I Thirst

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

At the beginning of every school year you are given a list of things you need to buy. Notebooks. Pencils. LunchBox. Water Bottle. Every year no matter how old, the old one, is you buy a new one. Over the years, before you realize it, you have a water bottle for every occasion. You have a shelf in your pantry filled with plastic water bottles. Each one has its own story. Each one has a collection of stickers on it from that one vacation trip with family. You have a whole shelf thinking at some point these will be used again, but many sit there…empty.

These objects on our shelves are important for us. They let us carry water around with us. When we go to the gym - instead of using the dirty water fountain - we can be rejuvenated by our water. Or if we find ourselves in meetings all day, we can take a water break to give us some voice back. When we are traveling in the car on a roadtrip to see family, when give ourselves some water as we eat all the snacks on the road. These plastic things are so important because we are able to carry water with us.

And if you have water, that means there life. A person can last a little while without food, but we need water to survive; it’s a basic need. Have you ever seen a place where there is no water? Where there is no water, there is no growth. The ground begins to crack. The yards and vegetation begin to wither and turn brown. And during drought weather neighborhoods and people have water usage restrictions because water is so valuable. Water is something that everyone needs. Water is a resource needed for life. If there is no water, then there is no life.

And then we get to our text for today. Jesus is there on the cross and He cries out for water. Jesus for you cries, “I thirst.” What does it mean that the Creator of the Universe cries out “I Thirst”? How can Jesus - the One who spoke things into existence - cry out for something in lack on the cross? Jesus, someone who is full of life, how can He be crying out for thirst? I am reminded of Jesus and the interactions of Him and the women at the well in John 4. It’s Jesus and this Samaritan women and Jesus asks her for a drink at they sit next to Jacob’s Well, which was a well that Jacob - the son of Isaac drank from himself. And it’s in that conversation by the well where Jesus says Himself,

John 4:13–14 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus says to the poor woman at the well - that this water you drink of everyday will never satisfy your thirst you have, but the water that I will give you will give you life. In fact, it will create a well inside of you giving you eternal life.

Jesus cries out for thirst, so you can life. Jesus pours out life water. He saw your life which was lifeless; He saw a life separated from God. He saw you in your sin and despair; a life lacking hope. And Jesus pours out living water from the cross that you have life. Jesus became parched, so you can be filled with life. Jesus became empty, so you can be satisfied. Jesus dies on the cross in pain and agony, so you can live with God forever!

As you run around in everyday life, as you grab your keys and wallet before you head out the door. Maybe you go to the kitchen and grab that trusty old water bottle. As you grab it, you have every intention of drinking water throughout the day, because it’s healthy, you feel better, and its good for you. But have you ever had that moment, where your water bottle, the thing that you carry around has simply just become an accessory? Its a thing you carry around with you. You set it in your car or on your desk in your office. You see the stickers and you are reminded of that fun trip you took. Or you glance at it from time to time and you recognize - I should really drink more water. It’s there, but not central to your day. You drink just enough water to get by.

Is our faith ever like this in our lives? Is your faith an accessory that you carry around with you, that glance at it from time to time? We look at faith you have in Jesus when absolutely are parched but it doesn’t connect with your everyday life? You know the facts of Jesus dying for you, but don’t rest in the promises of Jesus each day.

Maybe for you faith is not just an accessory. Maybe your spiritual water bottle feels empty. You gather here tonight absolutely worn down. Everyone in your life needs something from you. Family needs more time that you feel ashamed to say out loud, but time you don’t seem to have right now with work busyness. Your boss is hounding you for more effort, for more dedication and you wonder how long you can keep this up. Your friends and community groups that you are apart want to spend more time with you, but you feel like you just have nothing left to give. You hear Bible studies about - how you need to spend more time reading and hearing the Bible, but you wonder how to do this. You feel empty. You feel tired. You feel like you are going through the motions and exhausted.

Jesus sees you in your tiredness. He sees you empty. And for you Jesus empties Himself to give you life. The Creator of the World breathes His dying breath, that you may find life in Him. Jesus becomes parched, so you may never be thirsty again. Jesus pours out living water for you!

At the top of almost every health tip list is the one simple word: Hydrate. This sounds so simple. Water is everywhere around. It’s accessible. People of God, come and drink today. Come and find life in Jesus. Jesus is here for you today. He doesn’t just give you words of life - He gives Himself on the cross for you for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus gives you living water as He was parched for you. Drink of Jesus. When drink of Jesus we receive the life, we receive forgiveness, we receive the victory over death and sin. Find rest in Jesus. Drink of the living water Jesus gives, and you will never be thirsty again.

Now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding may it guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.