I thirst
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst’.” John 19:28.
This is the fifth sayings of Jesus on the cross. The words “I thirst” or “I am thirsty” are very common to us, because we have all heard our children utter them…
We are familiar with the need of refreshment and we are willing to sympathize with and respond to such a request because it is easy to fulfill.
However, here in our text the person making such a request is not one of our children, us ourselves, or someone we know, but it is the cry of Christ Jesus.
– By this time, Christ has been on the cross for six hours
– He has been exposed to extreme weather
– He has been mocked, beaten, betrayed
– He is carrying the weight of the sins of the world on his shoulders
– His massive blood loss and dehydration caused Christ to call out ‘I thirst’.
It was the humanity of Christ Jesus that was thirsting, but it was not for physical water.
– He created the oceans, rivers, rain and the cup the water would be put in
– He did not need physical water because he was the water of life.
– He is the one that will give you water, and you will never thirst again. John 4:14
He that believes in Jesus shall never thirst. John 6:35
– He is the one that gives the rivers of living water.
– if Jesus is interested in physical water, He could have just spoke a word or lifted His brow and rain would have fallen from heaven to quench his thirst.
Jesus thirst was spiritual, not physical. But the soldiers misunderstood him and gave him vinegar to drink.
What Was Jesus Thirsting For? 3 things.
1. Christ was thirsting to restore humanities relationship with God. Romans 6:23, 5:10,11
2. Christ was thirsting for man to be filled with the Spirit of God. John 14:26, 15:26, Acts 1:8
3. Finally, Jesus was thirsting so we would not thirst. Rev. 7:16, Psa. 37:25, 121:6, Phil. 4:19
Prayer:
1. Lord Jesus I thank you because you endured thirst so that I will never thirst again.
2. Every area that I am still thirsty in my life, Lord Jesus quench my thirst with your living waters.
