THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS (13 OF 19)
Scripture: John 19:28
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The Fifth Word from the Cross (13 of 19)
Series: Cross Examination
Wyman Richardson
John 19:28
John 19
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ''I thirst.''
There is a very famous statement that is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. It goes like this: ''Preach the gospel all the time. Use words only when necessary.'' As it turns out, Francis almost certainly never said that, but it is a powerful sentiment, in my opinion. It has its critics, to be sure, but the point of it is clear enough: our lives preach the gospel more powerfully than our words. Critics of the statement point out that the actual content of the gospel must be clearly preached for it to be grasped. I agree completely. But the point of the saying stands: our words, while necessary, do not carry as much weight as our actions.
I think we can see this reality playing out on the cross. The gospel was being displayed in the suffering and death of Christ. He suffering was His sermon and His words were few. But He did find some words necessary; seven, to be exact. This fifth word from the cross, ''I thirst,'' is a very short word. In it we see that Jesus was using words only when necessary. But this short word is not an easy word. It is certainly not a cheap word. It, too, contains the gospel. So on the cross the gospel was preached in action and preached in words, and here it is preached in the words, ''I thirst.''
The fifth word from the cross presents us with an illuminating irony that highlights the agony of the cross and the mystery of the incarnation.
There is an illuminating irony in the words, ''I thirst,'' particularly since they appear in John's gospel. Jesus has spoken of water before in John's gospel. The irony has to do with the water as well as with the idea of a cup.
Do you remember Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well? In John 4, Jesus passes through Samaria. He disciples find convenient excuses to ...
Series: Cross Examination
Wyman Richardson
John 19:28
John 19
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ''I thirst.''
There is a very famous statement that is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. It goes like this: ''Preach the gospel all the time. Use words only when necessary.'' As it turns out, Francis almost certainly never said that, but it is a powerful sentiment, in my opinion. It has its critics, to be sure, but the point of it is clear enough: our lives preach the gospel more powerfully than our words. Critics of the statement point out that the actual content of the gospel must be clearly preached for it to be grasped. I agree completely. But the point of the saying stands: our words, while necessary, do not carry as much weight as our actions.
I think we can see this reality playing out on the cross. The gospel was being displayed in the suffering and death of Christ. He suffering was His sermon and His words were few. But He did find some words necessary; seven, to be exact. This fifth word from the cross, ''I thirst,'' is a very short word. In it we see that Jesus was using words only when necessary. But this short word is not an easy word. It is certainly not a cheap word. It, too, contains the gospel. So on the cross the gospel was preached in action and preached in words, and here it is preached in the words, ''I thirst.''
The fifth word from the cross presents us with an illuminating irony that highlights the agony of the cross and the mystery of the incarnation.
There is an illuminating irony in the words, ''I thirst,'' particularly since they appear in John's gospel. Jesus has spoken of water before in John's gospel. The irony has to do with the water as well as with the idea of a cup.
Do you remember Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well? In John 4, Jesus passes through Samaria. He disciples find convenient excuses to ...
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