At times in Christ’s life, we see both His humanity and His divinity. When Jesus said that He was thirsty…we see His humanity.

The Son of God the divine Creator of the rivers and oceans of water said, “I thirst.” The Son of God who makes the rain to fall from the sky and the fountains to burst forth from the depths of the earth said, “I thirst.” The one who said, “I am the water of life and anyone who comes to me and drinks, out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water,” Thirsts.

The words of Jesus not only show us his humanity, but they were also a quote from Psalm 69:31. “I thirst and they gave me vinegar to drink.” It was an obscure passage. But John the Apostle, from the foot of he cross, heard the detail, and saw it and recorded it.

Psalm 22:15 from which Christ’s first words on the cross were spoken hints at this as well. “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.” Some have suggested it was not to alleviate Christ’s thirst or relieve the suffering that he makes his request. Instead, it was to momentarily relieve the dryness in his mouth so that His next, and final triumphant words might be uttered clearly and triumphantly.

As we approach Easter, we are reminded that Christ suffered as one of us, yet was also divine. He knows true suffering. On the cross he clearly identifies himself with us, and suffers with us, in our place so that on Easter morning his divinity might clearly burst forth! God knows what you are going through. Don’t be afraid to cry out to God. He hears your cries. He knows your thirst. And he offered himself as living water that you might never thirst again. He offered himself to death on the cross that you might live forever with him in paradise.

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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
This phrase feels very familiar. I wonder how many times we have asked God the same question. Where are you? Where were you when this happened in my life? Why did you abandon me in my greatest time of need? Why don’t you do something? I am hurting here! Where is your comfort?

Yet at the same time, we know that God is working according to his eternal purposes. We know it, but it doesn’t make it any easier. We still have those feelings. There are times we all feel abandoned, isolated, as if we are going through things alone. We know that God cares but sometimes it is hard to reconcile the reality of the moment with the truths we know. And we’re not alone in these feelings.

King David wrote these exact same words in Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” His words continue: “why are you so far from saving me Lord? Why are you so far from my groaning? Why do I cry out to you, but you do not answer?” King David had these feelings in his heart that God had forsaken him, abandoned him, deserted him.

Job also experienced many personal tragedies. He lost his farms, his animals, his children, his wife, his health, and his friends. Job lost everything. And he also felt as if God had abandoned him, deserted him. Job even went one step further and was angry with God.

Yet God still loved both David and Job, even in the midst of their crying out to him in frustration and hurt. God still loved Jesus when Jesus expressed those feelings and he also loves us when we express them.

This Easter, remember that God can handle your feelings. He understands. He cares. Be honest with him. And in the end all things will work out. As someone I know says, “In the End, everything will work out. If it hasn’t worked out, its not the end yet.” God’s work isn’t finished yet. That comes later!

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“Woman, your son; Son, your mother.”
Jesus is in the middle of incredible pain and yet he is thinking about others. So many times when we are in pain we seem to take it out on others. Not Jesus!

“Woman”
Imagine as a mother what Mary must have felt to see her son on the cross. In reality, we can’t even begin to imagine what it would have been like. It must have been the most gut wrenching event of her life. Every parent feels the pain of a child, and crucifixion is considered one of the most painful ways to die ever devised by man. Yet she was with Jesus at the foot of the cross. I am sure she felt every nail and was gripped by sadness.

“Son”, “Mother”
God knows us each by name, but Jesus did not use the name of John or Mary. He referred to them by terms related to a family relationship. His request is very simple…. take care of each other as a mother and son. In times of great stress and distress we need support from family and friends. And with the family of God, we all have a new, much extended family.

Thoughts for Easter
I wonder if you are going through a painful experience in your own life. Are you looking for sympathy or looking after others. Are you focused on your own pain, or the pain others are experiencing? Instead of focusing on your own pain this Easter, remember those around you. There may be people suffering, that in the midst of your own pain, you hadn’t noticed were hurting. Their pain may seem insignificant compared to yours, but for Jesus it was important that those near to him were comforted in times of great distress.

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Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

“Today”
Jesus makes a huge promise to the sinner next to him on the cross. Today you will be with me in paradise. Immediately. Instantly. Now. Not tomorrow. Not in a hundred years. Not in a in a thousand years. Not in a in a million years. Not at the second coming of Christ. But today. Immediately. I don’t understand what awaits us after we pass through the doors of death, but I know eternal life awaits beyond.

“Today, You”
You. That means you and me. We will be in paradise with God when we die. I don’t believe Christ’s promise is only towards the thief on the cross but Christ’s promise is directed towards you and me as well.

“Today, You will be with me”
With me. The emphasis in the Bible is not on being reunited with our loved ones from earth though I also believe that will happen. The Bible focuses on something even better… We will be with Christ, we will be in God’s Presence.

