I Thirst

John 19:28-29

This morning as we look I Thirst on the sayings that our blessed Lord uttered from the cross, we come to the 5 word of these proclamations. This one is somewhat difficult to comprehend, yet it sheds great light upon the sovereignty and mercy of Christ in His dying moments.

As we pondered this saying, I was aware that Jesus cried of thirst because He was truly thirsty. Our minds have a hard time embracing such a thought. Christ was the One who created the streams, rivers, lakes, and even the vast oceans. The first miracle that Jesus performed, He turned the water into wine. On two different occasions Jesus declared that those who drank of His living water would never thirst again. Jn. 4:14—But whosoever trinket of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Jn. 6:35—And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

He is the source and supply of that living water and yet upon the cross, He cried, I thirst. I want to take a few moments to consider this passage and the truthit reveals as we think on the statement: I Thirst.

I. The Sovereignty of Christ (28a)—After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, smith, I thirst. These few words reveal much concerning His sovereignty. Notice:

A. His Character Jesus knew that all things were now accomplished. That has to do with “bringing to a close, to finish, complete, fulfill; to carry out the command given.” This reveals His divine omniscience. He had endured hours of unspeakable torment and suffering and yet He remained and aware that the will of God was being fulfilled.

B. His Commitment Jesus knew that all things were now accomplished. He had not side stepped any of His responsibilities. He had not sought to avoid the cross. He fully submitted Himself to the will of God and endured till the end. Every detail of Calvary was fulfilled as God had planned.

• Aren’t you glad that Jesus endured till the end? Aren’t you glad that He ensured that all things were accomplished on the cross? I’m glad that it isn’t up to me to endure long enough or live good enough to merit my salvation. Jesus did that so that I could simply believe on Him and His finished work!

• That ought to challenge us today. Jesus was willing to endure all of that, remaining committed until the end, and yet we have trouble remaining committed in the day to day things of life. Is it too much to ask to live as upright as we can? Is it too much to ask for us to pray and fellowship with Him? Is it too much to ask to identify with the One who suffered for our redemption? Is it too much to ask to remain faithful to attend His house and encourage those of like faith? I think we need to examine our commitment!

C. His Control Jesus was not a victim of the cross. He was not there at the will and desire of sinful men. His life was not taken at Calvary; He willingly laid it down so that we might have life. Jesus was not a helpless victim, but a willing Savior.

• By all outward appearances it may have seemed as if the Sanhedrin, the multitude, and the Roman soldiers were the ones in charge, but Jesus never lost His authority. He remained in absolute control even as He endured the cross. This was not a situation that had gotten out of hand. Jesus was there because He chose to be and He was in complete control even as He hung upon the cross.

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D The Reality of His Thirst Much can be said in regard to the thirst of Jesus upon the cross. The main focus was to fulfill the Scriptures, and in essence the will of God, but we cannot deny or overlook the physical aspect of this thirst. Jesus was wholly God, but we must not forget that He too was wholly man. He lived in a body of flesh just like each of us. He knew what it was to experience pain, to feel loneliness and anger; Jesus felt the same emotions and experienced the same feelings that we do!

• He had already endured hours upon that cruel cross. He had received no water. His flesh had been torn from His body as He endured the awful scourging. His body was bleeding and losing precious fluids and yet He received no water.

The Sympathy of Christ (28)—After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, smith, I thirst. He endured a physical thirst, but in this humble cry from our Lord we see His sympathy for those who thirst spiritually.

E The Message—Jesus has endured the sins of the world being placed upon Him as He suffered the judgment of God, and yet He thirsted. This reveals a powerful truth that sin can never satisfy. It never quenches the thirst of a parched soul. Mankind can indulge in every sin imaginable and it will never fill that longing within the soul; it will never provide the satisfaction they seek.