Greetings, Army of Youth! In today’s class, we shall finish our study on Satisfying Jesus’ Thirst.
As we learned from our previous lessons, there is nobody like you. You are the only one that can fill Christ’s need. If everybody in class today feeds Jesus, and you don’t, there is a hunger in His heart that nothing that the rest do can satisfy. You can satisfy a hunger in the heart of Jesus; but, He has another hunger.
You remember in Isaiah 58 we are told to deal our bread to the hungry. You remember that? Somebody says, “Sure, that is Dorcas and welfare work.” Yes, it is. That is good. That means to take care of those millions that are facing famine over in that new country, above India. Yes, that is right.
But I want to tell you, friends, the hungriest soul in this world is not in India or China. The hungriest heart in this world is the heart of Jesus. He is longing for something that will satisfy the hunger of His heart. I think we ought to read that again, because it is such a stupendous statement. I wouldn’t want you to think that you have to take my word for any of this:
“Our Redeemer thirsts for recognition” Desire of Ages, page 191.
Oh, how good it is when you knock at somebody’s door, to have them come and open 
wide the door and say, “Why, come in. I am so glad you came.” Isn’t it? That is recognition. If you have ever done any colporteur work, you know what it is to get the opposite. People that will just open the door a little crack and close it again, as soon as they can. Or maybe they look out the window and won’t even come to the door. Let’s not treat Jesus that way. What do you say?
“Our Redeemer thirsts for recognition. He hungers for the sympathy and love of those whom He has purchased with His own blood” Ibid.
Do you know, friends, when Jesus began to get hungry? I will tell you. You go back to the first three chapters of the Bible. In the first chapter, we see God creating this world. Oh, what a beautiful planet it was. Finally, when He had everything all ready, the Father and the Son talked it over and said, “Now, let’s make man in Our image. Let’s make somebody just like Us who can talk to Us and who We can talk to, who can love Us and We can love; somebody who We can counsel with and who will counsel with Us; somebody who We can visit with who will visit with Us. Let’s make somebody who will think and reason and choose and love.” So God made man.
What a story there in Genesis 1 and 2. Think of it, friends, as described there in Genesis
2, He took the clay, the earth, and He formed it in His own image. The great Creator made something which looked like Him. Then He breathed into the nostrils the breath of life. And that hitherto lifeless form became a living soul. The eyes opened and saw. The ears began to hear. The heart was beating, the lungs breathing, the mind was thinking. And oh, friends, there was not only intelligence, there was love. There was response. How the heart of God must have thrilled as that being He had made began to appreciate Him and to love Him, and to give Him the heart’s adoration. Oh, friends, how happy He was.
Then He made Eve likewise, and Heaven rejoiced in that fellowship between Adam and Eve, and between earth and Heaven. And from day to day, do you know that the dear Lord came down and visited that garden home? Think of it. Yes. He would come down and walk with Adam and Eve in the garden. Why? Well, He loved them, and He was hungry for their love. And they always fed Him, too. They told Him they loved Him. And they were continually showing Him some new, wonderful thing they had found in the garden.
Before you knew better, have you ever went on an Easter egg hunt? Was it a thrill to find those colored eggs? But do you know why you found them? Somebody put them there. Don’t forget it. Somebody took the time and the pain to get the eggs and fix them all up, and then hide them just where you would find them.
So it was with Adam and Eve. Every day they were discovering something wonderful there in the garden; some new object to call forth praise and adoration. And when God came, they were ready to run to meet Him and say, “Oh, look what I found today.” And of course, God knew they would find it. That’s why He put it there. It made Him so happy.
And then one day He came, and they weren’t there at the gate to meet Him. He walked on into the garden. Nobody in sight. And He began to call, “Oh, Adam, Adam where art thou? Where are you, Adam?” What had happened? Sin had entered. And finally, Adam and Eve came out, trembling, ashamed.
Adam said, “I was afraid.” Afraid of God? The One who had done everything precious and lovely and sweet for them? Afraid of Him? What had put that fear in their hearts, my friends? Sin had. And to this day, most of the people on this planet are afraid of God. They don’t understand Him. They hide. They do anything to get away. And oh, how that hurt God back then, and how it hurts Him today. Ah, friends, I am so glad that there is a way to end that separation, and restore the joy of fellowship between man and God:
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” John 3:16.
And there, that afternoon as the first lamb was slain, God Himself explained to Adam and Eve the plan of salvation, the plan to get man and God back together again. And something of the fearful cost of it all was made plain to them, as for the first time they saw life taken, as for the first time they saw something die. As they saw the blood flow and the lamb expire, they began to get some idea of what a terrible thing had taken place when they broke God’s law and broke His heart – when they chose to turn from Him and listen to His worst enemy and their worst enemy. Isn’t it a shame, friends, to take the love which God put in hearts, so they could love Him, and use it to love the devil? Isn’t that a shame?
But through Calvary, that can be reversed. As we behold the cross, we discern something of the love that will never let us go, that will seek us in our sins, in our disobedience, in our separation, that will breach the gulf and come where we are, and pick us up and take us home.
And you remember when Jesus was here on earth, He told a story. You can read it in Luke 15, and Matthew 18. He told a story to help you and me understand that this is for one person, and that is you, and that is me. You remember He told the story to a large number of people, among whom were shepherds. He said, “Which of you having an hundred sheep if you lose one will not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the wilderness until he find him?” Oh, yes. The same God that was seeking Adam in Eden came to this world, in human form, that He might seek the lost sheep.
And what did Jesus say, as He told the story? “Oh,” He says, “When the shepherd out there in the mountain, in the desert, finds that sheep, he puts it on his shoulder rejoicing.” He doesn’t drive it before him and say, “Now, look at all the trouble you have caused me. Now, get home. Get in the fold.” Oh, no. He lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he gets home, he calls together the friends and neighbors and says, “Rejoice with me I have found my sheep which was lost.”
How many sheep? One. And what is He telling us? Why, my friends, He is telling us that one is worth the trip. One is worth the price. One is worth the sacrifice. And that is you. And that is me.
What Stands Out To You?
What stands out to you from today’s lesson, that can help you in entering into a C.I.P. with Jesus? Please let us know, in the comment section, below! God bless!
* This study has been adapted from classes taken by Elder W.D. Frazee.
Hi Mol Family, its your brother K. Thank you for another eye opening lesson. As I was praying today on my knees in humble supplication to our Lord. I was pleading to be with Him in Heaven. I was studying Vol. 4 of the Spirit of Prophecy, as well SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7. I was studying Revelations. I was thinking how I want to be in that number at the end when we see our Lord comes in that black cloud the size of a man’s hand. Oh how wonderful that your study is in line with what I was studying today. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little.
Until the next lesson
:) Enjoy this day the Lord has made!
Praise the Lord brother! “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned” 2 Tim. 3:!4
Thank you for such heartwarming studies! They have really help me understand the love of God for me and for others. I like how you pointed out we don’t need to be afraid of God and hide from Him, He’s the only one who can help our sinful hearts.
Praise the Lord brother! Please share these studies with your family and friends!