“Today, You will be with me in paradise”
We will seen the face and glory of God. We will be with loved ones. There will no war nor starvation nor evil for these things will have been all destroyed. It will be paradise! I can’t explain and any explanation will fall far short of the reality. Its beyond anything we can comprehend.

God loves us and he wants us to know that we will be with him. His presence is what really matters. Its his presence that makes it paradise. But God also promises his presence with us today. Are you able to see the presence of God in your life today! Its only a foretaste of what it will be like when in paradise, when the overwhelming presence of God is truly revealed in all his glory! Don’t wait… it can begin today!

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“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

“Father”
These are the first recorded words we have from Jesus on the Cross. He begins with a prayer to our intimate heavenly Father. He does not address his beloved disciple John, nor the grieving women who followed him nor the religious leaders, nor the sinners on each side, nor the gawking crowd below. Jesus did not look at the people around him, but up to the Father above. He will only be able to see the people around him in proper perspective when he focuses on the Father first. Are our first thoughts toward God in everything?

“Father, forgive them”
But there’s more. While in excruciating pain, Jesus asked God to forgive his tormentors. I don’t know about you, but in the midst of the pain, especially when I am on the receiving end, I find it difficult to think about forgiveness. Christ’s pain wasn’t even over yet, it had just begun! The people on the receiving end of God’s forgiveness certainly didn’t deserve it. They didn’t even ask for it. It wasn’t even a past event. More was to come. Yet he still asked the Father to forgive them. What amazing grace! What amazing love! This may be the most powerful example of grace and forgiving love in the whole Bible.

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”
Did the soldiers, the gawkers, the Jewish leaders, the angry spectators, fully comprehend the consequences of their actions? We don’t know all the reasons they were there on that day at the cross. All we need to do is to think about ourselves a little — How often do we actually think through the repercussions of what WE do? We may think we are doing the right things. We have noble ambitions. We may be protecting the truth. Standing up for righteousness. Making sure the wicked don’t go unpunished. Our reasons may even be less than honorable or outright rebellious. In the end it doesn’t really matter why they were there. They thought they knew what they were doing, but in the eternal scheme of things they had no clue!

But Christ’s concern wasn’t the “Why?” When faced with persecution, with trials, with pain, our first response is to ask God “why?” Maybe we want to understand to have a reason to grant forgiveness! But Christ’s didn’t need a reason. True love doesn’t need a reason. His first response was reconciliation, forgiveness, grace!

That’s the first and final conclusion of the cross – grace – God loved us first, taking the initiative to reconcile with us, even at the greatest possible cost to himself.

May this Easter season be a time of reconciliation for all of us! Don’t ask for an explanation. Don’t try to understand. Don’t wait for someone to ask you for forgiveness. Don’t focus on what is happening down here. Focus on your heavenly Father. Look up in prayer on their behalf. When you do, you will find the grace to take the first loving steps toward loving forgiveness for those around you, regardless of what they are doing, or why they are doing it. Simply forgive and leave the rest up to God!

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The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities:
a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb.

Jesus entered our world through a door marked “No Entrance”
and left through a door marked “No Exit.”

And for all who feel it is impossible to overcome the situations facing them
—sickness, death, divorce, persecution, loneliness, despair, addictions—
Jesus stands at the human door marked “No Way” and knocks.

-Peter Larson

I wonder what impossible situations you are facing this season? Relationship issues? Ministry Issues? Parenting Issues? Job? Finances? Spiritual burnout? Or any of those seemingly impossible situations mentioned by Peter Larson in the above quote?

Whether they are minor or major, Jesus has an answer!
Even for those that seem impossible, God has an answer!
Isn’t that the real story of Easter? God did the impossible, to reconcile us with him!
And he promises that he will do impossible things in us and through us?

Only a few years back I was in one of those impossible situations, like the stone rolled in front of the tomb, a door was closed in my life that I thought would never be reopened. It was one of the darkest moments of my life!
It was a time when I was confronted with some harsh realities of my life, a time of personal despair and for a while I lost all hope.

Many of those, treasured as close friends – deserted me. But by God’s grace a few very special saints persevered with me and saw me through until the grace of God could bring a ray of hope to a new day, to a new chapter in my life.

Easter morning came to my life, and every day I am more amazed with the grace, the love, and the sacrifice Christ made to bring about Resurrection and Reconciliation, not only in my life, but in the life of every single sinner who will trust Him!

And just when I find myself back in a locked room, like the disciples after the crucifixion, focused within instead of the world outside, he suddenly appears and reminds me of the holes in his hands and feet and side – of the sacrifice he made for me. And he reminds me HE IS ALIVE.

Not only is he alive, but he wants to live through me to bring his love to a world outside that desperately needs it. He asks me to put aside my doubts and simply trust and obey!
He’ll take care of everything else!

I wonder what it is that you consider impossible in your life?
Easter reminds us that God makes a habit of doing the impossible!
Will you trust him with the impossible in your life this Easter?

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