I Thirst

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

I. THE WORD OF HUMANITY

There is always a danger that the most sacred things we know will become mere matters of record. William Barclay recalls another preacher talking about 'running around the burning bush taking photographs from suitable angles instead of taking off our shoes from our feet because the place whereon we stand is holy ground. He speaks of theologians who put their pipes in their mouths and stick their feet up on the mantelpiece and talk about theories of the atonement instead of bowing down before the wounds of Christ.'

I don't like to talk about the suffering of Jesus. I am afraid we might think of it as another statistic or story. How many TV killings have we seen? How cheap does human life appear?

But suffering can never be a matter of statistics.

'I THIRST' must remain a cry of mystery.

The One who created the seas needs a drink of water. Somehow we understand that Jesus Christ is very MAN as well as very God. He is forever committed to be one with YOU and with ME. He is forever one of US!

But 'I THIRST' is assurance of understanding at the throne. At the heart of God is one who KNOWS what it is like to be human and to suffer — to be alone — to hurt — to weep — to thirst! When WE hurt, Jesus hurts! For He cares!

And 'I THIRST' is qualification for representation at the throne. At the heart of God is One who represents the thirsty of the world!

II. JESUS SAID SOME THINGS ABOUT WATER AND THIRST:

  1. John 4:14 (to the woman at the well:) But whosever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
  2. (At the Feast of Tabernacles) John 7:37-8 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth in me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

We are to share this living water. To slake our own thirst — and then share what we have received. I don't mean to entirely spiritualize this business of thirst and water. BOTH aspects are here.

III. AND JESUS STILL IS SAYING: "I THIRST!"

"I thirst!" is a cry that we must learn to listen for where we are — and with what water we have!

Matthew 25:35, 42 "I was thirsty and you gave me a drink!", or, "I was thirsty and you gave me NO drink."

We cannot do ALL . . . but we all can do what we can do, in Jesus' name. By God's love and grace we can do better.

We can never know why or how Jesus is fully human, and why and how He needed a drink there on the cross: but the One who said 'I THIRST' can satisfy our thirst, and make you and me channels of living water!