The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross 5. The Word of Suffering

Extract

The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross
A. W. Pink

5. The Word of Suffering

“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst” John 19:28.

“I thirst.” These words were spoken by the suffering Saviour a little before he bowed his head and gave up the spirit, They are recorded only by the evangelist John and, as we shall see, it is fitting they should have a place in his gospel for they not only evidence his humanity but bring out his divine glory too.
“I thirst.” What a text for a sermon! A short one it is true, yet how comprehensive, how expressive, and how tragic! The Maker of heaven and earth with parched lips! The Lord of glory in need of a drink! The Beloved of the Father crying “I thirst!” What a scene! What a word is this! Plainly, no uninspired pen drew such a picture.

Of old the Spirit of God moved David to say of the coming Messiah, “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psa. 69:21). How marvellously complete was the prophetic foreview! No essential item was missing from it. Every important detail of the great tragedy had been written down beforehand. The betrayal by a familiar friend (Psa. 41:9), the forsaking of the disciples through being offended at him (Psa. 31:11), the false accusation (Psa. 35:11), the silence before his judges (Isa. 53:7), the being proven guiltless (Isa. 53:9), the numbering of him with transgressors (Isa. 53:12), the being crucified (Psa. 22:16), the mockery of the spectators (Psa. 109:25), the taunt of non-deliverance (Psa. 22:7, 8), the gambling for his …