“I thirst“- Jesus.  He must have been horribly dehydrated.  Can you think of a time when you’ve experienced extreme thirst? It’s hard because we are fortunate to have access to drinking water most anywhere we go. We turn on a tap, carry it around with us, buy it in the store, and can get it in a restaurant. In Jesus’ day, water was not that easy to obtain and didn’t always taste that good. But water is essential for our survival. It’s not an option to go without.

Jesus is Crucified

“I am thirsty” Jesus gasps with one of his last breaths. (John19:28, NIV)

As uncomfortable as any experience we may have had with extreme thirst, it pales in comparison to his. Pilate had ordered Jesus flogged with a maximum of 39 strikes and ordered him to carry a heavy crossbar on his beaten back. He had been hanging on the cross, struggling to breathe for six hours. His mission almost accomplished; he asked for something to ease his dry throat so he could cry out his final words.

Amazingly, instead of ignoring Jesus’ need, a soldier soaked a sponge with vinegar (sour wine) and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. John tells us that Jesus drank a bit of the vinegar: “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)  Luke and Mark give us extra details regarding Jesus’ last words. As Jesus speaks the words “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”, he said them “in a loud cry” and in a “loud voice.” His last words from his parched throat were mighty words of victory for those within earshot to hear.

Jesus gave up his life as a victor in a battle. Our sin did not defeat him; he defeated sin and death.

Why Did Jesus Say “I Thirst”?

Jesus’ words “I thirst” remind us that he was fully human.

He could have lessened the pain of his ordeal supernaturally, but he didn’t. He felt every physical aspect of his ordeal just as we would have. There was no “pretending” to feel the pain or endure the exhaustion and torture.

Likewise, his words remind us he gave full attention to fulfilling the details of the prophecy about him (Ps 69:21 and Ps 22:15).

Even with all he was going through, he fights on to complete his task.  His words would have been familiar to those around him who knew the Old Testament and the prophecy of the Messiah.

Jesus’ words remind me that we too can say “I thirst”- for what Jesus describes as “living water.”

God created a need, a thirst, in us to know Him.  We are “spiritually dehydrated” without him. He wants us to sense that thirst and draw closer to him. It is up to us, of course, to accept him and quench our spiritual thirst.

Psalm 42:1-2 “My whole being thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Psalm 63:1 “O God, you are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…”

Living Water

I love the story of the Samaritan women at the well for many reasons, but I’ll stick to the “living water” part. She comes alone, an outcast, to the community well to draw water. She sees Jesus, tired from traveling, sitting by the well to rest. When the woman approached the well, Jesus asks her for a drink. She’s shocked, as Jews considered themselves unclean if they used a drinking vessel handled by a Samaritan. “How can you ask me for a drink?” she asks.

“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)

This was strange to her. She questions Jesus, “Where can you get this living water?” He answers, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (v 13)

Living water is:

· a gift given from Jesus; it costs us nothing

· available to all that ask and gladly given

· a feast that deeply satisfies our soul

· a continual refreshing spring; a forever flowing fountain

Spiritual Thirst

We drink ordinary water to quench our physical thirst. We have a spiritual thirst too, and Jesus tells us that if we want to satisfy that thirst completely and forever, we need him. Similar to the woman at the well, we need to believe that God can satisfy our deepest thirst.

The vinegar did not quench Jesus’ thirst on the cross. He was thirsty when he died. But three days later, he arose, totally refreshed. We can share in that same refreshment because Jesus promises “whoever believes in me shall never thirst” John 6:35

We only need to come to Jesus and say “I thirst!”

Blessings,

AnnMarie