Seven Sayings of the Cross( Brett Pagan - I Thirst)

John 19:28–29 (CSB)

28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.”

29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth.

When you think of the name Jesus, what image comes to your mind?

Most often we remember his power to heal the sick to raise the dead, to calm the sea, feed the five thousand.

We remember Jesus for his deity, strength, power, and authority that comes from all of heaven being at His command.

How easy it is for us to see his great power yet miss his frail humanity.

He was born a helpless baby who nursed from his mother. A human baby that required a warm blanket when it was cold. A baby whose mother held his hand as he learned to walk and run. We often see right passed His humanity and all the basic needs that come with being fully human.

We often only think of Jesus as being divine.

Yet in this account we are forced to reconcile a God in human flesh that has needs. A God-man that can experience pain, misery, thirst, and even death.

So then the question becomes “Why?”.

Why would the almighty God allow himself to experience weakness and pain? Charles Spurgeon said it this way.

1956who was this that said, “I thirst”? It was he who balanced the clouds and filled the channels of the mighty deep. He said, “I thirst,” and yet in him was a well of water springing up to eternal life! Yes, he who guided every river in its course and watered all the fields with grateful showers—he it was, the King of kings and Lord of lords, before whom hell trembles and the earth is filled with dismay, he whom heaven adores and all eternity worships—he it was who said, “I thirst”! Matchless condescension—from the infinity of God to the weakness of a thirsting, dying man! And this was for you.—59.604

Charles Spurgeon

It was for you! Sin is man’s problem so by a man it had to be paid. Christ condescended. He became man. He experienced life fully as a man and yet fully God. To take you place. To pay for your sin. Only a man, a God-man could pay for your sin.

A God of all power chose to become like us, yet without sin, out of his great love for you! The cry of “I Thirst” shows us the reality of this divine mystery of God in the flesh. A God that suffered and died for you.