Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Thirst

THIRST

1 John 4:15-17:  “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we rely on the love God has for us.

“God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like Him.”


            “I am thirsty.” Jesus said in John 19:28 as He hung on the cross.

            Jesus’ thirst didn’t come the same way people get thirsty.  Jesus became our burnt offering sacrifice during the crucifixion.  Breathing was torturously difficult, yet Jesus did utter a few words from the cross …

            “He said to His mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”  (John 19:26-27).  John cared for Mary from then on.  

             Jesus may have mentally checked off each Scripture He fulfilled.  Then, realizing that He accomplished all that His Father assigned, Jesus said, “It is finished.” 

            Believers thank Jesus for so many benefits we receive from His finished work on the cross: we’re saved for eternal life, forgiven of sins, reconciled to the Father, seen as righteous, holy and redeemed (1 Corinthians 1:30).

            We can only do this because of Jesus’ thirst, sacrificed as our burnt offering.

            Leviticus 1:3-4 details burnt offerings: “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to be a male without defect. … He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.”
            Atonement [a-TONE-ment] means punishment / compensation.  Jesus is a male without defect.  The Father bellowed His acceptance of him from heaven in Matthew 3:17: “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”    

            Jesus became the LAST burnt offering to make atonement for human sin!  Thousands of animals sacrificed before never satisfied the Father permanently.  He sentenced Jesus to death as atonement for sin (punishment).  He transferred Jesus’ perfection and righteousness to Believers (compensation).  God sees His redeemed kids as transferred perfection—from Christ.   
  
            Jesus covers our sin with His righteousness daily.  Check the lesson linked below for detailed assignments from the father.       
          
Take Home Nugget

            Smell the heat rising from the burning sacrifice.  Does that sting your eyes?  Does Jesus sacrifice humble us to worship Him with thanks every day?

Thank You, Father, for the faith to believe in Jesus as my burnt offering, who covers me with His righteousness!  Thank You, Jesus, for covering me today and every day with Your perfect righteousness.  Amen.
              
Adapted from “Jesus Has You Covered” by Rev. Joseph Prince.  May 29, 2016. www.josephprince.org.
J.D. Griffith





                   Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com  

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