Behind the words "I thirst"
Today, we come to the fifth message in our series on Jesus’ last words from John 19:28-29. Here we see the human nature of Jesus expressed in these words. He was dealing with his own personal physical suffering. These are the most humanly words Jesus ever said on Earth – “I thirst”.
Isn’t it ironic that on the cross, the Son of God who made the fountains of water and made the rivers of water said, “I thirst”? What are behind the words “I thirst”?
It shows us how Jesus truly suffered
Though he was 100% God, Jesus was also 100% man. That’s why he truly suffered. It is human to thirst and it wasn’t just the physical suffering he endured, but spiritual suffering. He fought with Satan and sin on the cross for us as we know from Hebrews:
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15
Jesus took on our humanly nature so that through his physical death on the cross of Calvary, he might break the power of the devil to free me and you from the power of sin and death.
It shows us how He secured God’s plan
Jesus’ words show us how he secured God’s plan of salvation. Notice this verse that says, “Jesus knowing that all was now finished said, I thirst.” In other words, Jesus had accomplished the mission that God had set for him… and what did he accomplish?
1. He secured the provision of salvation (Colossians 1:19-20)
2. He secured the prophecy of scripture (Psalm 69:21)
3. He secured the reconciliation of sin (I John 4:10)
It shows us how he sympathized
Last of all, Jesus said “I thirst” because it shows us how he can sympathise with us. His life on earth as a human and his work on the cross is all to show how he can sympathise with you and me. For on the cross, Jesus is experiencing everything humans can experience - shame, humiliation, guilt, sadness, pain, hunger, thirst, loneliness, and much more. Jesus could have saved himself and provided himself something to drink, but he chose to suffer and show everyone his weaknesses as a human; this is so that we can know we have a high priest who can also sympathise with our earthly struggles.
One final note on the words “I thirst,“ Jesus was expressing himself for the souls of humanity. Jesus was thirsty for the souls of men (Luke 19:10) and still today, he thirsts for a personal relationship with us. He said “I thirst” because in his heart, he longs for us.
Heavenly Father,
I thank you for Jesus and how He thirsts today for me to come to know Him and serve Him. Lord today, I pray I will answer that call to give my life to you. I want to surrender to you, I want to come to the cross and I want to have my life surrendered to you and transformed.
Amen.