Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." John 19:28
My favorite seat in an airplane is in the exit row. I am all about the extra legroom that the exit row provides. Whenever I am lucky to get a seat in the exit row of an airplane, without hesitation, the flight attendant comes up to me and asks one question (you probably already know what this question is): "Are you willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency?" Each time I am asked this question, I answer, "yes." I am willing to assist passengers in the event of an emergency. I am also capable of assisting passengers in the event of an emergency. Here is the thing, however: As often as I answer "yes" to the flight attendant's question, I have never, thankfully, had to prove that I am willing and able to assist passengers. The flight attendant had taken me at my word when I told her I could help in the event of an emergency. On a much, much grander scale, the invasion of sin the world left humanity in a state of emergency, and Jesus not only said He was willing and able to rescue us. He proved it.
Jesus is perfect, and He lived a perfect life on earth without sin. Because of this, He was able to rescue us from our sin, which separates us from God. Jesus was also willing. In order to rescue us, Jesus had to pay the price owed for our sin: death. Right before His death, Jesus prayed to God in Mark 14, "Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (Mark 14: 36b). In saying this, Jesus showed His humanity. He did not want to die on the cross and suffer a painful death. At the same time, He wanted God's will to be done over His. He also wanted you and me to have a restored relationship with Him. Because of this, we know He was willing to die. A little while later, Jesus was crucified on the cross. Nailed to the cross, He said the words, "I am thirsty" (John 19:28). Sure, He was, no doubt, physically thirsty, but it seems that this phrase holds more significance. Remember Jesus asking God to "take the cup of suffering away from Him" in Mark 14:26? Perhaps now, by acknowledging His thirst, He was also saying that He was ready for the cup of suffering. He was willing to drink from that cup of suffering to purchase the restoration between God and humanity. He then proved His ability and willingness when He died. He was the perfect One, the only One, to pay the price sin demanded.
My friend, Jesus was the willing and perfect sacrifice to purchase your salvation. Despite the emotional and physical pain that He faced, He endured it so that you could have a restored relationship with God. What an undeserved gift He gave us when He paid the price demanded for our sin so that we could have a relationship with God.
Spend some time today reflecting on the fact that Jesus was the willing and able sacrifice who paid the price for your sin. Listen to the song Jesus Paid it All, sung by Kristian Stanfill. As you listen, thank God for the gift of salvation that you have through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Read Mark 14:32-42 (NLT)
They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.
When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
©2024 Sagebrush Church
