I Thirst
“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” John 19:28
The fifth utterance made by Jesus on the cross that we will study is probably the actual fifth saying that He made because He said it just moments before death overcame Him (just for three days, thank the LORD God). He had been hanging on the cross for hours, His hands or wrists, as some believe (the term “hand” is translated from the Greek “cheir” which means “hand”), being held up by huge nails, likely something like railroad spikes, the weight of His body stretching His arms, His shoulders likely pulling out of their sockets, His feet and legs pressing up against the nails holding them in place in order to be able to breathe, and the blood from the crown of thorns that pierced His scalp and forehead running down His face and into His eyes. With all the perspiration and loss of blood, He would have been severely dehydrated which would have added even more agony to His suffering. His thirst was another proof of His humanity.
Jesus said, “I thirst”. I can imagine that His voice was weak by now, but strong enough to be heard by the people on the ground. Matthew 27:48-49 records that one of the men who was close by ran, filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on the end of a reed, a long, grassy, hollow stem, lifted it up to Jesus’ lips for Him to drink. By this act, another Old Testament prophecy, Psalm 69:21, was fulfilled, “…in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.” Can you imagine being so extremely thirsty, longing for some cool water, and all you are given is vinegar, a sour and acidic liquid? Earlier the soldiers had offered Jesus vinegar mixed with gall, a bitter substance used to deaden pain, but after one taste, knowing what it was, He refused it (Matthew 27:34) intending to bear the full brunt of suffering so that no one could say that He really didn’t suffer because He had received a painkiller or that His dependence upon His Father was weak. However, this vinegar was apparently nothing but vinegar, and Jesus received it (John 19:30).
Some of the people had so much hate in their hearts and were so full of vengeance that they didn’t even want Jesus’ thirst to be quenched. They said to leave Him alone and see if Elijah would come and save Him. They were being very sarcastic and hateful showing no mercy or pity for the One, who, unbeknownst to them, was dying to take away their punishment and provide a way back to God who loved them and chose them as His very own people.
Those of us who have been born again by repenting of our sin and placing our faith in Christ, depending on how long that we have been saved, sometimes forget what it was like before we came to Christ. When we have walked with Him for a long time, it is more difficult to understand how those folks in Jesus’ day could be so cruel and hateful, particularly to Jesus who was so kind, loving, and forgiving. Why would they reject Jesus so vehemently? Why do folks reject Him now? I think for the folks living in the first century all the way to this day and age, it is a power struggle. Everyone desires to be in charge of his or her own life. Pride keeps folks from humbling themselves and acknowledging that they are sinners in need of a Savior. Some of those who are lost have seen others who claim to be believers in Christ act in a manner that is no different from the world. That is why it is so incumbent upon Christians to reflect Christ to the world. You and I may be the only Christian that someone else knows. How will they know what Christ is like if we are not exhibiting a Christ-like life?
Jesus said that not everyone who says to Him, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21). What is God’s will? His will is that we repent of our sins and believe on His Son, committing our lives to live for Him. While Jesus suffered severe thirst upon the cross, He endured the suffering of pain and thirst to give us the opportunity to become part of God’s family. When we enter His kingdom, we are to endeavor by our witness and our lives to make others thirsty for Christ, the Living Water (John 4:10).
Tomorrow: “It Is Finished”