He Lives!

Happy Good Friday everyone!

I know most of us keep a grim face today as we recall the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. But I believe we need to rejoice for His sacrifice as otherwise we would be doomed forever. Now we are redeemed! Praise the Lord! So indeed it is a day of celebration and not necessarily a day of mourning for us believers.

As with the norm in many churches worldwide let us also quickly look at the words spoken by our Lord on the cross.

People give extreme importance to a person's last words, do they not? When we hear of someone's demise one of the first questions we ask is, what did he/she say last or when did you speak to him/her last. Jesus's words on the cross are therefore important too, though these are not His last. He lives and continue to speak! Amen!

* "Father, forgive them: for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) 

* "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43)

* "Dear woman, here is your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother!" (John 19:27)

* "I Thirst."  (John 19:28)

* "It is finished." (John 19:30)  

* "My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)

* "Father into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:45-46)

God Himself in human form came down to rescue us. He submitted fully even unto death to redeem us - the human race. He died a painful death thus fully paying off for the punishment of every sin ever committed by any person - whoever believe(d)!

I do believe! I am sure you do too. He Lives! Let us rejoice!

Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." John 19:28

I was pondering over the scene of the cross where Jesus was bruised and beaten to the point where not an inch of His body was spared. In addition to it all, he also suffered the agony of thirst! Why was it necessary to suffer Him thus even with thirst? Few thoughts that crossed my mind I wish to share with you here:

* So that the following Scriptures which were foretold about Him will be fulfilled:

- They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. Psalm 69:21 &
- My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Psalm 22:15

* To prove beyond doubt He was 100% human
* To prove beyond doubt He gave His very last for our redemption from sin.
* He expressed his thirst for our love.

 Remember, the same Jesus is also called the Living Water and says, "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." Revelation 21:6

Whatever you are thirsty for today, He is capable of fulfilling it. But first, can we make an effort to give our hearts to Him to quench His thirst at the cross?