March 29, 2015
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
6th Sunday of
Lent
Final
Words Sermon Series
“I Thirst”
John
19:28-29 AMP
Adapted
from Adam Hamilton’s book “Final Words From the Cross”
“What Do We Thirst For. . . ?”
A
reading from the Gospel of John, chapter 19, verses 28-29, Listen to the word
of God for you and me His beloved children.
John 19:28-29Amplified Bible (AMP)
28
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished (ended), said in
fulfillment of the Scripture, I thirst.
29
A vessel (jar) full of sour wine (vinegar) was placed there, so they put a
sponge soaked in the sour wine on [a stalk, reed of] hyssop, and held it to
[His] mouth.
Let
us pray. . . Pray for God’s word to be heard through me or in spite of me. . .
I like camels. They are really cool. I can
relate to camels at times. Did you know that when temperatures rise above 110
degrees Fahrenheit, camels can survive for about five days without drinking
water? During the winter, camels can survive six or seven months without
drinking water. During that time, they may obtain moisture from plants they
consume. Camels that graze in the Sahara can go all winter without water and
may refuse to drink if water is offered to them. But a large, thirsty camel can
drink as much as 200 liters a day.
There are days that I feel as if I were a
camel. I may drink in the morning but Ii may not drink again until dinner at
night. I am just not thirsty. But like the camel, when I am thirsty I can drink
on drink after another. When we thirsty our bodies need to be replenished. But
what about our souls, when our soul thirst what is it looking for, what does it
thirst for?
We have been journeying our way to the Cross
of Calvary. . . stopping here and there to hear what Jesus said in His last
words from the cross, His last words of ministry so to speak. These were the
last words of His ministry here on earth. Even from the cross, Jesus was still
doing ministry. His anguish on the cross was leading up of the climax of His
ministry and the reason He was sent from above. It is to this place that we have
stopped and pondered as we await the celebration of His victory.
We have talked about His words “Father
forgive them for they know not what they are doing. . . ” and realized that we
are part of the “them” that Jesus was praying for and about. We heard His words
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with
me in paradise.” which are words of hope for us knowing that we will one
day be with Him where He is. . . We know
there was an “adoption” at the cross when he proclaimed “Woman here is your son.
. . here is your mother.” And then there was last week’s words. . . ”My God, My
God, why have you forsaken me?”. . . Jesus knows our pain and our suffering for
He Himself has been there. . .
Jesus’ next words make me
stop and ponder for a while “I Thirst”.
Now these two words seem out of place compared to the other words from the
cross and it is only found in the Gospel of John. But these two words tell us
more about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Jesus thirsted for
righteousness as He ministered to those around Him. It gives a deeper meaning
to who Jesus was and why He came.
The words I thirst show us
Jesus’ humanity. Almost every person who is near death all the sudden asks for
a drink. They become thirsty just before they pass on to Glory. John was showing
us that Jesus was fully human as we are. Before death He thirsted as we thirst
and died as we die.
But what makes me think at
these words is the question “what do I thirst for”, what is it that I desire, hunger,
yearn for in my life? We live in a world offers many things that promises to
“fill our thirst” but what is truly needed? What is the “better part” that I
desire? We get caught up in things that we think will satisfy only to become
thirsty for more things. Jesus death on the cross beckons us, beckons you and
me, to thirst after only Him. . .
What is your craving in
life? What is it that you are thirsting for? Is it that bigger house on the
corner lot? How about that promotion that you think you deserve? Maybe, just
maybe, as we seek Jesus, our thirst will be only for Him. Or perhaps as we being
to thirst for those eternal things the thirst of the world would no longer be.
Just think about what would happen if we thirst for righteousness. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Think of what
would happen if we, as humanity, would begin to seek to quench the thirst of
others. . . quench the thirst of suffering, quench the thirst of poverty, and
quench the thirst of oppression. “I
thirst for. . . (Fill in the blank) Perhaps maybe, just
maybe. . .
Amen
Palm Sunday
John 19:28-29
(The Amplified Bible)
sermon, “What
Do We Thirst For? . . .”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message – “That
slipper snake”
-
Mystery
box – rubber snake
video:
text:
Sacred
Dance introit, distribution of the palms
to
“Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin
praise
hymn, “Hear Our Praises”
praise
hymn, “How Majestic Is Your Name”
praise hymn,
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
praise
hymn, “Break Every Chain”
offertory
hymn, “Light The Fire Again”
Communion
hymns, “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever”
closing song,
“God You Reign”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
6th Sunday of Lent
Palm Sunday
March 29, 2015
&
Mark 15:21-36a
(The Message)
Psalm 22:1
Psalm 22:1
sermon, “You
Are Never Alone”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s Message – “The
Protection of the Trinity”
-
Mystery
box – jackknife (from Ted)
video:
text:
praise
hymn, “I Will Call Upon the Lord”
praise
hymn, “Standing In The Need of Prayer”
praise
hymn, “It’s Amazing”
praise
hymn, “For Those Tears I Died”
offertory
hymn, “ At The Cross”
Communion
and Communion hymns, “Ain’t Jesus Good” and “I Will Bless The Lord”
closing hymn,
“Let Everything That Has Breath”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
5th Sunday in
Lent
March 22, 2015
&
John 19:25-27
Ephesians 1:3-14
Romans 8:15
sermon, “You
Are Chosen”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s Message – “God's
Love Letter; God is writing your story”
-
Mystery
box – a pencil
video:
text:
praise
hymn, “Step By Step”
praise
hymn, “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High”
praise
hymn, “Jesus, Messiah”
praise
hymn, “I Stand Amazed”
offertory
hymn, “May Jesus Christ Be Praised” (“When Morning Gilds the Skies”)
Communion
and Communion hymn, “There Is A River”
closing hymn,
“Shout To the Lord”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in
Lent
March 8, 2015
&
Luke 23:32, 39-43
sermon, “So
This Is Paradise”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message – “Thirsting for God”
-
Mystery
box – bottle of grape juice
video:
text:
centering
hymn, “Surely the Presence”, Greeting and Announcements, Opening Prayer
praise
hymn, “Forever”
praise
hymn, “Everlasting”
praise
hymn, “To God Be the Glory”
praise
hymn, “I Worship You Almighty God”
offertory
hymn, “The Love Of God Goes On”
Communion
hymn, “10,000 Reasons”
closing hymn,
“Better Is One Day”
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=648698805236478&set=vb.174161846023512&type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=648698805236478&set=vb.174161846023512&type=2&theater
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
2nd Sunday in
Lent
March 1, 2015
&
Luke 23:23, 33-34
sermon, “You
Are Forgiven”
video:
text:
http://pstruthsermons.blogspot.com/2015/02/you-are-forgiven.html
https://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/you-are-forgiven/
https://pstrfoss.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/you-are-forgiven/
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message – “Jesus is our superhero”
-
Mystery
box – Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Scooby Doo
-
and a
candy cane
video:
image:
text:
centering,
“Surely the Presence”
praise
hymn, “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
offertory
hymn, “Make My Life A Prayer to You”
Communion
hymn, “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him”
closing hymn,
“Our God Reigns”
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
1st
Sunday in Lent
February 22,
2015
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reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 36,800+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
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