The sayings that Jesus uttered on the cross most certainly had a purpose. He spoke of forgiveness, salvation, care, loneliness, and today we will cover thirst. Jesus asked for a drink and in his case it was not necessarily a desire but rather to fulfill the prophecy foretold. He had just taken on all the sins of the world. I’d imagine that he was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. If this were a Rocky movie, this would be the scene in the 11th round versus Apollo Creed.
At the beginning of the crucifixion Jesus was offered wine mixed with gall to drink (Matthew 27:34). Upon tasting it he opted out of the drink. Wine mixed with gall was to sooth the pain. While experiencing unbearable pain he decided against the soothing drink. He did not want to minimize his sacrifice. He was going to endure it to the end.
In the middle of his process according to John 19:28 Jesus said:
I am thirsty.
Why was he thirsty?
- He could certainly have been physically dehydrated due to the pain he endured.
- He could have also been spiritually thirsty to see souls saved.
- Jesus was human like you and me. He experienced real pain and had to face the consequences of that pain.
- We should also have that same thirst. The Bible says in Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Think about your current situation, are you experiencing pain? Is your pain physical or spiritual? If it is spiritual then most likely you are thirsty. Thirsty to see God meet your need. Thirsty to see your loved ones saved. Thirsty to experience unspeakable joy. Statistics show that anxiety and depression are at an all time high right now. Where do you fall in the mix? Is everything perfect or can it improve significantly?
Question:
What do you thirst for?
Today’s invitation is to obey your thirst. God bless you!
Jonathan is the author and founder of ConsiderUp.com. He is a husband, a father, and a pastor. He loves Jesus, his family, writing, and playing golf.
Jonathan is proud to serve alongside his wife Sileni as associate pastors at Bethesda Church in Clermont, Florida. For over 13 years he has been heavily involved in ministry and church leadership preaching a message of grace and restoration.
