I Thirst
John 19:28-29
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. (NKJV)
This fifth word from the cross is a cry of pain. This passage teaches us two things
- THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST.
This is not phantom pain, but real pain of thirst from a real human being.
John Stott, said,
"I could never myself believe in God if it were not for the cross. In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I turn to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorns, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty.
"That is the God for me. He set aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death."
Not only does this passage teach us of the humanity of Christ, but it points us to the reason for his life and indeed the reason for his death.
2. THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.
John tells us that Christ stayed on the cross and suffered under this thirst “so that the Scripture might be fulfilled”
Psalm 69:21
21 They also gave me gall for my food,
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Psalm 22:15
15 And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
This God, who in the OT, caused the water to flow from the rock to satisfy Israel’s thirst. This God, now in the flesh, turned the water to wine to bring joy to a wedding party. He taught the woman at the well about living water. And while he could have miraculously made water flow from the very cross he hung on to quench his own thirst, he was obedient to the prophecies. He was submissive to the plan.
Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to a village in Hawaii that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony.
For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity. He taught them about Christ.
Slowly, it was said, this colony became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope.
Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance though. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him.
Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: “We lepers. . . .”
Now he wasn’t just helping them. Now he was one of them.
One day God came to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ and began his message: “We lepers. . . .” Now he wasn’t just helping us. Now he was one of us. He knew our thirst; he felt it himself more strongly than most any of us will ever feel it. And he satisfied it. He will satisfy your thirst today.
Revelation 22:17
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Our Father, may we thirst to be holy as God is holy, thirst to be like Christ, thirst to bring glory to his sacred name by complete conformity to his will.
May your Holy Spirit work in us the complete pattern of Christ crucified, and to him shall be praise for ever and ever. Amen.