:28

 

 

  1. It brings our attention to the Lord’s deep reverence for the Scriptures.

“How constantly the Saviour’s mind turned toward the Sacred Oracles! He lived indeed by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. He was the “Blessed Man” that meditated on God’s law “day and night” (Ps 1:2).  The written Word was that which formed His thoughts, filled His heart, and regulated His ways.  The Scriptures are the transcript of the Father’s will, and that was ever His delight.  In the temptation, that which was written was His defense.  In His teaching, the statutes of the Lord were His authority.  In His controversies with the scribes and Pharisees, His appeal was ever to the law and the testimony. And now, in His death hour, His mind dwelt upon the Word of Truth.”

 

Beginning with his temptation in the wilderness all the way to his final moments upon the cross the Lord Jesus revered and upheld the word of God. This simple statement here in John gives us some insight into Christ’s mentality for the duration of his earthly ministry.  Christ of course ministered from the depths of his own compassion, he was ever tending to the deepest needs of the neediest souls at every turn, but Christ these entire 3 ˝ years is on a timeline and he operates with an agenda of fulfilling the Scriptures. He has a mental checklist as he moves through his ministry of prophecy after prophecy being fulfilled:

·        As he reads from the scroll in the Synagogue he declares, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

·        As he speaks in parables he notes the scripture is fulfilled.

·        As his own reject him he sees the scripture unbroken.

·        As he rides into Jerusalem in his last days he hears the cries of the daughters of Zion in accordance with God’s word.

·        As he dismissed Judas he notes the fulfillment of the scripture.

·        As he is spat upon and mocked he knows well that prophesy is being fulfilled.

 

The suffering of our Lord on the cross is terrible, but make no mistake, he has all of his faculties from start to finish and here we read of his observation that all things were accomplished with one final detail of scripture to tend to.  And his mind turns to the Psalms:

            He’d sunk in the deep mire (v 2)

            He’d been hated without a cause (v 4)

            He’d borne our reproach for God (v 7)

            He’d been made a stranger to his brethren (v 8)

            He’d become a proverb to those looking on (v 11)

            He’d pled with the Father in his agony (v 17-20)

He liked only to be served with vinegar for his thirst for the scripture to be fulfilled, and so he cries out ‘I thirst’ (v 21)

 

  1. It brings forth the extent of his suffering.

We’ve previously brought out the separation of the Son from the Father, the fact that upon this tree, the Lord Jesus has just experienced eternal condemnation and death, in our place.  And the suffering of such an experience is further illustrated by this saying. It must be a physical thirst the Lord is suffering from. In his condition for these several hours, he is doubtless dehydrated, and yet these words go much deeper than such a physical thirst.  Luke 16:24 informs us of the torment that a man in hell is subject and what relief he chiefly desires, and it is a perfect parallel to Christ’s experience on the cross.

 

  1. This saying captures the nature of the Son’s mission.

Amazingly enough this one who cries out for a drink is the very originator of every cold spring and every clean pool of water ever created! At the onset of his ministry he had caused 6 stone water pots to be turned into the finest wine for an unnamed bride and groom.  And yet he’ll not ever tap his endless power for his own comfort, because as he puts it, “the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)  There are only 2 times in the Bible the Lord Jesus ever asked for a drink of water (also John 4:7) and yet the only satisfaction he has is doing the will of his Father, which as he told his disciples, was satisfaction enough.

 

  1. Here we see how our High priest is perfect.

We must never forget that the Lord Jesus has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isa 53:4).  In the simple fact that the Son of God grew thirsty, we are reminded that there is nothing we can go through that he’s not experienced.

Heb 2:17/4:15/ Thereby can we confidently cast all our care upon him knowing that he cares for us.

 

  1. It calls our attention to a great universal need.

We all get thirsty.  None is exempt from this desire. As we noticed there’s more here than just physical thirst. He’s just cried out in anguish “My God, My God…” His soul longs for the thirst quenching presence of his Father.  Read Ps 42:1-3.  Is not this also our deepest need.  And here is the water of life poured out at Calvary that we might freely drink! Behold, I stand at the door…(Rev 3:20) What a great invitation to sup with the Lord of Glory! That’s communion.