Usually, I give a broad overview of the book I read and some quotes to give the flavor. But this time, I'd like to share just 1 item from the book in a little more detail. In chapter 8, Spurgeon focuses on the shortest of Christ's 7 cries while on the cross - "I thirst." Just 2 words. Although Christ is God and has control of all the water in the world, he thirsts."Our Lord is the Maker of the ocean and the waters that are above the firmament. It is His hand that stays or opens the bottles of heaven and sends rain upon the evil and upon the good. 'The sea is his, and he made it' (Psa 95:5), and all fountains and springs are of His digging. He pours out the streams that run among the hills, the torrents that rush down the mountains, and the flowing rivers that enrich the plains. One would have said, 'If He were thirsty He would not tell us, for all the clouds and rains would be glad to refresh His brow, and the brooks and streams would joyously flow at His feet.' And yet, though He was Lord of all, He had so fully taken upon Himself the form of a servant and was so perfectly made in the likeness of sinful flesh that He cried with a fainting voice, 'I thirst.' How truly man He is."
But this thirst was not a thirst that comes from exercise or a hot day. This was the "death dew" thirst. "The words, 'I thirst,' are a common voice in death chambers. We can never forget the painful scenes of which we have been witness when we have watched the dissolving of the human frame. Some of those whom we loved dearly have been unable to help themselves. The death sweat has been upon them, and this has been one of the marks of their approaching death, that they have been parched with thirst and could only mutter between their half-closed lips, 'Give me a drink.'"
"'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' points to the anguish of His soul. 'I thirst' expresses in part the torture of His body. And they were both needful, because it is written of the God of justice that He is 'able to destroy both soul and body in hell' (Matt 10:28)."
"Now recollect, if Jesus had not thirsted, every one of us would have thirsted forever afar off from God with an impassable gulf between us and heaven. Our sinful tongues, blistered by the fever of passion, must have burned forever had not His tongue been tormented with thirst in our place."
But despite His incredible sacrifice, men reject him. "Jesus came to save, and man denied Him hospitality. At the first there was no room for Him at the inn, and at the last there was not one cool cup of water for Him to drink. But when He thirsted they gave Him vinegar to drink. This man's treatment of His Savior. Universal manhood, left to itself, rejects, crucifies, and mocks the Christ of God."
Even when men try to be compassionate or respectful, it is ultimately a mockery of Christ. "See how man at his best mingles admiration of the Savior's person with scorn of His claims: writing books to hold Him up as an example and at the same moment rejecting His deity, admitting that He was a wonderful man but denying His most sacred mission, extolling His ethical teaching and then trampling on His blood, thus giving Him drink, but that drink vinegar. Beware of praising Jesus and denying His atoning sacrifice. Beware of rendering Him homage and dishonoring His name at the same time."
Thankfully, Christ no longer thirsts in the same way, but He still thirsts. "And now, brethren, our blessed Lord has at this time a thirst for communion with each one of you who are His people, not because you can do Him good but because He can do you good. He thirsts to bless you and to receive your grateful love in return. He thirsts to see you looking with believing eye to His fullness and holding out your emptiness that He may supply it."
So much from 2 words - I thirst. Spurgeon was a master at preaching. It took me a few chapters to really get into the book. I don't know if it was me and my inability to understand him or if it took him a few chapters to get going. But the latter 2/3 of the book were excellent! I recommend it.
No comments:
Post a Comment