I have a little more left (I Thirst) - John 19:28-29

Body

Jesus' Physical Humanity

First and probably of greatest importance, Jesus' word "I thirst," reminds us of Jesus' physical nature, his humanity.

This was no play-acting on the cross --  a divine being pretending to undergo a physical act of torture that could not touch him. This was tangible physical suffering, of which extreme thirst is the one element most of us can readily identify with from our own personal experience.

There was a heresy afoot in the Hellenistic world that Jesus didn't really come in flesh and blood, much less die a gruesome physical death on the cross. Flesh was of the evil realm, they believed, and could never be holy. Only spirit was capable of the divine. So Jesus didn't really die, he only appeared to. He was only pretending. Thus said Docetism and Gnosticism.

The Apostle John was combating an early form of this heresy in his letters:

"... Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist...." (1 John 4:2-3)

"Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 7)

Jesus Fifth Word, "I thirst," reminds us that Jesus died in the flesh for us and for our sins.

Jesus' Awareness of Scripture

Second, "I thirst" reminds us of Jesus' extensive knowledge of the prophetic scriptures concerning his suffering and death --  and his willingness to fulfill each of them to the letter. The best known passage, of course, is the Servant Song from Isaiah 53:

"He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12)

He knew it well and referred to it again and again.52 Jesus' action to ask for a drink is deliberately prompted by his knowledge of Scripture and determination to fulfill it:

"... So that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.'" (John 19:28)

Jesus' Determination to Complete His Task

Third, Jesus said, "I thirst" to strengthen himself and ease his throat so that he might cry out his final words from the cross "with a loud voice." He was summoning himself to bring it all to completion.